Portriat

Raymond Johnson, April 2014

Surfers Healing

Surfers Healing 2013 Surf Camp at Richardson's Beach Park was such a wonderful experience to photograph.  The camp joins local surfers with keiki with autism for a day out in the water catching waves.

Setting up the big top.

A few weeks ago I had a blast photographing a group of island hopping circus performers as they setup the big top for a preview story on the circus coming to town.  All of the colors and shapes were crazy camera eye candy.

Film scan from the beach.

35mm ISO100 film shot with a Canon AE-1 a la plage.

The Story of Emily-Rose and the Mystical Banyan Trees

Emily-Rose Bennett (one of my most favorite people) came to visit me in Palm Tree Land.

On her last day here, as the Hilo rain wept for her departure, we explored the walking Banyan Trees of Rainbow Falls State Park.

Magic happened.

Friendship under a banyan tree.

Joseph Kerr, 49, came into the Hawaii Tribune-Herald mesmerized by Mary Pappalardo, 96, after randomly talking to her for over two hours at Kalakaua Park earlier in the week.  After describing his recent conversation to our reporter Colin Stewart, he convinced Colin to do a story on the unique friendship and deep respect he had formed for Mary.  So, today we met them both at Kalakaua Park under the banyan tree as Joseph again happily and gratefully listen to Mary talk about her past- that included stories about WWII, growing up in Harlem and her large family.  Mary wanted "all of us young people" to remember to slow down and put away our cell phones when we are with other people so that we make real face to face connections.  She stressed the importance of respecting others and having empathy.  She also spoke of never being too old to travel or follow your dreams.  (Mary graduated from college at 54 with a teaching degree and traveled to India and Thailand in her 80s.)  After about an hour of listening to Colin's interview and photographing the pair, I too was mesmerized.  This simple assignment in park left me all warm and fuzzy inside.  I've always loved listening to elderly peoples' stories and antidotes about life and meeting Mary and watching the same respect and warmth that I was feeling flow over Joseph's face only reenforced that love.  It also made me miss my grandparents back in Michigan.  

SO IF YOU'RE IN THE SAME STATE AS YOUR GRANDPARENTS 

GO GIVE THEM A HUG.

And if you're not, at least ask the little old lady in the park how her day is going.

Pu'u 'O'o Looms in Blues and Purples

Kimberly and Koa

Kimberly and Koa playing on Hilo Bayfront.

Birds.

Mavericks.  California.

Magical Mystical Weekend Wonders