An idealized image of Hawai’i as an exotic paradise has been honed for over a century by marketing executives whose sole goal is to enhance its’ desirability as a destination for tourists. But this popular image is often a façade and, at its worst, is a mockery of the easily digestible parts of Hawaiian culture.
Tourists are regularly presented with a version of Hawaiian culture and history that is overly simplified, mythologized and frequently exploited for material gain. They face crowded beaches and a list of ‘must see’ sights and attractions that leave them with little time to gain an understanding or appreciation of the cultural significance of a given place before moving on.
My intent with this ongoing body of work is to show Hawai’i how it really presents itself versus the orchestrated ideal of Hawai’i. Photography has been instrumental in the creation of the image of Hawai’i that is embedded into our consciousness, and it is used in this series to explore and reveal not only the nostalgia and iconic stereotypes but also the people and landscapes that continue to be used to craft the idealized version of Hawai’i that is presented to tourists and the wider world.
It is my hope that viewers of this work might be encouraged to look beyond the advertised version of a place and take the time to find, and be enriched by, the authenticity of their chosen home or travel destination – Hawai’i or otherwise.
I’m honored to have this portfolio included in the Contemporary Photography in Hawai’i 2022 exhibit sponsored by Pacific New Media. Juror: Katherine Love, Assistant Curator of Contemporary Art with the Honolulu Museum of Art.