The Creative Adventures of
Kawika Singson By Sara Stover
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KeOlaMagazine.com | July - August 2021
aredevil. Lava chaser. Photographer. Host of television series Everything Hawaii. While all are accurate descriptions of Kawika Singson, the moniker he prefers is “creative adventurer.” “I don’t call myself a photographer. I just like to be creative,” he affirms. “And I am always learning something new about the camera!” It’s this passion for finding creative outlets that drives Kawika to head out to Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park with his camera. “Not before checking the park’s webcams first,” Kawika points out. Fans of his YouTube videos may know him as a free spirit who frequently drives off in his truck with no clear destination in mind, turning onto whatever road his na‘au (intuition) leads him down. Kawika’s treks to Volcano, however, are much more calculated. “After years of visiting the lava flow, I can just look at the light in the webcam and know if I should make the drive from Kona for a three-hour hike.”
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Treading Lightly Despite all the precautions taken, the danger Kawika faces is undeniable. Hardened lava can be as sharp as razor blades or as fragile as paper. Lava tubes are deep. The sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen halides, and hydrogen sulfide that can be emitted from Kīlauea Volcano are unsafe for humans in high concentrations. There are also risks of being hit by projectile molten rock known as “lava spatter” during intense eruptions like that of 2018. There are safer alternatives to getting up close to the lava, including using a zoom lens or drone for photographs. In the case of shooting lava, Kawika eschews these, insisting on experiencing what he photographs rather than allowing technology to do the work. What Kawika senses as he gets within feet of molten lava comes through in his photos, giving them a palpable depth. “Photographers have died out there,” he discloses. “So, it’s important to be careful, listen, and observe. I am attuned to the lava. It’s like rice paper, so I’ve learned to walk lightly. It’s all about foot placement and how you apply your weight.” This approach keeps Kawika out of harm’s way and also results in some otherworldly shots. “My intention is always to create an artistic shot and bring a vision to life that has been rolling around in my head!” Kawika explains. Respecting the Lava Kawikaʻs dad, Keihanaikukauakahihulihe‘ekahaunaele, was the caretaker at Makalawena Beach for many years. He instilled in Kawika the value of mālama ‘āina (taking care of the land) and leaving no trace, a principle that was passed down from Kawika’s great-grandfather, Kapena Hulihe‘e. The only sign that Kawika has been where he has is his photos and videos.
“Thanks to my dad, I’m not afraid of fire. It’s the lava you have to respect. I learned that at an early age,” Kawika says, referring to his first exposure to active lava. “It was 1974. I was 11. My dad was kolohe kine [rascal-like] and went holoholo [for a ride] to the erupting volcano. I was terrified!” “We also saw Mauna Loa erupt in 1983. We watched it coming down the road! They eventually closed Saddle [Road], but we saw it before they did.” It was these impressions of fire and lava that stuck with Kawika over the years. The creativity that Pele’s canvas inspires is not lost on
