Join us as we honor lifeguards and celebrate Tamayo’s birthday at @centerofradicaleducation / @hawaiisurfingmuseum in Waialua Sugar Mill.
We’ll have live music from @thenewsalts and @808imposters Enjoy food and watch @nalufilms footage on the outdoor screen. Photo prints from @sean_davey@kalaniminihan@mikeitophoto@john_hook@shane__grace@instaclamfunk@hankfoto808 will be for sale for donation.
Donations from the event will go to three lifeguards whose homes were severly impacted by the recent flooding.
Please RSVP using either the suggested donation or free option. Any additional donations made will go to three lifeguards. Link in bio.
Mahalo nui loa,
Tamayo Perry Foundation
You know those friends that are too far away, that’s @leonipeony and @clubmedsucks for me. Wish Léonie and Sam were closer.
Fortunately because of @oceanfilmtour (more on this relatively soon) I was a train ride away from them.
They were the best hosts and I loved roaming around and making Léonie and Bella pose when the light or the setting were too good to pass up. Bella smells exactly like maple syrup. She may be my second favorite pit mix 🐕
The trip addition was fantastic to say the least 🤗
In this episode of The P.H.Y.S Podcast, I sit down with @instaclamfunk , better known as C Funk, one of the world’s leading water photographers and a familiar presence in the lineup at the legendary Banzai Pipeline on the North Shore of Oahu.
Whether the waves are small or Pipeline is firing on heavy second and third reef, Christa is right there in the mix. Her images capture the raw beauty, chaos, and perfection of the ocean from a perspective very few photographers are willing or able to reach.
Her work has been featured in Freesurf Magazine, Surfline, and across countless surf and photography platforms, where her dedication and relentless work ethic have made her one of the most respected water photographers in the world.
Known for paddling out before sunrise and staying in the water longer than anyone else, Christa prepares for Pipeline’s extreme conditions with serious physical training and the discipline that comes from her background as both a competitive swimmer and a U.S. Coast Guard officer.
But her story didn’t begin in the surf lineup.
Christa first discovered photography in 2003 through a classroom assignment that sparked her curiosity behind the camera. After graduating from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and serving aboard the Coast Guard Cutter RUSH in Hawaii, she realized surf photography was the perfect intersection of her two passions: swimming and storytelling through images.
Eventually, she transitioned into life as a full-time photographer, capturing powerful perspectives from inside the lineup and documenting moments that most people only see from the shore.
In this conversation we explore Christa’s journey from Coast Guard officer to world-class surf photographer, the physical and mental preparation required to shoot Pipeline’s heaviest days, and behind-the-scenes insights from working with outlets like Freesurf and Surfline.
From the gladiator pit of Pipeline to her signature sign-off, “Keep on Funkin’ On!”, Christa Funk’s story is a powerful reminder that passion, courage, and dedication can take you places most people would never dare to go.
Listen now to The P.H.Y.S Podcast.
Photography heals your soul.
EAST CAPE ESCAPE: 4:00 AM surf sessions. Luxuriously long midday naps. Mind-melting sunsets. This is what life in Baja looks like when you’re hitting the waves with a crew of dedicated surfers and adventure photographers looking for a little R&R.
Every year big-wave surfer @emi_erickson usually heads farther south to Oaxaca during the flat spells of Hawaii. This time, she traveled north to Baja to meet up with @rachaeltilly , three-time WSL Longboard Champion, @instaclamfunk , surf photographer, and @gromlet , filmmaker and diver.
#freeflyapparel #livefreefly
In the aftermath of the floods, the way this community has shown up for one another has been powerful to witness.
To ease the burden of ongoing clean-up efforts, @freeflyapparel contributed a donation toward critical supplies. @kimbermalie@pakikilolo and I worked off the daily needs list from @haleiwa_distilling_co , filled our vehicles, and delivered everything that same day.
These supplies are already in the hands of those who need them most.
Beyond grateful for this community and incredible partners. Thank you @freeflyapparel for showing up for everyone and continuously checking in 🤍
‘Sometimes the best thing you can do is take a deep breath and go with the flow.”
Christa Funk is showing us how ocean, patience, and persistence shape not just incredible photography, but a way of life. 🌊
Read the full Q&A on our stories of the sea blog on our website. 👆🏽💙
