Aloha. I have owned a gallery on Kauai for 10 years now and I think it's time to give back. As a nature photographer I have made the choice to only photograph public lands-- beach parks, county parks, state parks and wilderness areas here on Kauai; national parks, national monuments, wildlife refuges, national forests, and wilderness areas on the mainland; and national parks abroad. I recognize that I benefit directly from the beauty, wildness and wildlife of these public places. I benefit in financial terms, but also in emotional and creative ways as well. I don't only want to take. I want to give. I want to support organizations that protect, defend and care for public lands. So from here on out, 2.2% of all sales from my Hanapepe gallery and online will go directly to organizations that protect, defend and care for our public lands. I will try to choose a new organization each quarter and hope to spread our wealth to various organizations both near and far.

***

I can change the world
With my own two hands
Make a better place
With my own two hands
Make a kinder place
With my own two hands

~ Ben Harper, With My Own Two Hands

2.2% is inspired by my favorite Ben Harper song, My Own Two Hands. I believe that with my 2 hands and your 2 hands we can make a better place, a kinder place, a cleaner place, and a healthier place through our efforts to protect and provide open spaces and wild places from now to eternity. 

The many conversations that I have had regarding catastrophic storms, droughts, fires, and the need for environmental policy change has been the a major catalyst for this initiative. The land and oceans are in our blood. They are in our bodies. They are part of our DNA, and we should all be able to access, enjoy and protect our public lands just as we protect our own bodies and those of our loved ones. Protecting and defending our wild places will be essential as we try to maintain a healthy lifestyle and sustainable society. Maintaining and expanding our open spaces and wild places is vital to a prosperous future on this planet. This is not just an expression of our human rights, but also of our human needs to rest, play and be inspired by the awesomeness of nature.

***

I am pleased to announce that the first donation was made to the Alaska Wilderness League on 10/1/22, and represented sales made in September 2022.

The Alaska Wilderness League is an organization that seeks "to protect Alaska's land and waters by inspiring broad support for federal policy action" so that "Alaska's wild landscapes endure to support vibrant communities and abundant wildlife."

I chose this organization to be the first recipient because I brainstormed 2.2% Initiative while on an airplane flying to Alaska. Instrumental to this idea of supporting our public lands was the Patagonia film Public Trust, which I watched mid-flight from Seattle to Anchorage. If you would like more information on what Patagonia is doing to support our public lands or on how you can help directly, please text DEFEND to 71333. This is what I did, and now we are working together to make the world a better place by supporting, protecting and caring for our public lands and wild, natural places. 

Likewise, if you know of an organization that supports public lands, access, and environmental issues and would like my gallery to consider their efforts, please let me know. I am new to this, and I am and still learning so very much. But at least we've made a start. A positive start.

Mahalo nui loa for your support.

Aloha, 

Lee

Pop the TopWaves shoot high into the evening air like champagne at a party— a celebration of life and the joys of being on Kauai.
Na Pali Coast, Kauai, Hawaii

Awards
Pop the Top was named by The Atlantic as one of the top 25 images entered in the 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Photo Contest. Please see the link below to view all 25 images honored by this prestigious publication.
http://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2016/10/2016-national-geographic-nature-photographer-of-the-year-contest/502829/

Pop the Top won Honorable Mention in the 10th Annual International Color Awards (Professional Nature Category).
Winner 2017 Audubon Community Nature Center Photo Contest, Adult Landscape Division.

http://thegardenisland.com/news/local/scott-wins-national-photography-contest/article_20d6f76c-16d9-5322-be64-241a4456d4eb.html Pop the Top, Haena State Park, Kauai