Sergio Goes

Sergio, back and center, seen here with Pacific Basin Communications staff and friends.

All of us at HONOLULU Magazine were stunned when photographer Sergio Goes was lost in a diving accident off Waikiki on July 11. While Brazilian-born Goes has been a friend of the magazine’s since the 1990s—we published a photo essay of landscapes titled “Double Exposure” in November 1998—he had been an especially integral part of our creative family over the past two years. From his contributions to “Night Shift,” December 2006, up to an upcoming photo of kids taking the 24-foot leap from Jump Rock at Waimea Bay, August 2008, Sergio contributed photos regularly. Over roughly 50 different assignments in that time, he helped shape the look of the magazine—the city we’ve shown you has often been the city as seen through his eyes.

“Sergio made himself a part of every assignment, understanding what we looking for and going for,” says HONOLULU art director Kristin Lipman. “He became part of our family. His perfectionism, passion and willingness to try new things helped us bring life to every story he photographed. He’s always inspired us with his free spirit, enthusiasm and generosity. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to have worked with him.”

Sergio didn’t just observe life in Honolulu, he added greatly to it. Along with other partners, he opened the Hotel Street nightclub, Next Door, and co-founded the Cinema Paradise Independent Film Festival, contributing to the social and cultural renaissance of Chinatown. He also taught photography through the UH Outreach College, passing along his gift for the art.

Here we’ve pulled together some of our favorite Sergio Goes photos.