Hiking with Yakisugi Green: A Fujifilm Film Recipe Adventure on the Pu’u Ma’eli’eli Trail

Photography
Written By Mark Guillermo

I took my Fujifilm X-T5 up the Pu’u Ma’eli’eli Trail on Oahu. It’s one of those moderately sweaty hikes that rewards you with sweeping views, hidden bunkers, and the kind of lush tropical greens that make you wanna point your camera at everything.

I loaded up my camera with a film recipe I’ve been dying to test outdoors: Yakisugi Green, created by Mehdi Berrada.

Yakisugi Film Recipe

  • Simulation: Classic Chrome

  • Grain Effect: Strong, Large

  • Colour Chrome Effect: Off

  • Colour Chrome Blue: Off (X-Trans IV or V)

  • White Balance: 7500K

  • WB Shift: 0 Red, 0 Blue

  • Dynamic Range: DR200

  • Highlights: 0

  • Shadows: +2

  • Colour: -3

  • Sharpness: -1

  • ISO Noise Reduction: -4

  • Clarity: 0

  • EV compensation: 0

What is Yakisugi Green?

Yakisugi Green is a custom Fujifilm film simulation recipe designed to bring out earthy, rich tones, especially in foliage-heavy scenes. Inspired by the Japanese wood-preserving technique called yakisugi (where cedar planks are charred for texture and longevity), this recipe is all about contrast, character, and, true to its name, a lush, moody green palette.

It’s a great fit for anyone who loves classic chrome or negative film looks but wants something with more cinematic punch. Think: analog nostalgia, but with some attitude.

Why I Loved It on the Pu’u Ma’eli’eli Trail

The Pu’u Ma’eli’eli Trail is a local favorite on the windward side of Oahu. It winds through tropical forest with peekaboo views of Kaneohe Bay. It’s short and sweet, around 1.5 miles round trip, but the scenery is stacked with dense greenery, vines, and muddy roots that catch the light in all the right ways.

Shooting with Yakisugi Green made everything look like it belonged in a Studio Ghibli frame. The recipe gave the foliage a slightly deeper tone, with warm shadows and rich contrast that didn’t flatten the scene. Leaves popped with velvety greens, the sky stayed soft, and any harsh midday sun got tamed into something way more moody and balanced. It gave the whole hike a quiet, almost mystical vibe. It felt like I’d stepped into a forgotten trail in a Japanese forest rather than a neighborhood favorite in Hawaii.

Recipe Qualities I Noticed

  • Greens: The greens are the star here. Rich, foresty, and just slightly muted without becoming dull.

  • Contrast: There’s a tasteful amount of contrast that helps define textures in the foliage and terrain.

  • Warm shadows: Shadows lean warm and cozy, which gave the bunkers and tree trunks a nice aged patina.

  • Soft highlights: The recipe handles bright skies and sunlight peeking through leaves without blowing out details.

If you love experimenting with Fujifilm simulations and want something that sings in outdoor nature settings, especially jungle-y trails like this one, Yakisugi Green should be on your shortlist. It makes the mundane magical. In my case, it helped me fall back in love with a trail I’ve done a dozen times.

My Gear

Heads up: Some of the links I share are affiliate links, which means I might earn a small commission if you buy something—at no extra cost to you. I only recommend stuff I actually like or think is genuinely useful.

My Main Camera: https://amzn.to/4ldFlVI
My Main Lens: https://amzn.to/4lfCn3b
My Main Lens Filter: https://amzn.to/452n7BN
My Video Camera: https://amzn.to/4m2WPWc
My Video ND Filter: https://amzn.to/4fpB3cP

X100v: https://amzn.to/4fiDrBM
VILTROX 28mm f/4.5: https://amzn.to/47lb5Vw
VILTROX PRO 75mm f/1.2: https://amzn.to/453DpdN

Mark Guillermo http://www.inmydna.com
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