Members of the Eyes of Hawaii Photo Club are becoming world-class photographers, and they have the shots to prove it.

In March, 10 members trekked to Guizhou province in southwestern China, where they documented the traditional lifestyle of the Dong and Miao people. The club planned the trip around a big Miao festival.

“;You can see the encroaching of modern society. Everyone has satellite TV and cell phones,”; says club president James Young, who was among the travelers. “;But the rest of it is like stepping back in time.”;

Young says southwestern China is the locale of poorer provinces comprising minority groups pushed to outlying areas. The Americans' visit was a big deal for the locals.

“;They performed dances and played rare musical instruments for us, and we saw a papermaking technique that's hundreds of years old,”; Young says. “;It's rare to get to see how the local people live. This part of China is only just now opening up to the tourist trade.”;

Upon returning home, each member put together a 10-minute slide show of their work to present at a club meeting. Young, who filmed the trip, produced a 20-minute movie. The photographers' presentation generated so much interest that Hawaii State Library asked them to present it again for the public.

Young says the Guizhou tour was possible because an old friend from Beijing, who eventually settled in Hawaii and opened a travel agency, offered to make arrangements. Given the fruitfulness of this trip, Eyes of Hawaii is planning another next year, to Inner Mongolia.

For now, take a look at a few shots from Guizhou province. To see more, visit http://www.starbulletin.com.