I have shaped about 20 surfboards over the years but this is my first alaia. As I was working on it I tried to involve my two kids as much as possible. They both did a lot of sanding and we even went to the Bishop Museum to research the design. I took the board to surf club today, this clip is of two of the boys from Halau Nalu riding it, I think they did an amazing job for their first time.
Alia Surf Board Hawaii from Mark Lee on Vimeo.
Aloha, I'm Mark Holladay Lee. I'm a husband, father, surfer and photographer. I didn't realize how much I would love being a professional photographer until I became a father while living in New York City. All the creative energy in that city combined with all the emotions of becoming a dad, lit up my passion with the camera. I was able to learn from some great photographers while living in the city, but my earliest learning with the art, goes back to childhood when I watched my mother work as a photographer. I remember how she crafted a darkroom in whatever house we lived in and decorated our home with pictures from our family travels. She gave me my first camera and first studio lights.
Fast forward several years and here I am living in Hawaii with my family, enjoying every minute of combining my love of people with my love of creating art. I not only photograph people with studio lights, but I photograph in the ocean, from a helicopter, at the beach, in the mountains, and other incredible locations throughout Hawaii. I may sometimes act as a fly on the wall, documenting a moment as it naturally unfolds. Other times I may be actively posing a large group of people in a formal setting. Many times I am capturing life with my family, freezing memories that bring us so much joy to look back on. I would be honored to capture your memories with artistic images that I guarantee you will be thrilled with. I look forward to meeting you!
there are so many things i love about this video. a. the french music in hawaii b. the surfboard kind of looks like the top of a coffin c. you are one talent beast.
hope all is well man!
We named our second girl Alia but I had no idea it was a type of surfboard. That makes me SO much more happier we named her that. That board is awesome Mark and that video made me miss home! Thanks for sharing!
Wow! Wow! WOW! That has got to be one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen, Mark. Great work on that board bro! SO RAD!
Kahia said ” It’s like I was surfing in France.” Great little clip Mark.
radness. seriously, so cool. we really want to make some hand planes, maybe we can all work together?
and now i am really kicking myself for not going to the beach that afternoon, but i thought it was too cold. i am a wimp.
and, thanks for the help the other day.
For those who don’t know Kahia, his is the second surfer in the clip, I am still just blown away that they could surf this finless board so well.