I cringe when journalists call the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival the Olympics of Hula. However, I would consider this festival to be top top level of competition in the world for this dance.

This year, the competition was fierce, and as usual every in the stadium was ‘ohana — yup, it was a fierce dance competition between family and friends. That is why I return year-after-year. In that stadium are many of the finest people I have ever known; friends for life.

Check out this link to see my SLIDE SHOW! Hmmm… Creative choice for music, huh?

Seems like I have been out traveling inter-island for weeks on end. Life is good, but I feel tired and just want a month to lock myself up so I can write a book, or at least write the outline…

Speaking of outlines, I am currently creating outlines for my classes at the upcoming Maui Film Festival, in September. It seems that I will be co-teaching a class with the infamous Dr. Russell Brown. Together we hope to have out students create a Hollywood-style movie poster from scratch.  Shortly after the Maui event, we will attampt to teach the same class to a more demanding audience at the Adobe Max conference in L.A,

I have been jumping around the islands quite a bit during the past few weeks. Finally, I got my butt back onto Kaua’i’s famous Na Pali Trail into the breath taking Kalalau Valley. I backpacked into the wilderness there for 4 nights and loved every minute of it — except for the scorpion sting which left me in great pain during one night.

I was able to bring my digital cameras into the Valley for the first time. Previously, I was shooting with my panorama film camera, and lugged along many rolls of 120 Velvia. I was playing with some fun techniques, and caught a handfull of winners, despite the wintry weather.  …okay, wintry is a relative term here — it was drizzling and 70ish degrees in the early mornings…

I made this first image by stitching and stacking about 24 exposures. I think the hardest part about making this image is that you have to first hike 11 very strenuous miles in to this location with a heavy pack, and then at sunset, hike two more miles back up a hill from the campsite, when all you feel like doing is laying flat on the ground.

The next image is about 50 images thown together into a “Ben Willmore-esque” panolage.

Shortly after returning home to Maui, I headed back out the door to Oahu, where I had the big pleasure of attending a workshop taught by Kevin Kubota. This was a two-day “efficiency” workshop, which seemed to be very effective with most of the other students — however, it is not in my genetic code to be efficient. Here is a photo of Kevin’s workshop experts (Jed Taufer, Kevin Kubota, Vicki Taufer, and Clare Kubota).

I highly recommend Kevin’s workshops. By the way, the Willow’s Restaurant in Honolulu is INCREDIBLE! It is a perfect place for a seminar like this, and the Hawaiian food is amongst the best I have ever eaten!

In a couple of days I will head to Hilo Town on the Big Island for my annual visit to the Mecca of Hula — The Merrie Monarch Hula Festival. I will be photographing for two prominant hula halau; my hanai kumu hula Napua Greig, and also for the dancers under Keali’i Reichel.

I traveled somewhere else in-between, but have completely forgotten where!

By the way, the new Maui Photo Festival is in late September. It is coming together quite smoothly, and I am looking forward to teaching a couple of classes. Visit the website if you are at all interested in photography! Fun times will be had for all. One of Kevin Kubota’s tidbits of advice was to “travel and attend seminars” to shake up your creative juices….