Tag: Polynesian Cultural Center

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MELE KALIKIMAKA

 

I am on holiday visiting family until the new year, but before I left I shot the Christmas lights for the Polynesian Cultural Center.   I was fully impressed, if you are looking to get into the Christmas spirit in Hawaii, I highly recommend going around on the lagoon at the PCC to see the Christmas lights and nativity scenes.  To find out more about checking out the lights click here.

The video is one of my favorite renditions of the nativity.  It was done by the children of St. Paul’s Church in New Zealand.  Merry Christmas!

 

 

 

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WORLD FIRE KNIFE CHAMPIONSHIP : POLYNESIAN CULTURAL CENTER – HAWAII

Fire knife competitions are by far the most challenging thing for me to photograph.  During the competitions I am not allowed to use a flash, and the goal is to freeze the dancer but keep the shutter open long enough to get a full circle of fire.  For example I keep my shutter for 1/10th of second for the very fast start off and 1/8th to 1/6th when they slow down.  I consider how much gas is on the knife or how many knives the dancer is using since 1, 2 or 3 fire knives can quickly change the lighting.  The last variable is time, I only have a few minutes to capture each competitor.  After I fill up a card the images are taken and sent to the Asociated Press.  I don’t even have a chance to look at them, so there is very little room for error.

I staged the first 4 photos below that are going to be used for the 20th annual fire knife competition advertising for next year.  The last 5 are some of my favorites from this most recent competition.

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HAUNTED LAGOON : POLYNESIAN CULTURAL CENTER – LAIE HAWAII COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHY

pcc-haunted-lagoon Laie Hawaiihaunted-lagoon-pcc - Laie Hawaii

This is the second year in a row that I have worked on the promotional pictures for the Polynesian Cultural Center’s Haunted Lagoon.  It was lot of fun working with the art directors and graphic designer from the PCC.  I wish I would have taken some  behind the scenes pictures, there were about 15 people working together to create these images.  I was used a number of different strobes and a huge fog machine to add the mist affect.  Big thanks to Jenica Taylor for all the graphics.  This is defiantly a good year to go to the Haunted Lagoon, it is going to be bigger and better than last.  To get more information about the Haunted Lagoon click here.

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TE MANAHUA, MAORI FESTIVAL : POLYNESIAN CULTURAL CENTER – LAIE HAWAII

Te-Manahu,-Maori-Festival

Here are a few pictures from Te-Manahua, Maori Festival at the Polynesian Cultural Center this last weekend.  I have been photographing special events and some marketing for the Polynesian Cultural Center for a little over a year now, and this has got to be one of the best contests I have ever seen.  There were performers from all over including New Zealand and London, England.  The winners were a local group and I got chills as they performed.  I don’t know if it was because they were doing the Haka 4 feet away, or the fact that I was looking though my canon 70-200 telephoto lens right into their eyes.  Whatever it was, it was amazing and they received a standing ovation.

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WORLD FIREKNIFE CHAMPIONSHIPS : POLYNESIAN CULTURAL CENTER, LAIE HAWAII

I am shooting the World Fireknife Championship this weekend at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie.   Here are a few of my favorite shots from last nights senior, junior and group competitors.  One of the kids from the junior division, this is ages 6-11, learned how to fireknife from youtube.  You can see Preston Weber’s performance from last night in the video below.  And yes that is me in the lower right hand corner, I finally made it on youtube.

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MOANIKEALA HULA FESTIVAL : LAIE OAHU HAWAII HULA PHOTOGRAPHY

Today I shot the 20th annual Moanikeala Hula Festival for the Polynesian Cultural Center. While shooting I was blown away by how much feeling and emotion was put into each performance.  There were about 11 different Hula Halaus, some from as far away as Japan.  Dance has alway been one of my favorite types photography, it really keeps you on your toes anticipating the next move and when to release the shutter.  Here are a few shots out of a 1000+ that I took today.   You can read more about the festival here written by Caryn Kunz a Ko’olauloa journalist for the Honolulu Advertiser. Enjoy.

Hawaii Hula photogaprhy Moanikeala

Hawaii Oahu Hula Photographer Moanikeala