Documenting Island Vibes: Holo Holo Festival Through the Lens of FlicksByFiyah
A Visual Journey of Music, Culture, and Community at the Heart of Holo Holo Festival
There are moments in your creative journey that feel like home — moments when you’re not just documenting a story, you’re living in it. That’s what the Holo Holo Festival 2024 was for me. A multi-day celebration of Polynesian music and culture, it brought together generations of islanders and island lovers to sing, sway, and reconnect. And I had the honor of capturing it all through my lens as FlicksByFiyah, a Samoan-American photographer based in Seattle.
From the first note to the final encore, this festival pulsed with mana — that deep spiritual energy our people carry with us wherever we go. It was more than a concert. It was a gathering of the diaspora, a tribute to the sounds and stories that raised us. Being asked to document that kind of event meant everything to me — not just as a photographer, but as a daughter of the Pacific.
I was granted access to cover every angle of the event, from on-stage moments with artists like J Boog, Kolohe Kai, and Anuhea, to behind-the-scenes interactions, crowd reactions, and intimate glimpses of connection. My camera was my passport to all of it. But this wasn’t just about aesthetics — it was about authenticity.
There’s a difference when someone from the culture is behind the lens. I know what to look for — the subtle expressions, the unspoken traditions, the quiet power of presence. I knew what moments needed to be frozen in time because I’ve lived them myself. That’s what I brought into this project: not just technical skill, but cultural understanding.
One of the most powerful parts of Holo Holo was the crowd itself. Families with keiki dancing on their parents’ shoulders. Aunties and uncles wrapped in flags, singing every word. Cousins linking arms and swaying to the rhythm. It felt like being back at a family function — just on a much larger scale. Every photo I took was layered with emotion because it wasn’t just a subject and a camera. It was us. It was ours.
What made this experience personal for me wasn’t just the access — it was the meaning behind it. “Holo Holo felt like family — not just something to shoot, but something to represent,” I said in an interview afterward, and I still stand by that. Representation is more than just being present. It’s about perspective. And I carried the weight of my ancestors, my community, and my culture with every shutter click.
Looking back at the images, what stands out most is the energy. You can feel the movement in the frames — the music, the joy, the pride. The lights glowing behind a performer mid-song. The faces in the crowd glowing with love. The raw, unfiltered beauty of it all. That’s what I live for as a photographer: moments that move people.
My goal with FlicksByFiyah has always been to elevate Polynesian voices through visual storytelling. This festival gave me a platform to do that on a bigger scale. And now, the gallery is live — a vibrant visual time capsule of the 2024 Holo Holo experience. I hope it reminds everyone who was there of the magic we felt. And for those who weren’t, I hope it invites you into our world with open arms.
This was more than a job. It was a privilege. And I’m grateful to be part of something so meaningful. The journey continues, but Holo Holo will always have a piece of my heart — and my lens.
Portfolio: https://flicksbyfiyah.myportfolio.com/work
Instagram: @flicksbyfiyah | @fiyahh1
TikTok: @ayeitsfiyahh
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Comments (1)
Sounds like an amazing event! Your cultural understanding really shines through in capturing those authentic moments. It's great you could bring that extra depth to the photos as someone from the culture.