Sarah Lee

Where are you from? What’s your story?

I grew up on a little coffee farm in the mountains of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. My childhood was spent swimming, surfing and exploring the Hawaiian jungles surrounding. Shy but curious, I discovered a love for photography during my teenage years, which grew from simply a pursuit of translating my visual curiosities and sharing with them with others, to now something I do for a living.

Favorite place to travel to?

Everywhere I’ve been before, and maybe everywhere I’ll be next! I adore Dominica, the “Emerald Isle of the Caribbean” for it’s endless natural water features such as waterfalls, streams, and hot springs bubbling out of the sea floor. Dominica is one of the last places on earth where you can drink the water straight from the streams because of the lack of pollution, development, and exploitation of natural resources. The thought of Fiji makes my heart race for the next chance I’ll get to go over there again and swim beneath it’s powerful waves and deep blue water.  Sleeping beneath the stars for three weeks straight while rafting down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon was also an unforgettable experience, and a little different from my coastal and ocean based travels.

How have you impacted a community or the environment?

I photographed and helped shoot a short documentary in the Maldives about the plastic pollution problem that literally covers all of their islands with Alison Teal of Alison’s Adventures and Mark Tipple. I can’t wait to get involved in more ocean-related environmental projects and causes in the near future.

Who do you look up to?

I look up to people who live out their dreams and make a positive impact within their own community, and who don’t care about posting all about it on social media.

What are your plans in the near future?

I’m an open book right now. I just want to travel, surf, collaborate with rad people and brands, and continue to make and share compelling photographs and stories related to the ocean and the people who care about it.

Any sponsors or things to plug?

Follow my daily photo posts via instagram! @HIsarahlee