Russell Tanoue was a dancer, helping other dancers with their makeup and taking pictures of his work for them, when someone showed one of his photos to their agent. The agent was so impressed by Tanoue’s photography that, as Tanoue puts it, “the photographer was born.”
Three decades later Tanoue is a local celebrity, known for his headshots, portfolios and fashion layouts. He is also known as the promoter/producer of the famed Piranha Room parties at the Ocean Club (now defunct) and as the founder of Project Shine Hawaii, a program where he uses his skills as a photographer to boost the esteem of trauma survivors and at-risk teens.
Tanoue, a McKinley High School graduate who says he is “the youngest I’ll ever be,” presents his annual 21st Birthday Project Celebration, a benefit for Project Shine Hawaii and Hugs Hawaii, at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Trump International Hotel Waikiki. General admission is $30; $75 VIP tickets include a swag bag and a commemorative Project Shine T-shirt. Tickets are available at 808ne.ws/shineparty.
What are you planning for this year’s birthday party?
The theme is “black, white or both.” I have Kaylee Shimizu singing, and a swimsuit fashion show I think everyone is going to be excited about, and over $13,000 in silent auction items. This year I’m dedicating the event to my late dad — Harry Tanoue, who died last month — and to everyone who lost someone. This is for them.
Hugs Hawaii provides support for the families of children with life-threatening health problems. What do you provide with Project Shine?
Project Shine is about celebrating the person that you are becoming — the new you — and not about reminding you about having been a victim. It’s about allowing people to have that moment to shine. I never had that (moment) as a teenager. At Central Intermediate School I was bullied.
What do you tell the at-risk teens you work with in Project Shine?
“You can’t fix jealousy. It’s not your duty to fix it.” To this day I deal with a lot of jealousy. You can’t fix it, you just walk away from it.
What does it take to be successful at what you do?
I’m sensitive to people’s energy. A lot of people are so into how good their camera is they forget that your energy and how you make your subject feel is everything. It takes a lot of connection. You have to be selfless.
Is there someone you’ve particularly enjoyed working with?
Three years ago I extended my services to the public, and since then I’ve shot so many headshots — real estate agents, actors, aspiring actors. I find that enjoyable because I’m going to create that professional image that’s going to get them work. Shooting somebody who’s already successful is not that exciting.
When you started Piranha Room at the Ocean Club it was the first of Honolulu’s big monthly nightclub parties and it ran for seven years. What was the secret to making it what it was?
I watched the Ocean Club for three months after I’d had my birthday party there to make sure it was the right place to have a party. The secret? Everybody wants to be a VIP — at Piranha Room my VIPs were (real) VIPs. Everyone wanted to feel special, and so that was the bite of having local celebrities and models — people wanted to be a part of that. It was also the location. When I stopped doing Piranha Room at the Ocean Club I didn’t do a Piranha Room someplace else.
How do you look at life?
I avoid stress. I live in the now. I always choose joy (because) it keeps me young. My advice to everyone is, “Always keep your joy full.”
