Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
This winter, we were fortunate to witness the summit eruption of Kilauea volcano within Halemaumau crater. Over the course of two months, we spent our weekends taking photographs and hiking the national park. Here are a few of the selected images from our visits.
Hawaii Volcanoes is one of my favorite national parks because of its biodiversity. Starting from sea level to 13,677 feet, the park terrain changes from barren lava fields to lush rain forests. While I've always enjoyed visiting the coastal trails, my favorite area to photograph was the Wahinekapu steam vents. With the increased volcanic activity, the vents were absolutely beautiful during the early morning light.
Death Valley
Death Valley is my favorite and most visited national park. I think it's because I live on a tropical island that I find joy in the different landscape the desert provides. I love the open salt flats, sand dunes, and rocky canyons.
Huihui Restaurant, Kaanapali Beach Hotel Maui
Kaanapali Beach Hotels new beachfront restaurant pays homage to the tradition of Hawaiian wayfinding. Meaning "star constellation", Huihui’s menu is a blend of local flavors and features signature items with Hawaiian inspired cooking.
Red Rock Canyon
If you're visiting Las Vegas and you need a quick outdoor escape from the casinos, Red Rock Canyon is the place to go. This National Conservation Area is just 25 miles from the Vegas strip. It features a 13-mile scenic drive and about two dozen hiking trails.
My latest trip to the canyon offered an interesting opportunity. It was a bright and sunny day, but distant mountain ranges were hazy due to California's wildfires. This created a beautiful layered effect in many of my photographs.
Fundraiser for Aloha Harvest
July 22, 2020 —The COVID-19 crisis has deeply affected the world at large. And here in Hawaii, life in this COVID environment has become almost too difficult to bear for many. Due to the government shutdown, our state now has a 22% unemployment rate — the second highest in the nation. Aloha Harvest is one of the many amazing nonprofits who have answered the call to aid and have stepped up to support Hawaii's needy and hungry families.
I created an Indiegogo fundraiser to support Aloha Harvest. I’m selling a limited edition of 100 prints, featuring twelve of my favorite Hawaii landscape photographs. 100% of the net proceeds will be donated to Aloha Harvest. The images will be printed as large format 17 X 22” fine-art prints. The total number of prints will be limited to 100. Individual prints are priced at $75, with a set of two for $140.
ALOHA HARVEST - Now in its 21st year, Aloha Harvest is the largest food rescue and redistribution organization in Hawaii. A 501c3 nonprofit, Aloha Harvest picks up excess food from more than 250 donors and delivers it to more than 175 agencies that feed the hungry per year. All of their services are provided free of charge to both donors and recipients. Food donors include grocery stores, wholesale distributors, and restaurants. Food recipients include social service agencies, nonprofits, rehabilitation shelters, and food pantries. COVID-19 has intensified food insecurity in our state, making their work especially critical. So far in 2020, they've rescued and redistributed more 1.6 million pounds of food that would have been wasted. For more information or to donate directly to Aloha Harvest, visit alohaharvest.org.
I hope you’ll join me in this effort to help fight food insecurity here in Hawaii.
Download the press release and high-res images.
September 12, 2020 — The project is now complete! Thank you all who supported the Aloha Harvest Fundraiser. We finished the campaign with a total of $4,325 in donations. All prints have been shipped. Mahalo for making this a success!
