I'm just back (and somewhat recovered) from a 2+ week photo trip to Hawaii (Maui, Big Island, Kauai & Oahu). The trip was a great experience with lots of stories to tell and photos to share - though rain, thick cloud cover and high winds left some potential great photo opportunities on the list for another trip.
First up is a review of the Gura Gear Bataflae 32L. This is an excellently-designed backpack that worked out very well on this trip.
Even if you are not in the market for a high-end backpack, you might like the Kilauea Volcano night photo - and the brief summary of shooting the 500 L II in the rain.