Title: ʻUlu Rising. Statement: This artwork presents the colors and textures of the skies above Lahaina at sunset and midday as an contemporary ʻulu quilt design. In this pattern, the artist has abstracted breadfruit leaves so that they resemble the wings of a phoenix. This artwork honors Lahaina's distant past when it was known as a place to find shade under the area's many large breadfruit trees. Inspired by ‘Ōlelo No‘eau #1936: Lahaina, i ka malu ʻulu o Lele. Lahaina, in the shade of the breadfruit trees of Lele.
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My work combines a painting of the iconic Maui landmark, ʻĪao Needle, draped with a colorful lei. I feel that the image of ʻĪao represents the historical, cultural, and natural quintessence of Maui, while the multicolor lei reflects the multicultural and multigenerational people of our island. Together, they make a statement about the resilience of our community and environment – Maui Strong!
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This piece represents the strength and resilience of our Maui community, especially in dark times. From Mauka to Makai, I brought together the naupaka flower to reveal how all parts of the island support each other. We are one. The stars are glimmers of hope leading us all towards a brighter future!
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Nani (the Humpback Whale) pays homage to the resilient spirit of Lahaina through the majestic form of a whale, a symbol of protection and ancestral guidance in Native Hawaiian culture. Created with charcoal from wildfires and water from the Pacific Ocean, Nani embodies the strength drawn from both devastation and the surrounding water. Set against the backdrop of the Makali'i constellation, rendered in Maui flowers, this artwork reflects the enduring light of hope and the promise of finding our way home, even in the darkest times.
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Title “Lele Rising” Statement: Lele is the ancient name for Lahaina, and also the Hawaiian word for jump, fly or soar. The whale breaching is a metaphor for Lahaina rising, or rebuilding. Uncle Ed created this West Maui artwork from his perspective looking from the ocean just north (opposite Honoapi‘ilani Highway Mile Marker 15.8) of ‘Olowalu town toward the West Maui Mountains.
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With this piece, I wanted to create something that evokes a sense of calm & beauty in honor of Lahaina, while also calling back to some visual elements that celebrate Lahaina's beauty & resilience. The blues and tan echo the beauty of Lahaina's landscape, with pops of symbolic Lahaina red. Naupaka is celebrated here, a staple of Lahaina's beaches, as well as a ti leaf lei representing the strength & resiliency of Lahaina.
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I am deeply inspired by the power of the Maui community and the resilience shown since the Lahaina fire. In the face of adversity, the community came together to provide comfort and support to those who lost loved ones and were displaced. Through my art, I aim to memorialize the unity and compassion that emerged and to evoke a sense of hope, resilience, and solidarity. The colors and imagery used in this art piece harken back to Lahaina’s legacy as a wetland and center of the Hawaiian Kingdom.
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Statement: As with all Hawaiian islands, despite the challenges Maui faced and those yet to come, its community proved to be one of its greatest assets. As someone who also lives on a Hawaiian island, O'ahu, and practices art, it's my role to highlight Maui's strength in the community, the community's connection to nature, the community's dedication to rebuilding after tragedy, and each individual's connection to each other. My hope for this piece is an overwhelming feeling of unity.
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Knowing that this piece was to be inspired by the work the Maui students already created, I made a list of the repeated elements that were represented in their art and incorporated the shape of Maui island, flowers, the Banyan tree, and the people's hands, as these were the symbols that showed up the most. I decided to use a plumeria lei as the symbol of hope and make it in the shape of Maui island using the many hands of our community to hold it up, and the sun I placed in the West side to highlight Lahaina. The roots draped over the composition are those of the persistent Banyan tree, the quiet symbol of resilience and regrowth after destruction, and the hand dropping flowers into the scene represents the help and support received from outside the island. My goal with this piece was to embody the togetherness and strength our Maui community showed during this tragedy, and to highlight the 'Olelo that "No task is too big when done together by all."
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The “rider” painting depicts a Pa’u rider. Brightly colored and proud. I see the these riders as a reminder of Hawaiian history and days of the past. It also represents a way that all of or islands come together and are represented as a whole. Each island represented with their color but we ride as one Hawaii. Just like our children as well as our community, all different but we “ride” as one.
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