About the Photographer

 

Paul Hayashi was given his very first camera (a Brownie 127) at the ripe young age of 7 (I think Mom regrets this). It became kind of an obsession even at that young age as always had a camera on him. He took it further by becoming the school yearbook and newspaper photographer at his Alma Mater, Leilehua High School in Wahiawa, Hawaii.

His next step transcended to the University of Hawaii in Manoa (tuition and fees - $116.25 per semester at that time) to obtain a Bachelor's in Business Adminstration in the early 70's. While at UH, he spent time honing his craft covering various sorority functions. In his Senior Year, he became a photographer for the school newspaper, Ka Leo O' Hawaii.

After a brief stint in the Coast Guard Reserve (as a photojournalist) and a stint in the retail industry, he started working for an up and coming studio, B&W Photography, doing weddings and portraits.

He left B&W Photography to work in other studios to gain experience in different types of photography and eventually left to go full time with his own company in 1986.

Paul has since acquired the Master of Photography, Master of Electronic Imaging and the Photographic Craftsmen degrees awarded by the Professional Photographers of America. He is one of only two photographers in the State of Hawaii with three or more advanced degrees from the PPA.

When digital photography became a more realistic option to photographers back in 2000, Paul was one of the first group of photographers to embrace the technology to replace film as the medium for wedding and portrait photography.

In his 34th year in business, it has been interesting that he is now photographing weddings of the children of his former wedding clients.

How time flies