Hawaii’s Chinaman’s Hat has a creation legend attached to it. In the story, Hiʻiaka, sister to Pele, the goddess of fire and volcanoes and the creator of the Hawaiian Islands, engages in a battle with a fierce dragon. Hiʻiaka chopped off the dragon’s tail and threw it into the ocean, forming the island called Mokoli’i, which translates to “Little Lizard.” On low tides, you can swim, kayak, or walk to this basalt islet. I’m drawn to Hawaii for its natural beauty, and I’m intrigued by the history, the legends, and the spiritual nature of the land and its people.  I was working quickly to get this shot before the sun rose much further and lost its intensity. I was hoping to catch the rays lighting up the back of the dark clouds, making them appear more dramatic and maintaining the intense orange below the cloud band. The islet seems to glow in the early morning light and looks lush. The concrete structure in the lower part of the image adds interest and balance and draws your attention to the sunrise and Chinaman’s Hat. It took me several attempts to get this shot; once I felt confident I had it, the sun rose over the clouds, and the moment was gone.