La Pietra – Hawaii School for Girls students, in collaboration with HUGS, ProjectFocus Hawai'i and Meadow Gold, hosted 12 ill children for a pinhole photography workshop on Saturday, September 15.

At the workshop, La Pietra students worked alongside children who are being assisted by HUGS to create photographs using pinhole cameras made out of items such as oatmeal boxes and lunch pails. Photos were developed in the school’s darkroom. Later, the La Pietra students took portraits of the children. The pinhole photos will be printed, along with the children’s portraits, in a book to be published by Meadow Gold Dairies.

HUGS serves families with children up to the age of 21 who have been diagnosed with any illness or disease that could rob a child of his or her life. The organization is the only one of its kind in the state that provides programs designed to improve the quality of life for families as they deal with the emotional and financial hardships of caring for a seriously ill child. HUGS' services are designed to strengthen families in the face of overwhelming adversity.

Laurie Callies ‘70 and La Pietra Fine Arts Department Chair Annie Rogers facilitated the project. Photographer Mary Belanger also participated in the project.