The Pacific Dream Photography studio manager at The Fairmont Kea Lani in Maui, Dean DaLomba, has started his job in April 2021. And he couldn’t be happier about it. That’s because Dean’s love for photography goes way back in his college days. Besides, the challenge of managing large groups of people makes his life more exciting and rewarding.
“Pacific Dream Photography has helped reignite my love for photography, and I couldn’t be happier.”
Dean fell in love with photography in the darkroom. He discovered photography before the digital era, and the coming to life of photographs in the immersion bath enchanted him forever. This is the purest form of photography: you don’t see the result until you go through the chemistry of developing the film. As you can’t go back at redo the photo, you have to make sure you capture the moment perfectly. It isn’t easy, but it trains the photographer to see beyond the scene in front of them, to dive deep into the story, and convey feelings and emotions.
“My love for photography started in a dark room during my college days (yes, I’m that old-pre digital baby). I took an elective course, photography 101. I was hooked the moment I saw my images come to life in the immersion bath. Photography is both a passion and a growing side hobby.”
On Maui, people come from all over the world. The diversity of Pacific Dream Photography’s clients is one of the challenges Dean has to face. How can you arrange a photo session to fit the expectations of a multi-generational group? How can you adapt to cultural differences and find the best locations for everyone’s preferences? It takes a special type of person, someone empathic, kind, and determined to make everybody happy.
“I love knowing that what I do every day adds to the vacation memories of each guest. Also, being able to interact with folks from all over the globe puts a smile on my face.”
Enjoy the beautiful landscape of Maui and take time to meet its extraordinary people. And if you need someone to help you transform your vacation moments into amazing photographs, look for Dean in Wailea. His love for photography and willingness to deliver the best photo session you can have will provide a unique Hawaiian experience you won’t soon forget.
Maternity is a very special time in a couple’s life. Whether they’re expecting for the first time or not, maternity is a time of celebrating life, connecting with nature, and embracing family. And what better way to build some memories than a professional photo session? Add the exquisite décor offered by Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea and you’ll have the recipe for an unforgettable experience.
IT’S ABOUT US
Maternity is a family story. It’s a time of change and emotions. But instead of focusing on the future, focus on the present and enjoy the moment. Life is changing every day and so is the relationship between two people. Use this time to strengthen your love, become better people and a more united couple. Hawaii is a great place for finding peace and truth. It’s a place full of wisdom that celebrates love and family.
Ka ‘ike a ka mäkua he hei na ke keiki. – The knowledge of the parent is absorbed by the child.
A MATERNITY PHOTO SESSION AT SUNSET
Hawaii is also a place where man and nature live in harmony. As M.J. Harden said, “Nature is where it all begins for the Hawaiians. In fact, they call themselves keiki o ka aina, children of the land”. Walk your way through life respecting and loving nature, and teach your children to contemplate and embrace nature.
Nature is life. Therefore, the beautiful sunsets Maui has to offer are the perfect background for your maternity photos. Sunsets are more than an aesthetic view, they are a spiritual experience. They’re full of meaning and speak about expectations, new beginnings, and realizations. It’s a great way to document maternity, a milestone in a couple’s life.
Let Maui inspire you and fill your heart with pure joy. Absorb the smell of the ocean and the colors of the sunset, feel the sand under your feet, and emerge into Hawaiian culture. Prepare yourself to welcome your child with love, wisdom, and calm. The Hawaiian islands are an inspiration. Be grateful for this moment and cherish it forever.
Turtle Bay Resort has reopened on July 1st, 2021 after a long absence due to COVID-related travel restrictions and a massive renovation project. Under the motto “Oʻahu Is Calling”, the resort awaits you to emerge into the authentic Hawaiian landscape, face the most powerful waves in the world, and discover more than the surroundings. As they say, “it’s time to stop, enjoy, and breathe with us.”
After more than a year of being away from its guests, the resort comes back transformed. Designer Dianna Wong brought influences from the amazing landscape that surrounds the resort, the culture of the North Shore surfers, and the peaceful bays that inspire meditation and contemplation. With a brand new lobby opening to the ocean, a redesigned restaurant, and a new pool experience, Turtle Bay Resort is eager to welcome you. And even if we don’t come back to what it was, we’re able to build a better experience, embrace nature, and create a new mindset.
The grand opening day was a celebration of its long history (the resort is open since 1972), authentic Hawaiian culture, and passion for hospitality. It was an emotional reunion, with traditional hula dancers and flowers everywhere. After such a long break, being together was a joyful experience. The reimagined Turtle Bay opened not only its doors but also its big heart to all its friends and guests.
So if you’re looking for iconic surfing, amazing culinary discoveries, or outstanding scenery, Turtle Bay Resort is what you’re looking for. Perfect for adventure or relaxation, honeymoon or family trips, the first time in Hawaii or the annual holiday, the resort brings you paradise on the Oahu’s North Shore. It’s time to start planning your next vacation in Hawaii! Welcome back, Turtle Bay Resort!
Although we shouldn’t need a dedicated day to love and honor our mothers, we sometimes need a reminder. The origins of Mother’s Day go back to Greeks and Romans who celebrated their mother goddesses. In the US, it became official in 1914 when President Wilson established the second Sunday of May as Mother’s Day, to remind us to thank and celebrate the maternal figures in our lives.
Most of us take our mothers for granted. They were there before us and it’s in their nature to take care of us and be there whenever we need them. Mother’s Day is an opportunity to reverse the roles and express our gratitude. Here are some special ways to celebrate your mother on Mother’s Day in Hawaii.
A WALK ON THE BEACH
Take some time just to be with your mother and listen to her. We’re so busy doing anything else than listening that we all need a slow pace walk to reconnect with our mothers. And what better place than a Hawaiian beach to do that? You can use this time to bring back happy memories, understand her perspective on life and motherhood, and share a peaceful moment.
A FUN DAY WITH THE ENTIRE FAMILY
Instead of presents, offer your mother a day in nature, surrounded by the entire family. Build new memories on the beautiful islands of Hawaii. Anything works, from a fun day at the beach to hiking or horseback riding for the first time. Allow your mother to relax and have fun. You can ask her what she would like to do or plan a surprise party. Remember that Mother’s Day is for her and don’t force any activities on her. She may want a day at the spa or to play with her grandchildren. Make her happy!
A FAMILY PHOTO SESSION
Mothers love to have pictures of their children and grandchildren around the house. Plan a professional photo session and offer your mother beautiful memories. You’ll have fun during the photoshoot and professional photos to print and put on display. Hawaii is a great location for that. Choose a landscape that fits your family such as a tropical garden or a white sand beach. Hawaii is famous for its beautiful sunsets so this may be a good idea for a photo session too.
You can make Mother’s Day about your mother even if you can’t spend the day with her. A phone call, a postcard, or a touching message will make her equally happy. Mothers know when we think about them and love us no matter what.
Hau’oli La Makuahine!
It’s time for new adventures, sunshine, and outdoor activities. Fairmont Orchid is waiting for you on Big Island, Hawaii. The open-air oceanfront resort is ready to help you leave the worries behind and spend quality time with your family and friends. It may be exploring the resort’s private lagoon, seeing sea turtles, or learning to hula and make lei. It may be the incredible views or the awarded Spa Without Walls. We don’t know what you’ll enjoy most but we know for sure that something at Fairmont Orchid will make your vacation a hit.
BEACH ACTIVITIES
In need of vitamin D to boost your immune system? Take a walk on the beach. Or run. Or sunbathe. Or do whatever you like to do in the sunshine. At Fairmont Orchid you’ll find welcoming people ready to give you the first lesson of stand-up paddleboarding, canoeing, and snorkeling. They have plenty of great places to show you. Bring along your kids as the resort has activities for them too.
FAMILY REUNIONS
It’s time for a family reunion and what better destination than Hawaii? The tropical climate is perfect for outdoor activities to recharge your batteries and reconnect with your loved ones. The Big Island is perfect for hiking. You can see extremely rare green sand beaches, the most beautiful waterfalls in Hawaii, the place where Captain Cook first landed on Hawaii, or the Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. The Big Island offers hikes for all fitness levels and tastes.
MILESTONE CELEBRATIONS
Celebrate your life-affirming events in a special way. You may recently got engage or you are expecting your first baby. You may celebrate your wedding anniversary or your baby’s first steps. We need to acknowledge and celebrate these moments and transform them into beautiful memories. And what better way to do this than taking some time-off and allowing you to focus on this milestone? Fairmont Orchid can host your special elegant dinner in one of their restaurants or take you on a helicopter tour. You can book a professional photo session on the beach at sunset. There are plenty of options, all you have to do is be grateful for the amazing things that happen in your life.
From time to time we all need to get away. Some want to relax, others to try new things and explore new places. Many take just their better half with them, others bring the entire family. But we all have in common one thing: the need to rediscover kindness, peace, and serenity. Aloha!
Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa celebrated 30 years since they opened their doors for the first time. Over the years, thousands of associates contributed to making this place special for people from all over the world. More than 100 of them have been working here for all 30 years. On this special day, Grand Hyatt Kauai expressed its gratitude and celebrated the strong relationships they formed.
“We’ve welcomed many guests into our ohana and formed lifelong friends. Mahalo to all of our ohana both near and far!” – Grand Hyatt Kauai
Although the resort is currently closed due to the coronavirus, it won’t be for long. The resort is scheduled to reopen on April 5th, 2021 when Kauai rejoins the State of Hawaii Safe Travels Program. While waiting to be able to welcome its guests again, Grand Hyatt Kauai uses the time to make improvements to its facilities and guestrooms and gain accreditation for its cleanliness and safety protocols.
Like all of us, the resort remained connected with its guests through social media. They didn’t forget to share a rainbow from time to time, remind us of the white sands of Poipu, and make our days better with tropical flowers or a gracious sea turtle. Hawaii is one of the best places in the world to chase a rainbow but it wouldn’t be the same without the wonderful people who welcome you with flowers and good vibes. Hawaii is a healing place, a place for celebrating love and kindness. And Grand Hyatt Kauai awaits you with open arms and the warmest Aloha.
Amid events, activities, tasks, and to-do lists people try to prove themselves and forget about their authentic self. They can’t afford to stop and look inside anymore. Most of the time, people are also afraid to do it. What if they find someone who doesn’t fit social standards, who’s tired or unhappy? Even when they look in the mirror they often see a fake image, a reflection of society’s opinion on them rather than their true self.
“If you’re lonely when you’re alone, you’re in bad company.” – Jean-Paul Sartre
It takes courage to book a solo photo session because you can’t hide from the camera.The camera never lies and doesn’t care about social standards. The camera sees beyond all your masks and captures not only appearance but also personality, mood, and feelings. During a solo photo session, you discover the real you, the one you’ve left behind, and that can be empowering and overwhelming at the same time. Especially for women, a solo photo session in Hawaii is an amazing experience that helps them see themselves in a new light.
Hawaii is a great place to rediscover yourself, embrace inner beauty, and cultivate femininity. The landscape supports you on this journey and reminds you that we’re all part of the universe. We’re different and that’s good. Hawaii doesn’t judge and teaches us the lesson of gratitude and love. You won’t be alone in front of the camera. The ocean and the sun will be there with you.
Many people feel awkward in front of the camera. They don’t know what to do or how to pose. They overthink each move. This is the sign of an inner disconnection: the one you are and the one you think you are (or ought to be) are different. A solo photo session allows you to reconnect, accept, and let go of misconceptions and comparisons. The camera is there for you, the beautiful woman walking barefoot on the beach. It’s one moment of your life and you should cherish it. It doesn’t matter how you look, what you wear, or how much money is in your bank account. Your femininity and strength will break through each image. It’s a hard challenge but the reward is outstanding. Feeling good about yourself, being truthful to yourself, and loving yourself and others are the only things that can bring us happiness.
His name is Gary Blake and he is the studio manager at Pacific Dream Photography, Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort. This is the third Pacific Dream Photography location where Gary captures our guests’ stories and transforms them into beautiful memories. Over the last four years, he has been working in Florida, Mexico, and Hawaii. In love with photography and traveling, Gary is the perfect person to trust your holiday photos with.
THE DETAILS THAT MAKE A STORY
A photographer sees beyond the subject. Each element of the frame has a role and sometimes the smallest details create the story. For Gary, this is the main challenge and the favorite part of his career. The camera captures more than we can see. It captures feelings, emotions, energies, and personalities. But it needs a storyteller to put all elements in place and Gary loves to be the person who reveals and captures your experience.
“The details of every image make up a greater story that we get to tell. To me, that is beautiful and challenging all at once.”
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
If you ask Gary which is his favorite location you get a dazzling answer. He loves to travel, explore, and make nature part of his experience. His energy and enthusiasm are catchy. Add the amazing landscape of the place where he works and you won’t be surprised that most of his clients fall in love with the scenery and prefer outdoor activities. Nature has the power to inspire and teach us so much about ourselves. Outdoor photography is organic and reminds us we are part of the universe.
“No location has ever given me the same experience as the other, and each of them has forced me to think outside of my comfort zone and grow as a photographer and Creative Director.”
PHOTOGRAPHY AS A LIFESTYLE
For Pacific Dream Photography’s photographers, creative directors, and studio managers photography is a lifestyle. They love being behind the camera, witnessing our guests’ special moments, and taking care of every detail. Gary is no exception. He never stops learning, experimenting, meeting new people, and seeking new opportunities and ways to get better. Always ready for the next challenge, Gary dreams of photographing a couple in a helicopter at sunset. This is only a step in the endless list of adventures that await him.
“It is a rush that I hope never stops.”
Many people choose Hawaii as a holiday destination because they want to relax and forget about everyday worries. However, being in a wonderful place and having fun isn’t always enough to leave stress and thoughts aside. Rumination can follow you anywhere. Triggers appear even on holiday. That’s why you need internal mechanisms to cope with a tough period. Here are five strategies to follow for a relaxing holiday in Hawaii.
MEDITATION
Meditation is an ancient practice of Eastern civilization. The oldest documented evidence of people seating in meditative postures is from around 5,000 to 3,000 BCE. It’s thought that by seating in a specific posture and focusing on the breath one can clear the mind and achieve calmness and clarity. Meditation has become popular in Western civilization in the XXth century and its benefits are nowadays recognized by everybody.
If you never tried meditation before, don’t worry. You can learn how to meditate. There are books, teachers, and large communities that can support you in your journey. You can also choose to practice guided meditation in a group or try it by yourself on a secluded beach in Hawaii.
TAPPING
The Emotional Freedom Technique or tapping is a pseudoscientific technique developed in the 1990s’ by Gary Craig. It has a similar principle with acupuncture but is something you do yourself and doesn’t involve needles. It’s thought that by gently tapping specific points of your body while making a statement, you can relieve pain, find confidence, resist anger and fear, and move to a place of peace and calm. Tapping allows you to recognize your feelings and accept them.
Like meditation, tapping is something you learn. There are teachers, books, apps, events, and many other resources that can help you.
YOGA AND EXERCISE
Yoga is also part of Eastern civilization. It’s a spiritual and physical practice that allows you to connect with your body, clear the mind, and unblock parts of you that are caught in stress and pain. There are many yoga methods, suitable for all fitness levels. You can practice yoga in a studio, with an instructor, or on the beach at sunrise. You can practice in the privacy of your hotel room or in the hotel’s garden. You can even practice in the ocean.
Because yoga has a major physical part, practicing outside allows you to add more elements. Waves, the feeling of sand or grass on barefoot, wind, and sun can all become part of your experience. But it doesn’t have to be yoga. It can be surfing, hiking, swimming, diving, or any other sport you enjoy.
NATURE CONTEMPLATION
One of the easiest and often overlooked coping mechanisms is nature contemplation. Take in all the beauty of Hawaii by allowing yourself to observe in silence. Open yourself to the smallest details and observe shapes and colors you’ve never seen before.
Hawaii is also a good place to reconnect with wildlife. Go see sea turtles or whales. Dive and explore the underwater world. But whatever you choose to do, leave the noise of human civilization aside. No music, no conversation, no checking your phone every five minutes. Give your full attention to nature.
FIND TIME FOR YOURSELF
Solitude can be hard to take when your anxiety and stress levels are up to the roof. However, a healthy person needs some solitude from time to time. You can go hiking on the amazing trails of Hawaii. You can take some time for yourself in a spa center. Or you can simply decide to have breakfast by yourself. Taking time for yourself helps you deal with all those things you never have time for; listen to all those voices you don’t allow to speak; understanding your triggers and why they are so powerful.
People are social animals. As a result, we take in everything the world gives us and give back in return everything that happens inside us. We’re connected and we influence each other. Therefore, to give the best of you to your family and friends, you first need to take care of yourself. And not just on the outside. How well we cope with tough times shows how healthy we are on the inside. So learn to listen to yourself and find the perfect strategy that takes you in the right mood.
