Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 6, Number 5, 1 Mei 1989 — New Photo Exhibit [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

New Photo Exhibit

"Kalaupapa: A Portrait" Stars lts Residents

An exhibition of contemporary photographs entitled "Kalaupapa: A Portrait" is now open to the public at Bishop Museum's Jabulka Pavilion. The photographs, taken by renowned Hawaii photographer Wayne Levin, are from the book of the same name, whieh will be published next month by Bishop Museum Press and the Arizona Memonal Museum Association. The exhibit contains approximately 15-20 of Levin's photographs and about five photos from the Damien Museum. It focuses on the current residents of Kalaupapa. The photographs demonstrate the perseverence and strength of character of these last full-time residents of the historic settlement. (When the last current resident dies, Kalaupapa will become a nahonal historical park.) The photos in this exhibit show the residents have overcome physical obstacles and live relatively "normal" lives. Photographer Levin was selected by the National Park Service to photograph the residents because he is a long-time resident of Hawai'i, as well as an acclaimed photojournalist. Levin had to adapt his photographing techniques to fit the paee of the community. Rather than take quick shots with a 35 millimeter camera, Levin brought in larger equipment whieh required longer, more time-consuming set-ups. This ultimately allowed residents to be comfortable enough to invite him to photograph them in their homes, yielding rare insights into community life in Kalaupapa. Levin, who holds an advanced degree in photography from Pratt Institute in New York, has taught photography at the University of Hawaii, Hawaii Loa College and was the first artist-in-resi-dence at Hawaii School for Girls. He is currently artist-in-residence for the Ohio Arts Council in Dayton. Levin has had shows in Honolulu, other major U.S. and European cities.

View from graveyard at St. Philomena Church. Photo by Wa\jne Leuin, from exhibit "Kalaupapa: A Portrait"