getting chemicals in Hawaii?

[winger]

My dear loving hubby is being considered for a 1 year job in Hawaii. Besides the fact that we have 4 dogs and Hawaii has a major quarantine program for all dogs, how difficult will it be for me to shoot and develop B&W film down there? I doubt I'll find a lab there that can do 120 and 4x5. Or will I? And chemicals labeled ORMD or hazardous can't be shipped there.

 

[Christopher Walrath]

That title looked a lot more interesting without the question.

Bethe, I have no idea. But I know someone who does. Roger Whitaker. Better known as roteague. He han't been on here in a year but I have a feeling if you were to contact him he would be of awesome help. Roger Whitaker

 

[Shawn Dougherty]

Does this mean you'll be flying to John's gatherings? =)

 

[gr82bart]

LOL Chris, it's Robert Teague!

Bethe, I know there was nothing on Mauii when I was there last year. Don't know about the other islands.

Regards, Art.

 

[David Brown]

But I know someone who does. Roger Whitaker. Better known as roteague.

Robert Teague is the photographer who live on Oahu. Roger Whitaker is a singer ...

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

"roteague" is Robert Teague, at least I'm fairly sure that's his name. We've met in Honolulu a number of times. He shoots mostly color transparency, 35mm, rollfilm and 4x5" and ships it to Calypso, I think, in California.

The place that handles darkroom supplies and all sheet film in Hawai'i is Image Works Photo in Kaimuki on O'ahu. I'd call to find out what you can get, and if they might recommend a lab, if you want a lab.--

http://local.yahoo.com/info-21903142-image-works-llc-honolulu

They also have an interesting and eccentric selection of used equipment on consignment often, because they don't particularly sell on the web or on eBay, and it's not picked over. For a long time they had a really nice Linhof TL studio camera with 8x10, 5x7, and 4x5 backs they couldn't seem to move.

You can work out B&W chemistry that can be shipped to the islands by air, I think. After all you can send everything in powder form, most B&W chemistry isn't hazardous, and items like sodium thiosulfate have other uses, like in swimming pools.

I've usually brought my film home to process, so I could maximize shooting time while there, even on trips as long as two months, but I think the next time we stay that long, I might bring chemicals to process film on site, just to be sure everything is working well and to get some more feedback as I go.

 

[Christopher Walrath]

Wirelessly posted (BBBold: BlackBerry9000/4.6.0.297 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102 UP.Link/6.3.0.0.0)

;p

 

[winger]

Does this mean you'll be flying to John's gatherings? =)

If we do go, I may need to leave my stuff up here and fly back just to use it. I don't know how much stuff we'll be able to take. Maybe the gang will meet up out there (Andrew Moxom already suggested that, too).

Thanks all! I usually like to use stuff that comes as liquids 'cause I have asthma and mixing powders is such a pain. But, I could possibly switch if I have to.
David, thanks for the info - it's good to know analog is still somewhat alive out there.
And I remember rteague - maybe he can clue me in to good places to shoot, too.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

In case anyone is curious, I thought I'd update this thread. ImageWorks in Kaimuki has closed, but there is a place called Treehouse in Kaka'ako (250 Ward Ave., Suite 233 on the second floor) that started as a kind of Lomography place, partly aimed at kids with youth workshops and such, and now carries a supply of basic darkroom chemicals, rollfilm tanks, a decent selection of film and a few papers, and it's my impression that they are the local supplier for the university darkrooms. They're a drop-off point for all the labs in town and don't charge above the lab's own price for that service (maybe they get a cut from the lab, I'd assume). http://treehouse-shop.com/

I stopped in today to check out a swap meet they host a couple of times a year, and there wasn't too much there, but some of the local film photography crowd turns out, and they have some used analog gear in the shop--lots of Canon FD, I think with the idea of getting people who are attracted maybe through university courses or Lomography, into owning a basic 35mm SLR that isn't too expensive and is of good quality. All around, a place that seems invested in community building as much as retail.

I'm still waiting for my darkroom equipment to arrive with the rest of our things from the mainland--a couple of weeks delayed by the weather--but I asked if there was community darkroom space anywhere, and they said it was possible to pay a fee to use the darkrooms at Windward Community College, so there are people shooting film here.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Here's a blog entry on the treehouse from Japan Camera Hunter

http://www.japancamerahunter.com/2014/03/shooting-film-hawaii/

Still waiting for our container to arrive...

 

[Dimitri13]

I ordered all the powder chemicals from adorama. Reasonable shipping. Treehouse also stocks chemicals. Rainbow Photo/Video will develop 120, but I'm not sure about 4x5 as I don't shoot it. Treehouse will also send out your stuff to developers here. I choose to do this because I like hanging out there and it's just easier for me.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Our container arrived at the end of April, and I pretty much have the darkroom set up. I'm a little concerned about trying to get bulk chemicals from the mainland, with hazmat shipping required for basic items like hydroquinone or for albumen printing, silver nitrate.

There is a chemical supply in Honolulu that originally (like 100 years ago) specialized in photo chemicals, but it looks like they can get anything. They have some restrictions about selling to individuals, but I presume there's some way to make it work-- http://www.hawaiiscientific.com/