Paradise/Paradox 2018

In this series, I explore several of the multiple threats to the land and ocean resources of Hawai‘i. The intense beauty and mana of the land and ocean are tempered by the ongoing forces of development and climate change that have left indelible marks on the land and soul of the people. Monster storms, king tides, coastal development and erosion, storm surges, and overuse have made the islands of Hawai‘i one of the most fragile and threatened ecosystems in the United States and the Pacific region.

Recently, a massive rainstorm devastated parts of Hawaii with 50 inches of rain falling in a 24-hour period. The LA Times reported this storm as, “the first major storm in Hawaii linked to climate change.” For weeks after the storm, I was shocked to find the ocean in parts of Oahu a deep shade of brown from run-off consisting of sewage, mud, chemicals from ground pesticides, and debris. Our environment is being strangled by overdevelopment and human-induced climate changes. All photographs are 32″ or 44″ wide archival pigment prints.