a place of refuge

Below is an excerpt from Rae Sojot's 'A Place of Refuge':

Screen Shot 2018-09-06 at 1.43.10 PM.png

Puʻuhonua o Waiʻanae is the largest and oldest houseless village on O’ahu, serving as home to around 170 people. The community is led by matriarchal figure, Twinkle Borge, and several female captains. Borge’s leadership skills and ideas have revolutionized Oʻahu’s approach to houselessness and in 2019, she was honored by the Honolulu City Council.

Two years ago, members of Wolf & Woman and I began working with Twinkle and the village. Prior to teaching their youth photography, we were commissioned by FLUX Magazine to cover everyday life in Puʻuhonua. The following images are my portion of this coverage.

To read more about Puʻuhonua o Waiʻanae and their future plans, please visit alohaliveshere.org

Screen Shot 2018-09-06 at 7.37.31 PM.png

MARIE ERIEL HOBRO IS A DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHER AND FILMMAKER BASED IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. SHE WAS BORN AND RAISED IN MARYLAND UNTIL THE AGE OF 10 AND SPENT THE REST OF HER PRE-TEEN AND TEENAGE YEARS IN HAWAI'I. SHE IS CURRENTLY STUDYING VISUAL JOURNALISM AT BROOKS INSTITUTE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND WAS A STUDENT PARTICIPANT IN THE EDDIE ADAMS XXIX WORKSHOP. 

HOBRO ENJOYS WORKING ON STORIES THAT CELEBRATE AND EMBRACE INDIVIDUALITY, BREAK SOCIAL NORMS AND DEFY ODDS. SHE IS ALSO INTERESTED IN EXPLORING THE HEALING POWER OF HUMOR AND THE EFFECT THAT IT HAS ON MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH. WITH HER CAMERA AS HER TOOL, SHE HOPES TO GIVE A VOICE TO THE UNIQUE AND UNNOTICED PEOPLE OF THIS WORLD-- EMPOWERING THEM AND GIVING THEM THE POSITIVE RECOGNITION THAT THEY DESERVE.

 

"JOURNALISM IS FOR THE PEOPLE.

IT IS COMMUNITY-CENTRIC YET GLOBAL IN PERSPECTIVE.

IT IS TO INFORM AND ENLIGHTEN; TO EXPAND THE DIALOGUE;

TO PROBE AND PROVOKE; TO STIMULATE AND ENGAGE;

TO SHOW THE WAY OR PRESENT ANOTHER WAY;

TO OPEN THE DOORS AND TO COVER WRONG;

TO GIVE THE VOICELESS A MEGAPHONE."

-BRENDA BUTLER