why hawai’i?
Although I grew up in the snowy mountains of Colorado, I have always been fascinated by the ocean and tropical landscapes. For as long as I can remember, I have been drawn to the beautiful islands of Hawai’i. From the moment I laid eyes on images of its otherworldly beauty and majesty, I knew I had to go there someday. To say the least, I became obsessed. No, seriously. Despite growing up in the snowy mountains and completely landlocked state of Colorado, I dreamed of being a surfer in Hawai’i. I decorated my room with fake leis from party stores and constantly scribbled ocean waves and surfers in my sketchbooks. I regularly begged my parents to take us to Hawai’i.
As I grew older, my fascination for the islands only increased. So much so, in fact, that I decided to graduate high school a semester early and embark on a three-month gap-semester program in Hawai’i. Throughout the program, I had the opportunity and privilege of volunteering on local farms and with local organizations in addition to experiencing the endless fun and beauty of the islands. Learning about Hawai’i from Native Hawaiians and locals, I fell in love with Hawaiian culture and the islands even more.
On top of Mauna Kea!
Painting a hut for rescued goats
On top of Mauna Kea with the squad!
Checking out waterfalls in Hilo
Learning how to make poi
Learning a traditional basket weaving technique
However, I also became more aware of the issues afflicting Hawai’i as a result of climate change and tourism.
I learned and witnessed the blatant disrespect of the aina (land), the ocean, and Hawaiian culture.
I began to fully recognize the significant and vital connection between nature and people.
If we do not care for nature, it will not care for us.
In modern day society, we take so much for granted and find ourselves valuing material goods and profit over the health and wellbeing of the earth.
Consequently, the earth has been exploited, misused, and destroyed. Furthermore, seeing and learning about cultural appropriation and disrespect in Hawai’i alerted me to the necessity of sharing and preserving the beautiful Hawaiian culture.
Looking around at all the breathtaking scenery of Hawai’i and imagining it all gone in order to make way for ritzy tourist-focused developments and irresponsible industries, I felt sickened and determined to do something about it.
As a young self-taught artist, I unfortunately do not have the power to magically fix these discouraging issues.
However, I realized that I could make an effort to educate others about what I learned--and continue to learn--through my art.
creating for change
Through my work, I aim to depict the beauty of the Hawaiian islands as well as the significant connection between people and nature in order to emphasize the importance of protecting, respecting, and appreciating the environment and native culture.
In each painting, I use vibrant and saturated colors to further accentuate the natural beauty of the environment. The anonymity of included figures adds a sense of wonder and addresses an individuals’ personal relationship with nature. Each piece is accompanied by the history of the location, its current issues/threats, cultural significance, or personal anecdotes in order to further educate on its and importance.
By educating people through my art, I hope to bring more awareness to the environmental and social issues afflicting Hawai’i and inspire positive change.