The Hawaiian Islands offer incredible potential for gigapixel photography. While providing visual effects training for Sharon Sussman's class at Kapi'olani College in Hololulu, Eric Hanson took the opportunity to capture a few high resolution shots. Using Honolulu as a subject, good vantage points were found at Punchbowl Hill and Tantalus Drive. The Punchbowl is a military cemetery set square in the center of an extinct volcanic bowl, and provides a closer look into the city from the edge. Taking a nearby drive higher above the city, a lookout off beautiful Tantalus Drive offers a spectacular high view of the urban center. Long nocturnal exposures were made at a coastal lookout with dramatic cloud and star movement. Looking for a more expansive view that could be captured spherically of the windward Ko'olau range, an intense dayhike and climb of Olomana was made, a 1,600' spire with unparalled views of the island. One section of the hike passed through an idyllic Ironwood tree forest with a soft carpet underneath. A 276-image 3.8 gigapixel spherical image was made on the small summit after a steep, exciting ascent. For the more intrepid, two succeeding spires bekon. Lastly, a time lapse was made of the cloudplay across the Ko'olau.

Team Members: Eric Hanson, Ron Shirley.