With the launch of the 4th Annual #leicawomenfotoproject Award call for entries, we are proud to share the visual poetry of Mainei Kinimaka. Expressed through her Leica M11 and Q2 Monochrom, Mainei reclaims the story of her ancestors with integrity and raw honesty. "I choose to express myself through photography because it allows me to preserve my kulāiwi o Hawaiʻi nei (native homeland of Hawaiʻi) and its people through the eyes of one of its own wahine kanaka ʻōiwi (female native Hawaiian). The world is saturated with images of an idealized, simplified, and fabricated Hawaiʻi that is told from a foreign perspective, to adhere to a lucrative narrative created by outsiders. It requires humility, respect, and patience to dive below the surface and witness true Hawaiʻi and its people. I often dream about my ancestors from long, long ago, and wonder what their world would have looked like. I take photos today so that the keiki (children) of tomorrow can see exactly what the faces, smiles, and stories of their ancestors looked like - from a pair of eyes just like their own." - Mainei Kinimaka Photos: @maineikinimaka // #leicam11 #leicaq2monochrom Mahalo nui loa @maineikinimaka & @prideofgypsies #leicacamera #leicacamerausa #honoringourancestors