For this assignment, my classmates & I were told to create a visual presentation that tells a story. The subject matter of the presentation could've been all sorts of concepts, but I chose to create a Hawai'i-based lifestyle documentary.
Essentially, the small things with a big impact.
All shot with a Nikon D3200 + 18-105mm lens.
Let's Talk Story:
What does it mean to "talk story"? In short (easy) terms, it's a pidgin phrase that means to chit-chat! Talking with friends.. having a conversation.. exchanging stories.. talking story! With being born & raised on the island of Maui but going to college on the Mainland, there have been so many little things I've noticed while out here that have made me see Hawai'i in a whole different light, in the best way. It's the little things like hearing "flip flops" instead of "slippers" or coming home for a break excited to eat chicken katsu or a good ole loco moco. If I were to write a book about the core memories that I hold close to my heart, these images are exactly what I'd include. I hope you stick around!
March 19, 2023 at 6:22 am
Maui Sunrises:
My absolute favorite thing to do when I get home for a break from college is to watch the sunrise. Whether it be at a random park 5 minutes from home or waking up at 5am to drive across town to make it just in time for the sunrise at Bigs Beach, the sunrises at home never disappoint. One of the things I enjoy the most about catching sunrises early in the morning is making a pit stop at my local grocery store & picking up a warm spam musubi & canned juice to snack on while we watch the sun peek behind the mountains. A perfect morning if you ask me.
One of my best friends Micayla, modeling at Big Beach.
Local Girl Attire:
Forget pants & a shirt! A bikini top & bikini bottom will do it. In Hawai'i, bikinis are pretty much a local girl's everyday uniform. Bikinis come in various prints & colors, many of which are inspired by the beautiful flowers & scenery found here in the islands.
Left: dried haku lei from my graduation party | Right: dried pāpale hand made by my Uncle Bruno from Lana'i
Haku Lei & Pāpale Breakdown:
Haku lei can be translated to "a lei for your head" and they're often used for special occasions. Many haku leis are worn for birthdays, weddings, graduations & sometimes they're simply used for fun photoshoots. Pāpale are very trendy & common in the islands. A pāpale is a Hawaiian hat typically woven from lauhala (Hawaiian leaves). There's all sorts of styles of pāpale, some being more complex to make than others.
Manapuas from Happy Opu. Pictured is the char siu manapua (top) and the chicken curry manapua (bottom).
Raised on Manapuas:
It's true! Manapuas are easily one of Hawaii's most well-known staples. Growing up, manapuas were always my favorite snack when my mom or dad would need to make a stop at the gas station (7-Eleven would be my go-to). I remember always getting so excited to get my own manapua - getting the tongs that would be set on the side of the steamer, opening the steamer to see the variety of colored buns, & the feeling of being so independent & grown, putting my pretty pink manapua in the bag. My favorite ones were the char siu filled manapuas, but many people make them with different fillings too.
En route to 13 Crossings - one of our go-to valleys back home.
"96 Degrees In The Shade":
Sometimes the beach just doesn't cut it! When we feel that we need a change of scenery, my mom & I enjoy making the journey up to one of our valleys. Many of the valleys in the islands are much colder than ocean water, so it's super refreshing to take a dip when the sun becomes unbearable.
Yee's Orchard - Kihei, Maui
#SupportLocal:
You simply can't get more local than this. My mom has been buying mangoes from Uncle Lee for as long as I can remember, & he truly is a master at what he does. In Kihei town, Uncle Lee runs this small mom & pops shop - Lee's Orchard. He sells a variety of fruits in addition to mangoes like coconuts, bananas, & papayas. But, if it's mango season & you're lucky enough to catch Uncle Lee before he's sold out, his mangoes are an absolute essential.
Mom serving up some yummy freshly cut papaya!
Cheffin' It Up
When I was little, I used to walk home from school & when I'd get home, my mom would always have a snack waiting for me. I would always get so excited to see what would be waiting for me on the table. The refreshing taste of a freshly cut apple, frozen juicy otter pop, or even just a couple of cookies would easily be the highlight of my day. To this day, my mom still likes to surprise me with all sorts of snacks & it's now our little "thing".
Aloha Maid guava nectar juice.
Gotta Have The Guava Juice:
Ice cold with a banana bread on the side please! This combination is just one of the hundreds of cravings that I think about on the daily while I'm in the Mainland. Guava and POG juice are the perfect drinks to go along with your favorite bag of chips or poke bowl.
Slippers on top of slippers on top of slippers.
Potluck Time:
A pile of slippers at the front door only means one thing: there's a potluck happening. It could be your Aunty's 50th birthday, the night of Halloween, or simply another "just because" cookout. I've heard too many stories of my cousins losing their slippers & ending up going home with one less slipper than they came with.
Mom cooking up some onions to throw in our lettuce wraps.
Home Cooked Meals:
Home cooked meals are one of the things that I miss the most about being home. Helping (bugging) my mom in the kitchen is one of my specialties & it's always a good time (or at least I like to think so). Being home also means that the stove can sometimes be my personal dining table! This is quality control at its finest.
Steak filets on the grill.
Aloha Friday:
Nothing says Hawai'i like a nice Friday night barbeque. My family & I almost always have these little get togethers every weekend where we all go to my Uncle's house & we just talk story, hang out & laugh. We've been doing this for years on end & it really is one of the things that makes my family so special. Even on days that we don't have a full blown barbeque, we really enjoy grilling in the backyard & we just always have the best time.
