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I Vibe-Coded My Own Volume Knob

My monitor speakers ignored my Mac’s volume keys, so I built a menu-bar app that fixes it, and gave it a DNA helix icon that doubles as a volume meter.

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

Took my Fujifilm X-T5 and the Yakisugi Green film recipe up the Pu’u Ma’eli’eli Trail in Hawaii and wow — the greens absolutely popped . This recipe adds rich, earthy contrast to foliage and gives the whole hike a cinematic, moody vibe. Perfect for lush trails and nature photography lovers.

Photography

A Long Weekend in San Francisco and Napa Valley

Escaping the island for a few days, we traded palm trees for vineyards and city streets. From sipping a long-awaited Mint Mojito coffee in San Francisco’s Castro District to wine tasting inside a literal castle in Napa Valley, this quick California trip packed in sunshine, good food, and even better wine. Here’s how we spent a few easygoing days bouncing between SF and wine country.

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My First Week With the Viltrox 28mm f/4.5 Pancake Lens on My Fujifilm X-T5

I recently picked up the Viltrox 28mm f/4.5 pancake lens for my Fujifilm X-T5, and let me tell you, it's been a surprisingly fun little combo to shoot with. I didn’t think I’d fall for a pancake lens this hard, but here we are. This tiny thing has basically lived on my camera all week.

Photography

A Winter Fling with the Viltrox 27mm f/1.2 in Tokyo

Is this the perfect fast prime for street photography? Almost. Tokyo in the winter has a special kind of magic—crisp air, golden sun, and that cinematic light that just begs to be photographed. For this trip, I decided to bring along a lens I’d been curious (and honestly, a little intimidated) about: the Viltrox 27mm f/1.2 . Spoiler alert: it’s a beast—in more ways than one.

TravelPhotography

Eurotrip 2024: Arrivederci, Italy 🇮🇹

Our Eurotrip 2024 wrapped up with a dreamy couple of nights in Venice—wandering quiet alleys, chasing that perfect morning light, and accidentally finding the best bologna sandwich of all time. The perfect ending to a whirlwind adventure across the Mediterranean.

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Eurotrip 2024: Athens & Mykonos – Greek Delights, Dance Moves, and a Dose of Ouzo

From crafting traditional Greek worry beads in Athens to squeezing through the sun-drenched alleyways of Mykonos, our Greece leg of Eurotrip 2024 was a full-on five-senses experience. Expect strong coffee, stronger ouzo, sweet treats, seaside dips, and a few questionable dance moves in a town square.

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Eurotrip 2024: Croatia’s Coastal Magic (Not Necessarily in Order)

Explore the highlights of Croatia from our 2024 Eurotrip, including the ancient walls of Dubrovnik and sun-drenched vibes of Split. Tips, recs, and one major Game of Thrones museum flop.

TravelPhotography

Eurotrip 2024: Leg 2 — From NYC to the High Seas

From Delta One pampering at JFK to a chaotic EasyJet hop across Europe, the second leg of our 2024 Eurotrip was a whirlwind. We recharged in a capsule hotel at London Gatwick, navigated Italian trains and buses, and finally boarded a Royal Caribbean cruise from Ravenna. Along the way, there was pizza (of course), surprises, and the kind of travel chaos that makes for the best stories.

TravelPhotography

Eurotrip 2024: A Layover in the City That Never Sleeps

The first leg of our 2024 Eurotrip kicked off with a whirlwind layover in New York City. With just 10 hours to spare, we packed in iconic eats, meaningful moments at the 9/11 Memorial, and a few must-see sights—including that famous cookie. A quick taste of the city before jetting off to London, but just enough to feel the buzz of NYC under our feet.

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Bay Area Catch-Ups & Figma Config — June 2024

Spent a few days in the Bay for Figma’s Config, but the real highlight was catching up with fellow Hawai‘i-raised designers now doing big things on the mainland. Nothing beats sharing laughs, stories, and drinks with people who just get where you’re from. Chee-Hoo!

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