Growing up in Hawai'i, home was more than just a place; it was a sense of belonging deeply rooted in the islands’ culture, landscapes, and traditions. As I encounter other locals who have moved away, I am struck by a shared experience of longing, adaptation, and resilience. This series, Carrying Home, captures the essence of this journey. It is an exploration of homesickness, connection, and the small yet meaningful ways we hold onto the feeling of “home” wherever we go.
I pair documentary photographs with portraits and quotes of people from Hawai'i, young adults to adults, who now live on the mainland. With each individual, I give them a prepared set of questions. Their answers reveal personal moments of nostalgia as well as the adaptability required to build new lives without losing one’s roots. They also reinforce my own experience and assist with the emotional homesickness of being assimilated into a new culture.
By showcasing these images, I aim to highlight the intersection of identity and place, showing how, despite physical distance, home remains a powerful part of who we are. The images serve as a collective narrative, a bridge between Hawai'i and the mainland, inviting viewers to consider their ideas of belonging and the significance of the places they call home.
This project is for all those who have felt the weight of displacement. I hope that, through these portraits and stories, viewers will reflect on their connections to home and understand the unique resilience of the Hawaiian spirit, no matter where it resides.
Carrying Home serves as a counterpoint to the stereotypical imagery associated with Hawaiʻi. By documenting personal stories of realistic life on Maui, my photographs offer an alternative vision; one that acknowledges both the beauty and the complexity of Hawaiʻi and its people. In doing so, my project not only preserves these stories but also contributes to a broader effort to reclaim and redefine what it means to be from Hawaiʻi in the modern world.
