Akua, Hawaiian Deities

Using oil paints on mirror, I am painting the Hawaiian Deities, which are representations of the different functions in nature formed into tangible figures that serve as the protectors of the island.

There is a call to each deity for its different uses. For protection before you enter the forest or the seas, or wherever you may be going or need guidance, there is the deity or its nature to help you along the way so that you never feel lost or alone. They are the islands' mother, the people's mother, the space to go and connect and be inspired. They can be incredibly fierce and the most gentle.

Painting the subjects on mirror allows personal reflection and the ability to go deeper into the work, connecting to a parallel world where you can find the energy needed to guide you along your own path.

In order to demonstrate a deeper commitment to represent the nature, culture and people of Hawai’i in a manner that is respectful, I am working with cultural practitioner Kumu A'ia'i Bello and grassroots organizations like Ka Lāhui Hawai’i, an initiative by Hawaiians for self-governance and self determination. My aim is to channel audiences towards authentic stories, practices and voices on the islands that have welcomed me into their world. As a person from the outside, I have a strong kuleana (responsibility) to learn what these islands truly are, their history, their culture, as well as the reality of colonization’s ongoing legacy and the work being done to address it. The Hawaiian Akua are a profound part of what the island is made from and how it keeps so many things alive in nature, how it feeds us, and how we must give back and never take it for granted.