“The thing I remember best about successful people I've met all through the years is their obvious delight in what they're doing and it seems to have very little to do with worldly success. They just love what they're doing, and they love it in front of others." — Mr. Rogers
I am a storyteller. A dream chaser. A Maui kid who grew up taking Polaroids and evolved into a digital photographer. I love how art can capture and express the depth of human emotion.
A Girl from Maui, Hawaii
Born in a little house in Makawao, on the island of Maui, I grew up learning the value of hard work and the joy of being outside from a young age.
On the weekends, I would help my parents and siblings harvest coconut, mango, and banana, and dig in the taro patches at my Grandparent’s farm in Waiehu.
Covered in mud and muck, I loved swimming in the nearby stream. My cousin and I would chase the crawdads, grinning from ear to ear if we nabbed one of the big guys. I can still hear my Uncle’s voice in my head, “Come back to da house and do dishes, you guys!”
Growing up on Maui was magical and wonderful. Not because we had all that we needed, but because we learned to make do with what we had. (You can read some of my stories here.)
My Dad instilled within me a desire to create and get creative, especially in our lack. To always be generous and share with those less fortunate. To get to know our neighbors, to be a good neighbor.
You may know me from my baking (thanks again, Food Network!) and my life as a teacher and mom, married to my husband of 15 years who I met at the Maui County Fair. Before all of that, I studied Journalism and Art at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, Calif. (Read the Viewpoint.) Photography has been a part of me since the beginning. As editor of my college newspaper, I loved taking photos for news articles and capturing raw moments in people’s lives.
After college, I went on to photograph portraits, engagements, weddings, real estate, and food styling. My passion is creating. Whether you’re in search of family photos, food styling photos for your business, weddings or real estate photos — I’m a storyteller and would love to help tell your story through photography!
