Aloha o wau ʻo Kapulei Flores, noho au ma ka Moku o Keawe. Aloha my name is Kapulei Flores and I'm from the Moku o Keawe, also known as Hawaiʻi Island.

 

I am a 23 year old Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) photographer focused on capturing authentic moments and showing a perspective of Hawaiʻi through native eyes.

 

My goal is to use photography as a tool with activism and perpetuating the culture of Hawaiʻi. My family and I have been involved in the Protect Mauna Kea Movement for 10+ years which has allowed me to capture my family's journey throughout this movement, as well as be able to document other frontlines around the world.

 

Through documenting different cultural events, ceremonies, and movements I have had the privilege of having my work and my story of photography and Mauna Kea be featured in Teen Vogue, Buzzfeed News, Vox, Ms. Magazine’s 25 under 25, and more.

 

I have helped to put together a series of exhibits as well as having my work featured in exhibits like Indigenous Photograph, Photoville, and Illuminative. As of now I work for Mauna Kea Education and Awareness (MKEA), run the @protectmaunakea Instagram, as well as having my own photography account called @kapzphotography. Through photography and social media, I have been able to highlight different phenomenal native leaders and communities who continuously work to protect our land and people.