www.howardwolffphotography.com
Moses to the Promised Land
A single dad with two daughters and a puppy, Moses volunteered with Honolulu Habitat for Humanity to construct houses for four other families in the course of the last few years. He is now getting help building his own home in Waimānalo. Moses, a veteran, was a magnet for scores of active-duty volunteers, whose t-shirts proclaiming “Every veteran deserves a decent place to live” echo the same need for all of Hawai‘i’s families.
This past year, during the Covid-19 pandemic, I was invited to contribute my time as a photojournalist for Honolulu Habitat, whose mission is to transform lives by building affordable homes with families in need.
The subject of this portfolio combines two interests of mine: architectural design and truth-telling portraiture. This series of photographs provides a glimpse into the human side of what it looks like when a community comes together to deconstruct and then build a home for a worthy family.
On a personal note, I found it gratifying to be welcomed as a member of the ‘ohana each time I showed up on site. Documenting this process—as someone who was embedded with and connected to my subjects in a human way—was deeply meaningful and rewarding for me.
