Since Kelilina got its start on the Big Island in 2006, the photography company now has stretchmarks from its decades-long growth. Going from a one-woman photography-only show in Kona, the company now includes multiple photographers and editors as well as a videography and filmmaking team. Currently servicing Florida and the entire East Coast, the Hawai'ian island chain, and the upper Midwest, we are also available for world-wide destination travel.

P H I L + S H E R I

videographer/filmmaker + owner/photographer

Phil and I met in Kona.  We became friends, worked on a boat together, fell in love, went on a date, got engaged, became husband and wife, his dogs became our dogs, we had a kid, then another....and another.  Our life together is awesome. We're one of those couples that are together 24/7...almost...he likes to golf, I like to paddle board.  Working together is so much fun though and it's refreshing to be professionals together for a few hours, then joke around on the way home. Parenting is hard sometimes, but we have three great kids, Walter is 10 years old, Adeline is 8, and Sadie is now 7!  We love our families, the ocean, camping, laughing, Notre Dame football, the Canoe House [Waikoloa HI] restaurant, being at home [when our kids are in a good mood;] boating, pinot grigio [Sheri], Japanese whiskey [Phil], teaching our kids how to play basketball, traveling, and Chicago-style deep dish pizza.

Phil and I are currently based at our South Florida studio. Our travels frequently bring us back to Hawai’i, with summers spent mainly in Minneapolis and Chicago, and the rest of the year we follow our clients wherever in the world that may be. It’s the best life.

ERIKA

editor

"Hey Sunshine! I’m Erika the Editor. When I was a photographer, my favorite part of the whole process was the editing. I love transforming photos and seeing the final finished product, plus, I was efficient, consistent, and fast. I knew that I wanted to do it for others and give them their time back. So…I started my editing business and I built it with three things in mind: Joy + Serving Others + Inspiring…and I’m never looking back. I [without a doubt] married the BEST man for me in 2008...my high school sweetheart. He has been serving this great country of ours for the last 15 years! Together, we have three wild kids who inspire us to do better, be better, and try harder, every single day. In the future, we plan to change the life of a child in foster care and give them a permanent home. We constantly clean up hair from three dogs and two cats, but they’re our family, so we make it work. It’s a busy life, but it’s the best life.  I'm obsessed with Lightroom, editing, writing, meaningful tattoos, my iMac, coffee, Barbacoa Burrito Bowls, Dave Ramsey [yes, I said Dave Ramsey]. I believe that everyday we should be doing three things:  1] Things that bring us joy,  2] Things that allow us to serve and give back to others.  3] Things that inspire us to be better than you were yesterday."

DAWn

photographer

"Having a camera in my hand brings me immense joy.  I consider myself so lucky that I’m able to capture memories for couples and families.  I love when you can provide a photo that evokes emotion and happiness, a moment in time that will never fade.  When not behind the lens, I enjoy spending time with my husband and two beautiful children, exploring this amazing island on which we reside.  We followed our dreams and moved to the Big Island from California in 2015; although I’ll always be a “Cali girl”, I have never looked back.  We absolutely love the warm weather, balmy breezes, exotic fruits, and spending most of our days outdoors.  I have a passion for art, music, travel, and business, as well as being a cancer survivor.  I am all about living life to its fullest, embracing creativity and finding joy in every endeavor.  It’s the little things in life, so stop and smell those roses – or the plumeria when you’re here in Hawaii.  Carpe Diem!"

JON

filmmaker/photographer

A true artist, Jon is versed in all things creative. His photography skills play off his filmmaking experience, with the direction he gives being the key player.…as one couple stated “He made us feel like supermodels!” Along with his creative eye, he brings a true sense of Aloha, and his laid-back Big Island nature puts everyone around him at ease.

HANNAH

photographer

"Aloha!  I was born in upstate NY in the gorgeous finger lake region and I was lucky enough to do my internship for college on the beautiful Big Island of Hawaii! After completing my bachelors degree all I could think about was living on the Big Island and pursuing my dream of a career in photography. I moved here permanently in 2013 and have been so blessed on my journey; meeting so many wonderful and helpful people, seeing such amazing beauty, and being able to capture really special moments for myself and so many others. I created Hannah C’s Photography and I do family sessions, weddings, engagements, maternity, commercial stuff; whatever people want!  I have always been very passionate about art, I love getting creative and using all sorts of mediums. I write poetry, do watercolor, decoupage, sing karaoke, get messy with oil pastels, and the list goes on. My love of photography and art in general has only grown since living on Hawaii; I am inspired by the beauty and the people, and of all the awesome art I see everyday. I love learning new techniques and styles, as well as learning more about myself and what I am capable of." 

sarah

photographer

"Hello new friend, I'm Sarah. I grew up on a horse farm in a quaint country town in Lancaster, Pennsylvania but I've been traveling the world for the past four years. I'm from a family of nine children. Yes, nine. And, if I'm being honest right now, I'm thinking about eating a bacon cheeseburger with watermelon for dessert. I've never been one who's stellar at mathematics, but I think about every third sentence of mine ends in a song. And, I've been a wedding and portrait photographer for over six years and I love it. I don't see myself getting tired of the job any time soon. I think it's safe to say that I'll continue to capture stories as long as they're being told." 

E M I L Y

photographer/filmmaker

"I have three favorite things: guacamole [with lime], meeting new friends, and creativity. These past four years, I've worked as the director of a documentary film team, as a fiction writer, and as a full-time fan of chips and guac [also salsa, always]. I've had the joy of traveling to Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe filming the lives of some incredibly inspiring people. A camera is a superb tool, and I'm fascinated by the stories it tells."

Ali 

mentorship intern

My name is Ali I am a 7th grade Intern at Innovations Public Charter School. I have one little sister and I am from Europe [France] and very interested in Photography and Filmmaking. I got interested about photography when my Grandpa gave me his old camera and I wanted to learn more about it, specifically how to use it.