Refuge Place

This series is from Refuge Place, also known as Puuhonua o Honaunau - say that three times fast. Ancient Hawaiians had a lot of Kapu, sacred laws, what we call taboo. Violated taboo - death, and likely being eaten. Your shadow fell on palace grounds or you walked in royalty footsteps, you are toast. Whole village would make sure you are caught and punished, to avoid gods anger which resulted in volcano eruption or tsunami. There was one chance though: if you could flee and reach sacred sanctuary, Refuge Place, live there in strict obedience and go through ceremony of absolution, priests would restore your good standing. Of course if you couldn't handle the rituals or disobeyed the priests, they'd kill you themselves.

"All hope abandon, ye who enter here." The place is full of idols and none of them has nice face expression. 

OK, how often do you see me in the frame? There, must be first time since the beginning of this blog.

Told ya about face expressions... this one is quite grim, isn't he? And obviously male.

Very typical for Big Island landscape - lava rocks, sand, palm trees.

I am sure this one is female.  Not any less intimidating though.

Nice pond...

Experiment with split tones.