Remembering super cw

In 2016, I began photographing Christa Wittmier, the beloved nightlife blogger, columnist, marketing director, and DJ also known as Super CW. Despite being diagnosed with stage four breast cancer in 2015, she was a positive force of light determined to help others battle the disease. Her catchphrase was “Get excited. It’s exciting!” and it was something that she truly lived by.

In the face of her diagnosis, she continued being the same warm, larger than life personality that no one could forget. Instead of allowing it to bring her down, she created The Aloha Cancer Project with her late friend, Daniel Gray, filmed a documentary entitled The Adventures of Super CW to inspire other cancer survivors, traveled to New Zealand, spoke on TEDx, opened for the music group Above & Beyond, and continued to write and organize events.

Her story of hope resonated with me as someone whose life was filled with an incredible amount of death and loss at the time. Even though I was in college in California, I made it a point to come home every semester break to take photos of her. Christa passed away in Minnesota with her sister, Lisa Wittmier, by her side on January 3, 2019. I’ll never forget her warmth, kindness, and how she was able to light up every room she walked into. We were never able to officially finish this story, but I hope to honor her memory with these existing photos. I hope that after hearing her story, people are able to live life as fully as she did.

For those who have been recently diagnosed with cancer or have loved ones struggling with it, please read Christaʻs list of resources here.

Christa Wittmier poses for a portrait in her Honolulu, HI home. After serving in the Navy for 11 years, Wittmier moved to Oʻahu in 2002. She quickly fell in love with Honoluluʻs nightlife and began documenting the scene in her blog entitled Honoluluʻs Nightlife Diaries.

Wittmier consumes medication in her Honolulu, HI home. Despite struggling with her own diagnosis, Wittmier created the Aloha Cancer Project with her late friend, Daniel Gray, before his passing. The projectʻs purpose was to help other cancer survivors live and thrive in the face of their illness.

Wittmier holds up Boo Boo, her beloved 10-year-old black Pomeranian, in her Honolulu, HI home. BuBear was rescued in 2016 after Wittmierʻs long search for a service dog.

Wittmier uses a form of light therapy to help with her cancer in Honolulu, HI. To fight her illness, she tried a multitude of things on top of her normal treatments, like light therapy, natural medicines, eating healthily, zen training, and yoga. She was able to go into remission four months after her diagnosis in May of 2015. Her cancer later returned in June of 2016, spreading to her liver, lungs, and brain.

Wittmier uses a neuro-stimulator helmet in her Honolulu, HI home. The helmet helps patients with insomnia and depression during hormone therapy.

A page from Wittmierʻs journal in her Honolulu, HI home. The beloved nightlife staple received an immense amount of support from her community throughout her fight with cancer. The composition book was filled with notes, photographs, and clippings from her friends and family.

Wittmier does yoga in her Honolulu, HI bedroom.

Wittmier excitedly catches up with friends during the Republikʻs first-ever yoga event, ʻYoga Loves CWʻ, an event that was put together in support of Christa.

Christa blows out her birthday candles onstage for her 40th birthday on Dec. 21, 2016 in Honolulu, HI. Sheʻs organized huge celebrations for her birthday since 2009. Her 2016 celebration was the biggest of them all, taking place at the Hawaiʻi Events Center and showcasing multiple music acts, aerial burlesque performances, a fashion show, live artwork, and multiple food trucks. In addition to celebrating a birthday she never thought sheʻd see, the event doubled as her retirement party from liquor distributor Youngʻs Market. “I don’t want to say this is going to be my last party, but, with the prognosis that I have—and I’m just being realistic—if I can make it two years, I’m going to be defying odds. I want people to remember this. I want them to remember me like this. It’s been a tough year. I’m like, I’m alive, I’m having a fuckin’ party. As long as I’m alive, I’m having a party,” Wittmier said in an interview with Honolulu Magazine.

Christa laughs while playing with Boo Boo during the Republikʻs first-ever yoga event, ʻYoga Loves CWʻ, an event that was put together in support of her.

Wittmier closes her eyes after throwing up in her Honolulu, HI home.

Christa closes her eyes during the Republikʻs first-ever yoga event, ʻYoga Loves CWʻ, an event that was put together in support of Christa.

Wittmier speaks to her doctor during an appointment in Honolulu, HI.

Wittmier looks at an old article written about her in her Honolulu, HI home.

An old friend comforts Christa during the Republikʻs first-ever yoga event, ʻYoga Loves CWʻ, an event that was put together in support of her. While she was in high spirits for the majority of the event, Wittmier became emotional at one point while talking with her friend.

A photo of Lisa Wittmier (left) and Christa Wittmier (right) featured in a tribute segment done by Hawaiʻi News Now after Christaʻs death. She passed on January 3, 2019, in Minnesota with her sister, Lisa, by her side.