aloha!
I’m Mal!
Mahalo for stopping by. You stumbled across my work somehow and I am so happy that you did.
I am mom to two keiki (teenagers!) doing what I love on the most magical island in this galaxy. I love meeting people and getting to know what makes you Y O U. Human Connection is vital for a happy life and I feel I gain a little something to help me along my journey each time I make that connection. I can only hope I do the same for the people I meet along the way. I want to know your story. I want to hear what life is like for you, where you came from, how you got to where you are now. So let’s share some time and make some memories.
I am a Taurus. And yes, I will ask your sign, too. ; )
I truly believe in celebrating individuality all while remembering the collective conscience, so each session is tailored to fit in with who you are and how we vibe during our time together. My art is a mood. It’s real. So many components come together to achieve the art I will pass on to you. It is darker, moodier, and a bit grainy to give it that timeless film feel. I do love the look and feel of an editorial-type film image, so we will work movement into the posed images as we make our way through our time together. So with that said: Your session won’t look exactly like anyone else’s, but I can promise that I will strive for the beauty of your story and create thought-evoking imagery for you.
My main focuses in my art is the beauty of motherhood at each and every phase from beginning to grow life to your beautiful and ever-changing body to your baby arriving earthside. These are all fleeting moments that should be documented in a beautiful way that includes mama and not just her being behind the camera. Engaging with your little one(s) in-utero and out deserves to be immortalized through imagery. I also thoroughly enjoy couples/lovers/partners and their stories. I dabble in everything but those are my passions in the world of photography. Simple, intimate, and unique elopements also light a fire inside of me.
If I am not at home with my kids or out photographing the people of Earth, you can find me slinging fish, food, and fun at the local hotspot Fish Bar Deli. Come in for some ono grinds like super fresh, local poke and ceviche, fish and chips, and some of the best cocktails in this part of the Pacific, all made with fresh daily with local ingredients and a whole lot of love.
And now, a little bit about Mama Kaua’i:
Kaua’i is not only a fragile natural ecosystem, it is culturally sensitive and historically significant. Therefore, you will not find me running around in areas that are special, sacred, and meaningful just to ‘take photos of people’. I respect the land and her people to the best of my ability and try to pass that on to everyone I work with and encounter, especially the visitors who are lucky enough to be able to visit Kaua’i. It is a privilege and and honor to come to the islands, so please be mindful as you choose your photographer and venture around this truly magical lil’ rock in the middle of the sea. With that said, I can show you some amazing places and get epic imagery all without sacrificing what Hawai’i and her people is all about. I do not venture to locations that are off limits legally, of cultural importance, or just plain unsafe.
Remember that you are a visitor to this sublime little island in the middle of the sea, so try and give back while you are here. Shop and eat local. Pick up opala (trash) when you find it on the beaches. Use reef-safe sunscreen. Have spacial awareness and patience. Hawai’i is a slow-paced place and we like it like that. Don’t ride honu (sea turtles) or touch the seals. Don’t be afraid to ask questions if you don’t understand something. We are all human.
Loves:
Anime, Mexican Food, Indian Food, Salad Bars, Tomatoes, (Okay…. FOOD.) Travel, Art, Music (making, watching, and listening to it), Cooking, Matcha & Coffee, Beer & Cocktails, Animals, Reading, Painting, Plants/Botany, Hiking, Watching Movies, Crystals and Gems, Loving Mama Kaua’i and Earth, Car Rides with Air Conditioning, Ice Cream, The Fresh Shave (shave ice), Rainy days, Making clay jewelry (@mallo.made), Learning about people and where they are from, what they do, etc., ( Loving that I can find WAY more things that I DO like than what I DO NOT like (yay!)).
NOT LOVES:
People forgetting that we are all humans; we are ONE. Onions (I know. I am weird.), Things sticking to my bare feet, People who litter, Being so far from Mainland ‘Ohana and friends, Fake/Disingenuous/angry/impatient people.
publications and features
Ugly Magazine
Dark Beauty Magazine
Wedding Gawker
Ever Smitten Blog
Bohemian Living
Huffington Post “HuffPost”
Edible Hawaiian Islands Magazine
Modern Luxury Hawai’i Magazine
Benoa Swim 2022 Campaign