

North Shore



A small swell sweeps over footprints in the damp Hawaiian sand. I had planned to stay in Waikiki a whole week, but the deafening bustle of tourism took its toll on me after three days. I breathe in, eyes locked on lush grass that meets the beach, spreading towards dense mossy hills that grow into a softly clouded sky. My short bus ride to a new hostel and a Danish girl’s rental car provided access to beaches out of bicycle distance. A bristly tree branch with battered bark hangs from the top right corner, draped in colourful oddities. A sky blue plastic bottle protrudes from a nub beside some plain rope and a pink flip-flop. Frayed turquoise twine dangles from another. A white water bottle juts out of a twig as does a yellow one, and red ribbon wraps around a stick, twirling into a bow. Ziggy Marlee’s song Beach in Hawaii – which played on repeat at the Waikiki hostel – echoes inside me, and I smile. The bright colours of each recycled item contrast perfectly with a backdrop filled by paradise.



I lean into a pillow placed upright on the computer chair and shuffle my fingers on the cheap Walmart desk. It was my second winter in Victoria when I escaped to Hawaii for reading break. Growing up in a drought hadn’t prepared me for eight months of British Columbian rain each year. But looking at the photo of that litter-strewn tree doesn’t remind me of warmth or escaping winter; it brings a sense of independence. I had moved across the Pacific for university and become settled enough to holiday away from my new home. I was an adult.



I wonder about the symbolism of travel photos. Why do these selected images generate such strong emotional reactions, yet almost all others taken from the same day, event, or trip bring me nothing? When first filtering through holiday snaps, the obvious aesthetic elements jump out. Is there beautiful scenery? Has the subject been accentuated by the rule of thirds or a focal point? Do the colours within the frame contrast? But once a favourite has been selected aesthetically, we invest in it emotionally. Our chosen image can now solely represent a significant landmark in our lives.

