Shane Sakata Photographer

Shane Sakata Photographer Fine Art Photographer Based in Honolulu My photographs are the tangible result of me questioning the world around me.

I am more aware of, and engaged with, the world around me because of my photography practice. Simply put, photography enhances my life and I hope that by sharing my work I am somehow able to enhance your life (and maybe even the walls of your home or office) too!

Come out and see my latest zine “The Precipice” at HEART of Honolulu on Saturday, May 9th in Chinatown. I’ll be joining ...
04/30/2026

Come out and see my latest zine “The Precipice” at HEART of Honolulu on Saturday, May 9th in Chinatown. I’ll be joining 20 other makers from Hi Zine & Print near the corner of Hotel Street and Nuuanu Avenue from 11am - 4pm.

The Precipice is what I'm calling a hybrid zine - part copy shop and part handmade - all my original images alongside some vintage newspaper accounts. Come out to see it or just to say hello - I’d love to see you!

Getting ready to drop of selected images from my Hawaii, Our Own portfolio to Downtown Art Center tomorrow as we prepare...
02/08/2026

Getting ready to drop of selected images from my Hawaii, Our Own portfolio to Downtown Art Center tomorrow as we prepare for the Pacific New Media: Contemporary Photography in Hawaii 2026 exhibition.

My images that will be presented as an installation with historic ephemera. But I also created a signed limited edition companion zine that you see here. It will be available to purchase at the Zine & Photobook table during the run of the exhibition.

Please join me and the many other talented photographers that will be in the show with prints and selling zines. The opening reception on Thursday, February 12 from 5:30 - 8 p.m. and the exhibit is open until February 28th in DACs main gallery.

On January 17, 1893, 133 years ago today, the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi was overthrown. Five years later, in 1898, Hawaiʻi was ...
01/17/2026

On January 17, 1893, 133 years ago today, the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi was overthrown. Five years later, in 1898, Hawaiʻi was annexed by the United States and a headline in the Seattle Post Intellegencer read “Two Thrones For Sale”

These images and related ephemera are part of a larger body of work, GREETINGS From The STATE of ALOHA, that looks at tourism in Hawaii and the long lasting, sometimes overlooked, impacts of colonialism, cultural appropriation and the commodification of place.

Images:
Hawaiian flag flying over
Banners featuring Queen Liliʻuokalani and King Kalākaua
US Flag on display at the Moana Surfrider Hotel in Waikiki
A mural of eight Hawaiian monarchs in a parking garage in Waikiki
“Two Thrones For Sale”, Seattle Post Intellegencer, April 6, 1898

During 2025 I intentionally curtailed my social media presence and that will likely continue into 2026. I may have been ...
01/17/2026

During 2025 I intentionally curtailed my social media presence and that will likely continue into 2026.

I may have been quiet here but I’ve been working hard behind the scenes on GREETINGS From The STATE of ALOHA and I’m thrilled to share that my work was juried into the Pacific New Media: Contemporary Photography in Hawaii 2026 exhibition.

If you are in Honolulu the work will be on view February 12-28, 2026 in the Main Gallery at Downtown Art Center. A group of us will also be selling zines and small photobooks during the run of the exhibition. Please join me
at the opening reception on Thursday, February 12 from 5:30 - 8 p.m.

More soon on my work that was selected for the show…

Today I learned that Martin Parr passed away. He was a huge inspiration to me and set an example that encouraged me to b...
12/07/2025

Today I learned that Martin Parr passed away. He was a huge inspiration to me and set an example that encouraged me to be brave enough to share my quirky views of the world…here’s to you Martin! Aloha and Mahalo from Hawai’i!

Sunsets, palms trees and kiʻi, or tiki as they are more commonly referred to, are unavoidable visuals in the state and l...
07/14/2025

Sunsets, palms trees and kiʻi, or tiki as they are more commonly referred to, are unavoidable visuals in the state and lean hard into the stereotypical image of Hawaiʻi as an exotic tourist destination.

I'm thrilled to share that I recently took on a new challenge related to photography - one I hope many local photographe...
07/10/2025

I'm thrilled to share that I recently took on a new challenge related to photography - one I hope many local photographers will be interested in being a part of!

Many of you know that for the last couple of years I have volunteered to help get the Pacific New Media Contemporary Photography in Hawaiʻi exhibition up on the walls and staffed. That led directly to me being asked by Floyd Takeuchi and PF Bentley to take on a larger role as the coordinator of this November show at Downtown Art Center. It's been a wonderful experience so far! Here are the details:

CALL TO PHOTOGRAPHERS! Downtown Art Center is excited to announce the River to Richards: 2025 Documentary Photography in Hawai‘i exhibition, coming this November! We're inviting Hawai‘i-based photographers to submit powerful documentary images that tell the story of Honolulu’s Downtown/Chinatown district (between River Street and Richards Street).

This exhibition, juried by award-winning photojournalist PF Bentley, will pair selected contemporary works with vintage photographs, celebrating both the past and present of our vibrant urban core—DAC’s home and Honolulu's creative heart.

🗓️ Open Call Dates: August 4 – September 5, 2025
📍 Exhibition Location: Downtown Art Center Main Gallery, Honolulu
🎉 Exhibition Dates: November 6 – 29, 2025
💵 Entry Fees: $15 per single photo (limit 10), $45 per series (max 5 photos)
📣 Eligibility: Open to all amateur and professional photographers living in Hawai‘i
📌 Image Criteria: Must depict the Downtown/Chinatown Honolulu area; must not have appeared in prior O‘ahu exhibitions; no watermarks, please.

Find out more at downtownarthi.org/documentaryphotography.

A big mahalo goes out to Karen Hass, the Lane Curator of Photographs at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, for selecting my...
07/10/2025

A big mahalo goes out to Karen Hass, the Lane Curator of Photographs at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, for selecting my image to be on . It’s a cool and unique venue AND I get to share the fridge door with some very accomplished photographers that I truly admire. It’s a win all the way around!

Leaning on a kiʻi seems just wrong...even if its a man made version at the entrance to a luau for tourists. In this ve...
07/07/2025

Leaning on a kiʻi seems just wrong...even if its a man made version at the entrance to a luau for tourists. In this venue it is merely a prop representing tiki culture and not recognized as a symbolic focal point of Hawaiian religious ritual.

Would you go to a theme park and lean on a fiberglass statue of Jesus, Mohammed or the Virgin Mary?

One of my favorite images, “Aloha Attire”, recently garnered an Honorable Mention in the New York Center for Photographi...
06/26/2025

One of my favorite images, “Aloha Attire”, recently garnered an Honorable Mention in the New York Center for Photographic Art “Apparel” call juried by Niamh Treacy. I love that this image resonates with people and am grateful for the recognition. Mahalo!

All fifty images an be seen in the online gallery here: https://www.nyc4pa.com/apparel

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