These photos were taken between the years 1993 and 1996 while I was studying photography at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. During this time many of my childhood friends were living on Kou Lane in the Wainaku neighborhood. It was not a “good” part of town. You got to Kou Lane by walking down a narrow pathway off of a main street, through old cane fields until you came upon a dozen plantation homes next to each other. These small homes were probably those of the field workers, all two bedrooms with very small yards. At one point, at least half of these cottages were lived in by my friends, all between the ages of 20 and 25, many of whom had young children. These are my photos from this time.
I stopped by their house on Kou Lane early in the morning and asked to take their picture. They gathered like this on the porch.
This is another friend’s house on Kou Lane. She said she used to see “Night Marchers” walk through this house.
One of Erika’s parents was a Russian artist, the other, a Hawaiian activist.
Woojie’s Bathtime
The kitchen of an old “office” turned house.
I loved this little gas stove.
Corey was a friend from Elementary School. We shot these in the yard outside her home. This is her third child.
This pillar just did not seem to match the house.
Afternoon on Fourth of July at Kole Kole Park.
Gabe at dusk on the porch on Kou Lane.
Evening on Kou Lane meant beers and cigarrettes.
Skaters hanging out at Poppy’s house on Kou Lane.
Photography by Maikalani 