Samsara in Arcadia

In February 2010, I met art teacher Janet Sato at Baldwin High School, who invited me to work with her students. I focused on exploring their cultural heritage through photography, using a European countryside backdrop to create a hidden paradise, distinct from Hawaii’s typical imagery.

The photos represent Samsara – the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. At the time, I printed a few for Janet and set the rest aside.
Now, reflecting on my journey, I’ve decided to organize these photos for my website. These teenagers are now adults, and photography, like life, takes time to process.

Hale

Hale is a Hawaiian word meaning both house and host.
As a child, I imagined my ideal home as a simple drawing—windows like eyes, a door like a nose, and a triangle for hair. Later, in my 20s and 30s, Puʻupiha Cemetery in Lahaina, Maui, became my refuge, offering both solitude and connection. Among shifting sand dunes and nameless graves, I saw a reflection of myself. One day, I encountered a skull—both frightening and comforting—blurring the line between life and death.
Over time, my idea of home evolved, becoming like a crushed spaceship, bridging two worlds. Meeting people—family, mentors, strangers—shaped my life, each encounter a gift. Some are gone, some remain, but all left an imprint.
As I grow, I long to return to the essentials, guided by whispers of those I’ve lost, reminding me not to take what was given for granted.
These photographs were taken in 2010 with a large-format camera and edited in 2023.