Kent Nishimura :: Examining People, Places, Things – A blog by Honolulu, Hawaii Photojournalist Kent Nishimura

I gotta hand it to you…

Posted on 12/26/11 by Kent

Eight month old Cooper Wall Wagner sticks his fingers in President Barack Obama’s mouth as he poses for a picture with Cooper’s parents Greg, right, and Meredith Wagner in Kaneohe, Hawaii, Dec. 25. The President and Mrs. Obama made their annual trip to greet current and retired members of the US military and their families and ate a Christmas Day meal in the Anderson Hall mess hall at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

So the frame above this is quite funny. But let me get to it…thats right folks…it’s Story Time with Kent! Bear with me, as I’ve found it quite fun to ramble on in my blog posts. Seriously though, it’s been a crazy couple of days. First night of POTUS’s vacation in Hawaii, he went ahead and deviated fromt eh norm. Typically with POTUS arrivals he’ll jet from Hickam to Kailua, and the ‘travel pool’ will get a lid, which allows us to go home. Come Christmas morning, as I found myself not caring that there were some gifts with my name on them wrapped underneath the tree, nor the fact that my mom was preparing an awesome christmas meal for the rest of the family’s breakfast, I slung my cameras over my shoulders and headed, with my pops in tow, out the door…the bass heavy beat of dub-step stomped it’s way through the air as I walked out the door. But wait?! What’s this? It’s dub-step CHRISTMAS MUSIC?!

“Today’s gonna kick ass.” I told myself.
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It’s that time of year again…

Posted on 12/24/11 by Kent

US President Barack Obama waves as he disembarks from Air Force One at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Honolulu, Hawaii, Friday, Dec. 23, 2010.

So It’s that time of year again. The President is chillin in his swanky vacation rental in Kailua and my winter break is pretty much booked. But who am I to complain? (I think it’s just the photographer in me. We complain about everything.) I have my health, I have work, and I’m photographing the leader of the free world. How awesome is that??
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A day that will live in Infamy…

Posted on 12/08/11 by Kent

A Marine firing detail prepares for a memorial service for the 70th anniversary of the attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor on the island of Oahu on December 7, 2011 in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. On the morning of December 7, 1941 a surprise military attack was conducted by aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy against the U.S. Pacific Fleet being moored in Pearl Harbor becoming a major catalyst for the United States entering World War II.

I was lucky growing up; my parents believe that a deep understanding of my cultural heritage was essential to me growing up into a well rounded young man. Perhaps one of the more important things my mom stressed besides cultural understanding was that of an understanding of history and paying attention to not only every day details, but details that have happened throughout history itself.
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Angry Christians Redux

Posted on 11/01/11 by Kent

A few years back, there was a group from the “Cry-to-god Ministries” that secured a permit to utilize the Hemenway Courtyard for free-speech. The group then proceeded to antagonize the student body, in an attempt to engage with them about their spirituality through confrontation. Some of will you will remember that there was a lot of coverage from Ka Leo back when they showed up in March 2009. http://goo.gl/Xm1Zb.
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APEC is coming…

Posted on 10/27/11 by Kent

Gaye Chan, a professor at the University of Hawaii defaces a sign welcoming the upcoming APEC summit on Bachman Lawn at the University of Hawaii at Manoa Campus on October 26, 2011 in Honolulu, Hawaii.

APEC is right around the corner, and it’s seriously going to keep my occupied for most of that week. APEC, or the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, is a hot button topic for some especially with the rise of the #Occupy Movements around the world. There are those who believe that APEC is bad and evil because the little guy gets tossed in the poop shoot and left to hang out to dry in the wind.

Yesterday, a group made up of 15-20 people marched along the McCarthy Mall at the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus voicing their opposition to a sign placed at the front of the campus welcoming APEC to Hawaii. The protesters believe that the welcoming of APEC doesn’t represent the full view of the entire university community, and they wanted it taken down.

Wether or not it’s bad, It’s going to be my job for four days to cover protests and possibly riots in and around Honolulu as the days count down to the APEC CEO Summit and Plenary meetings. I, along with my fellow Honolulu freelance photojournalist, Eugene Tanner will be apart of a 15 man team that Agence France-Presse will covering APEC with. During my last two days of APEC duty, I will be working in the White House Travel Pool along side my good friend Cory Lum, who will be working in the International Pool providing coverage for all.

All images ©Kent Nishimura a Honolulu, HI based Photojournalist | www.kentnishimura.net

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Dispatch from New York

Posted on 10/13/11 by Kent

At the 1130 club students are able to share their work with Editors from the New York Times, TIME Magazine, Newsweek, The Associated Press, Getty Images and more.

Living in the middle of the Pacific doesn’t afford me the opportunity to attend a lot of workshops regularly, but when I had found out that I had indeed been accepted to Barnstorm XXIV, the Eddie Adams workshop, I immediately booked my plane tickets. While I can’t compare Barnstorm to other photo workshops like the Missouri or Mountain Workshops, it’s been perhaps the most unique, amazing experience of my life so far.

Many friends told me that Barnstorm this magical workshop where they met amazing people and lasting friendships were forged, but as I found out this past weekend, that was just the tip of the iceberg. My good friend Cory Lum was the first to introduce me to the idea of applying to the workshop. He’s an 1993 alumni of the workshop, from the blue team with Chris Hondros, Alex Garcia, and Ami Vitale. One day over beers, he suggested I apply for the workshop. “It’s an amazing experience. It’ll blow your mind” he said. Continue Reading

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#OccupyWallSt

Posted on 10/06/11 by Kent

Occupy Wall Street protestors and union members stage a protest near Wall Street in New York, October 5, 2011. The demonstrators are protesting bank bailouts, foreclosures and high unemployment from their encampment in the financial district of New York City.

Made my way down to Wall Street yesterday to get a feel for whats going on with “Occupy Wall Street.” The “Occupy” movement has been growing legs and moving across the globe. What I found interesting is that for a group, they are extremely organized and are utilizing social media and technology to their advantage. Yesterday, they marched from Zucotti Park, a privately owned park in lower Manhattan to City Hall.

I wish I could spend more time documenting what happens, but I’ll be off to the Catskills for Barnstorm XXIV. So excited! I can’t wait! More images after the jump
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New York City again

Posted on 10/04/11 by Kent

People walk along 8th Avenue fronting The New York Times building is seen on October 4, 2011 in New York, NY.

It’s been a year since I visited New York City. Last time, it was just to visit my good friend Chad Hiu, a director at the International YMCA. This year, of course was for the Eddie Adams Workshop. Walking along 8th Avenue, I found myself standing in front of The New York Times building. I am currently a freelancer for the National Desk in Honolulu, HI. It’s my dream job to be a staffer with the times.

Time to hit the hay, its 11:45pm here in NY, and I have to get an early start tomorrow.

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The Faces of Hawaii Five-0

Posted on 09/12/11 by Kent

Grace Park attends the screening of season 2 of Hawaii Five-0 at Sunset on the Beach

Hawaii Five-0 is a police procedural drama that returns for a second season on September 19. A re-imagining of the original 1968–1980 television series, the new “5-0″ is set in the modern day, with Alex O’Loughlin as Commander Steve McGarrett. For more information on the series check out CBS’s 5-0 website. More images of the actors after the jump. Continue Reading

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The Red Carpet and the Sunset on the Beach

Posted on 09/11/11 by Kent

Terry O'Quinn greets fans from the Red Carpet of the screening of the premiere of "Hawaii 5-0" Season 2 at Sunset on the Beach on September 10, 2011 in Waikiki, Hawaii.

Spent the better part of an afternoon at Waikiki Beach just near the Kapahulu Groin. There, the iconic sunset on the beach screen, would thousands of spectators see the world premiere of Hawaii 5-0′s second season. I was called by Getty Images’ entertainment desk in LA, for photos from the red carpet; I agreed to cover it for them. Above is an outtake of Terry O’Quinn greeting fans along the red carpet. What a classy guy.

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