In need of chemistry in HI

[beee_ill]

Bolded the meat of this post for anyone who doesn't like to read.

Hey all, After shooting 35mm for years I decided to take the plunge into developing my own film earlier this and all's been well for the most part. I started with the Unicolor 1L kit until the suppliers I was using decided to stop shipping to Hawai`i. While I can still find a couple places online that sell this kit the product price and shipping combination is just way too high. It's literally cheaper to drop my stuff off at one of our few remaining labs--too expensive for the volume I like to shoot. I can get the Cinestill powder kit but have been unhappy with the results I've been getting from it. I'm thinking I'm gonna give up on powder kits all together and shoot for better quality developing anyway but am faced with a large hurdle: I can't find anywhere online--though I'm fairly new and don't know of everywhere selling chemistry--that'll ship anything to me for a decent price if at all. My question is this: can anyone tell me of anywhere online that doesn't care where the customer lives? Particularly Hawai`i. ORM-D stuff sold in the lower 48 seems to pretty much be off limits to anywhere outside of the lower 48 and I feel like I'm at a loss. I've been thinking options (eBay and whatnot) but wanted to reach out to get some insight before pulling the trigger on anything. This kit https://www.ebay.com/itm/Fuji-Hunt-...891186&hash=item3b27efddc2:g:6OMAAOSwMhVcPbzJ seems to be of good value but it's coming from Europe and I'm not sure if I should be worried about customs or anything or if it'll be turned away at a regional facility (a lot things go to the US west coast before reaching HI regardless of where it's coming from). Of course, if anyone here is from Hawai`i and knows of a local shop I can buy from that would be ideal, but I don't know of any.

Thanks for reading the wall of text,
Bill

 

[bdial]

Paging @David A. Goldfarb to the white courtesy phone please.

(my tongue-in-cheek way of saying that David is a fellow HI resident, and probably can offer some advice).

 

[dourbalistar]

Not sure what island you're on, but highly recommend Treehouse on Oahu. Awesome camera store dedicated to film photography. Not sure what chemistry they have in stock, but worth giving them a call or checking them out in person:
https://treehouse-shop.com/

 

[mshchem]

Bolded the meat of this post for anyone who doesn't like to read.

Hey all, After shooting 35mm for years I decided to take the plunge into developing my own film earlier this and all's been well for the most part. I started with the Unicolor 1L kit until the suppliers I was using decided to stop shipping to Hawai`i. While I can still find a couple places online that sell this kit the product price and shipping combination is just way too high. It's literally cheaper to drop my stuff off at one of our few remaining labs--too expensive for the volume I like to shoot. I can get the Cinestill powder kit but have been unhappy with the results I've been getting from it. I'm thinking I'm gonna give up on powder kits all together and shoot for better quality developing anyway but am faced with a large hurdle: I can't find anywhere online--though I'm fairly new and don't know of everywhere selling chemistry--that'll ship anything to me for a decent price if at all. My question is this: can anyone tell me of anywhere online that doesn't care where the customer lives? Particularly Hawai`i. ORM-D stuff sold in the lower 48 seems to pretty much be off limits to anywhere outside of the lower 48 and I feel like I'm at a loss. I've been thinking options (eBay and whatnot) but wanted to reach out to get some insight before pulling the trigger on anything. This kit https://www.ebay.com/itm/Fuji-Hunt-...891186&hash=item3b27efddc2:g:6OMAAOSwMhVcPbzJ seems to be of good value but it's coming from Europe and I'm not sure if I should be worried about customs or anything or if it'll be turned away at a regional facility (a lot things go to the US west coast before reaching HI regardless of where it's coming from). Of course, if anyone here is from Hawai`i and knows of a local shop I can buy from that would be ideal, but I don't know of any.

Thanks for reading the wall of text,
Bill

I get Kodak Alaris chemistry from Unique photo in New Jersey. They ship UPS ground. I checked UPS and as you have found its crazy expensive. Kodak Alaris must have a distributor in Hawaii for some if not all of their products, that's who I would call first. I have an old friend who will sell me 5 liters at a time of C41 from his minilab in his camera store. Any lab in Hawaii might love to have you buy chemistry to meet minimum order requirements, they aren't in a much better situation than you.
If it makes a difference, my natural gas bill for an average December is more than shipping a 2 year supply of Flexicolor C41 to Hawaii

 

[dourbalistar]

Here's my son checking Treehouse's chemistry:


2017.03.23 Roll #098-00814-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr

And here's their selection of film and used gear:

2017.03.21 Roll #097-25790016.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr

 

[beee_ill]

Thanks for the responses, guys. I've actually tried calling treehouse a bunch of times to see what if anything they carry but they never answer. I live out in Mākaha so it isn't exactly easy for me to make it out there just to see if they have what I want, but thanks to you now I know. Stoked to know that I can buy chemistry locally and am definitely gonna make the drive out there now. Also still interested to know about online retailers if anyone knows of any. Thanks again!

 

[dourbalistar]

I'm not on Instagram, but if you are, maybe you could message them there. They seem to keep a pretty active page, posting every few days:
https://www.instagram.com/treehousehawaii/

Looks like they might carry a (Jobo?) C-41 press kit:

 

[Sirius Glass]

Here's my son checking Treehouse's chemistry:


2017.03.23 Roll #098-00814-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr

And here's their selection of film and used gear:

2017.03.21 Roll #097-25790016.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr

I will visit them when I am in Honolulu.

 

[dourbalistar]

I will visit them when I am in Honolulu.

Definitely one of the coolest camera shops I have visited. I didn't need any film (brought plenty with me), but I bought a Gordy's wrist strap and some other souvenirs just to support the shop. Seems they do a great job supporting the local film community there. They host workshops, exhibitions, photowalks, swap meets, and other events.

And it's not just analog photography. You may notice the shelves of vinyl behind the counter.

 

[4season]

IMO, the complex Treehouse is located in, plus the surrounding areas are worth a walking tour: It's become quite the outdoor art gallery.

 

[beee_ill]

Kaka`ako. That whole area has been gentrified (can of worms for me to discuss) but is definitely nice.

 

[4season]

 

[dourbalistar]

Yes, some very interesting murals and street art in the neighborhood.


2017.03.21 Roll #097-25790014.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Treehouse is the place for standard items (Xtol, Dektol, Kodak Fixer, etc.). I actually moved out here with a good supply of bulk chemicals for my own use, and I'm not entirely sure what I'll do when the stocks are depleted for things that are hard to ship (developing agents mainly), but likely I'll make do with what I can get here or figure out how to use all the amidol I have, which oxidizes more quickly when mixed in this climate than it did in New York.

There's a place called Hawai'i Chemical all the way at the western end of King St. near New City Nissan that used to be a major supplier for the photo industry here and that lists some photo chemicals in their stock, but I haven't had to purchase anything there yet. I presume they can get anything, but shipping could get costly for some items. That's just the paradise tax. I'm not sure they sell to individuals (as opposed to businesses).

I don't process my own color these days, though I used to, when I was using more of that. Lately it's just E-6, and I send that to Icon LA, which does good work and has quick turnaround and an easy mail order system, where you can print out a post-paid business reply label and just drop it in the mail. They seem to do enough volume to maintain a consistent line, which is probably better than I could do at this stage.