Late Afternoon at Liljestrand

The Liljestrand House, on Tantalus Drive in Honolulu, is an outstanding example of architect Vladimir Ossipoff’s work and of mid-twentieth century Hawaiian modern architecture. His iconic design is known for seamless integration of building and site, clever management of views, and a creative mix of modern and natural materials.

While this house has been photographed by dozens of professionals and thousands of visitors, it was my aim to capture its timeless allure, accentuated by the later afternoon light and shadows that lead the viewer into the scene.

In the Loupe, PeopleHoward WolffMarch 12, 2025Honolulu

Dr. Sen at 99

A native of Kyoto, Dr. Genshitsu Sen is the 15th-generation Grand Master (Iemoto) of Urasenke, which is one of the most widely-known schools of Japanese tea.

Attending a lecture at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, I was struck by the vitality of this gentleman, who was 99 years old at the time I photographed him.

He credits his health and longevity to a daily dose of green tea.

In the Loupe, PeopleHoward WolffMarch 12, 2025Honolulu

Tyler

During a portraiture workship in Brooklyn last year, I was fortunate enough to spent a good part of it with Tyler, an extraordinarily photogenic young man. This image of him was my favorite; it’s that moment between poses —the pause—that somehow reveals a soul, in a quiet way.

In the Loupe, PeopleHoward WolffFebruary 9, 2024New York

Waimanalo Gothic

The couple in “Waimanalo Gothic” are actually dear family friends.

When they told us they were engaged to be married, I jumped at the chance to memorialize this milestone. I love that their playfulness emerges without even a hint of a grin in this formal composition.

In the Loupe, PeopleHoward WolffFebruary 9, 2024Hawaii

Polynesian Ponderer

I was able to catch this Polynesian young man – far from home but never far from phone – pondering in the shade before the start of the King Kamehameha Day parade in downtown Honolulu.

In the Loupe, PeopleHoward WolffAugust 26, 2022Hawaii

Kamehameha Warrior

I photographed this striking Hawaiian warrior, wearing a traditional helmet, at the start of the parade honoring Kamehameha the Great, the founder and first ruler of the Kingdom of Hawaii.

In the Loupe, PeopleHoward WolffAugust 26, 2022Hawaii

Through the Window

I was photographing a ground blessing in the Papakōlea neighborhood for a new home to be built for a multi-generation family with the help of volunteers from Honolulu Habitat for Humanity. As I was packing up to leave the site, so was the family.

In the LoupeHoward WolffSeptember 1, 2021

Quiet Power

As part of my “Backyard Geographic” series, I have been looking for opportunities to create photographs without getting on a plane during the Covid pandemic.

In the LoupeHoward WolffSeptember 1, 2021

Hitting Your Mark

Positioning myself at the top of a parking garage, I framed the shot and waited patiently for a passerby to hit his mark. The marks on the sidewalk and the converging lines of the curb cuts suggest that the subject is an actor on a stage, referencing the Hawaii Theater without identifying it by name.

In the LoupeHoward WolffAugust 5, 2021Honolulu

Air New Zealand's Kia Ora

Kia Ora, Air New Zealand’s in-flight magazine, featured this image on their back page. It was one of several that I took from a helicopter on a trip to the northern part of the southern island.

In the Loupe, PressHoward WolffAugust 2, 2021Honolulu, New Zealand, Kia Ora