PERSONAL: THE BEST OF 2009 - RM ALL STARS!

Dear 2009,

You have been great to me. I found my love and passion for photography. I overcame my fears and inhibitions. Thanks for allowing me to fall flat on my face & watching me get up, dust it off, and laugh adversity in the face! Thanks for bringing out the creative beast in me even when I thought I didn't have enough juice. You helped me... FIND ME!

Thank the lord! It was a great run 2009 - thank you.


Love,
RM

At the end of every year, I have this tradition where I take time out to think about what accomplishments & goals that I have done throughout the year. I have to say that this year was one of the most life changing years of my life.

To my know my future is to embrace & reflect the past...
This past year there were many firsts for me. At the top of the year I was presented with managing a hot reggae band out of New Zealand - the amazing 10 piece band: "Three Houses Down" (an all polynesian roots reggae band) under "Solkrush Entertainment". I have never done this before but went in head first and gave it a hell of a run! I travelled to New Zealand twice this year with a great relative and mentor Soli Mauigoa (owner of Solkrush Entertainment). We went on a month long tour which consisted of cities such as: Las Vegas, Utah, and Hawaii. We did some amazing things like shot the album single: "Kanikapila" in Otara, NZ with another creative relative of mine who is mean with the video camera Dick Stone Leulua'i (Bologna Fungi Films). I got the chance to stretch my graphics side and did the album artwork & photos (another first) for their latest album: "Break Out" which is a sure fire hit! Landed some distribution deals, met some amazing musicians, friends, and people who became family.

Further along the year, I got to meet and work with some inspirational women. One of the first women that i had the pleasure of working with was Anapesi Kai'ili from the H.Y.P.E Movement (Helping Youth Pursue Emancipation). When you look up the word "passion" in the dictionary, I honestly beleive this woman's picture should be right next to it! She is one of the few people that I have met that combines passion, hard work, determination, and love for her polynesian people all rolled into one. She allowed me test my photography skills by doing a H.Y.P.E Photoshoot in L.A. with young polynesian spoken word artists Ben Falealili & Joshua Leomiti. I was dazzled by her work to educate and stimulate the minds of our young youth today by encouraging & uplifting their minds to another level. To beleive that they can accomplish whatever goals that they have! I think this definitely applies to EVERYONE not just youth today - myself included!!! I nominate her as the woman of the year award! Seriously. Thank You Pesi.

Over the course of months while managing a band, holding down a full time job, and trying to put my shoulder to the wheel with my photography - I found that I didn't really think I was good at anything let along my photog work. This was a definite eye opener. This year I learned that I have to start somewhere... and I did thanks to those that beleived in me even when I didn't. I read everything I could get my hands on and just remembered not to let fear impair your ability to see yourself shine (yes I am getting philosophical on you guys). I have always been one to know that if you help others around you that it will come back ten fold.

Trust me there were a lot of mistakes that happened with 2009 but I beleive it's not the mistakes that you focus on but how you bounce back and learn from them.

Here is to wishing everyone a safe and Happy New Years! 

With that said: I have compiled photos called the BEST OF 2009 - RM'S ALL STARS!

Honorable Mentions:

Solkrush Entertainment
Three Houses Down
Bologna Fungi Films

Cerbae (Clothing Line)

Robert Sterling Publishing

Rowena Wilson (BookBinge.Com)

Maele Photography

Schaerer USA Corporation

Fabulous Burgers (off Rosecrans)

Black Sand Media

Vizzun Entertainment

BYU-Hawaii

Roadrunner Live Music Hall

Jr Patane/Aunty Dofi/Ah-You Family

NIU FM (NZ)

OmiPhoto

Tupulaga (Dance Group)
Pacific Eye Radio

Urban Pasifik

Pasifik Seas

Adeaze (Nainz & Vi'i)

Mauigoa Family (Soli & Mele)
Jermaine Lefeiloa'i
Rick Tuiasau

Talanoa Family

Pome'e Family

and my Misa Family (of course)

Facebook and Twitter (LOL)

Please forgive me if I have forgotten you.

Now for the PHOTO ALL-STARS...

(RM Collection)

Ben Falealili

Josh Leomiti

Charlie Pomee (Lead Singer of Three Houses Down)

 

 

The Horn-y Section (Three Houses Down)

 Tonga Vaea (Songwriter/Musician - Three Houses Down)

Crazy Guys! (Charlie Pomee, Sione Pomee, Matt Auva'a - Three Houes Down)

RM, Solkrush Entertainment, Bologna Fungi Films 

 

Bryana Kekauoha

Chelsea Tupuola (Nana)

 

Olga Bucio (Schaerer USA Corporation)

Virginia Petrucci (Model)

Booga!

Myles!

Hope Fiaseu!

Taiosamoa & Tiara (Taitai & Yaya)

Taaliyah!

Rina & Tame!

Will Turner!

Thank You all for being a part of my photo journey but most of all... being a part of my life!

5-4-3-2-1

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM RALPH MISA!

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