‘An Overtime State’ focuses on locals trying to survive in Hawaiʻi by working multiple jobs. This story was done for FLUX, a Hawaiʻi-based publication, for their Nights issue with writer Eunica Escalante. In Hawaiʻiʻs current financial climate, a yearly salary of $96,000 is considered low income for a family of four. In 2018, a single person making $65,350 a year was considered low income.

Courtnie Tokuda, poses for a portrait at her workplace in Honolulu, HI. “I have a master’s degree and 10 years of teaching experience, and still, I take in more money per hour being a server than being a teacher. If I didn’t have to work two jobs th

Virginia Lin, a Rainbow Drive-In employee, poses for a portrait at her workplace. “It’s tiring being a single mom and working over 60 hours a week. My days are either working, preparing food for the baby, or catching up on sleep. I don’t get much ti

James Orlando poses for a portrait at his workplace in Honolulu, HI.

Madeline Escalante, a single mom, accountant, and Lyft/Uber driver, is one of the many here struggling to survive. “I’ve been a single mom for 8 years. No income, no help, nothing from their father. Even though Hawai’i is so unaffordable, I could ne

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