O'ahu Senior: Colorful Kaka'ako and Waikiki

As a high school senior, I opted to sleep in far more often than arise early. Truth be told, that’s still the case, but three hungry mouths and six busy feet keep such opportunities few and far between these days. This high school senior and his mama accepted the early morning wakeup and showed up ready to put toes in the sand, feet on the rocks, and eyes on the beautiful murals of Kaka’ako. We love switching up the scenery and finding the right vibe for each senior. Thank you, mama J, for choosing and trusting Kalina Kai Photography again.

A Waimanalo Welcome

Hello, Baby! This (big) little guy and his family spent an evening with us at the beach, and it’s always a bonus when extended family is around. He was wide awake and all in with his first (toe) dip in the ocean. Those sweet grins. Congrats, Mom and Dad!

A ONE-derful Hawaiian Birthday

It’s a family session…but “she’s the focus.” That succinctly sums it up and it’s how mom and dad answered a pre-session questionnaire regarding their vision for the family session. Baby Nevaeh turned one and the family wanted to celebrate her. We combined a cake smash with a family session and, in true birthday girl fashion, she had a wardrobe change, beautiful flowers, and a delicious cake.

Let’s talk about her clothes for a minute. Mom is so talented and used to have her own clothing line (pre-kids, ya know…); she still makes the most darling custom pieces for the littlest keiki. The patterned dress in these photos is actually from a piece of vintage fabric that has been stashed away in mom’s closet for years…years! This was the perfect opportunity to whip up a special celebratory dress for this adored little girl. So special.

Not only are these my clients but they are friends, and there’s so much gratitude that they chose me to capture such a sweet milestone in their lives. We were there for maternity and newborn photos, too. :) Happy birthday, sweet girl!

'Ohana Days

Note to family: if you are visiting O’ahu, you very well may end up in front of my lens in order to test out some equipment or explore a new spot. Siblings were recently in town and I wanted to check out a new location. Perfect—models secured! Well, it didn’t exactly go as planned. It was a Sunday evening and summertime at a tiny sliver of beach…it was simply too crowded and the tide was too high. We never got to actually try out the new location but we did stop elsewhere to snap some quick shots. How fortunate are we that the backup plan is as gorgeous as this? Come visit and get in front of the lens!

Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden Family Session

A hui hou…until we meet again. ‘Tis the season. Military PCS (Permanent Change of Station) season. As a military family, it’s the time that arrives every few years when we say goodbye to great friends and memories and hello to a new adventure. Sometimes it’s bitter. Sometimes it’s sweet. Oftentimes, it’s completely bittersweet. I’ve had the pleasure of photographing many families recently for “one last session” before moving, and this particular crew is a difficult see-ya-later. Our kids like each other and we’ve captured breastfeeding sessions, family sessions, holiday mini sessions, daughter-in-mom’s-wedding-dress sessions, and because-mom-is-never-in-any-photos sessions. :) They’re retiring and off to put down roots closer to family. Congrats and keep in touch!