Ka Uluwehi O Ke Kai…
Ka Uluwehi O Ke Kai honors both Luka and Edith! Luka and Edith Kanakaole instilled the passion and the kuleana in their children to carry forth traditions. Evident in the second and third generation, their teachings live on today.
As one of her most well-known compositions, Ka Uluwehi O Ke Kai, was first performed by the men in 1976 at MM where they wore lei limu. They took first place. This design applauds and celebrates hula in this 50th anniversary year and recognizes the famous composition by Aunty Edith Kanakaole.
Luka and Edith Kanakaole instilled the passion and the kuleana in their children to carry forth traditions. Evident in the second and third generation, their teachings live on today. The ‘Maka Upena’ is the actual hand-cut version of Grandpa Luka’s block print that he made for the halau in the early 1970s.
The lipoa and the ocean current (ke au kaha) brings light on the lyrics to Grandma’s most popular song. The smell of the lipoa seaweed on the beaches was a memorable aspect of driving from Kaneohe to Laie. Aunty Edith Kanakaole penned this song on one of her trips to the Temple. Aunty participated in the competition with her own school, the Halau O Kekuhi.
#MM50HILO #repostsigzane.com
The Catalytic Nature of Art…
Kamea Hadar is the lead director of Pow Wow Hawai’i, an annual gathering of artists from around the world that is transforming industrial space in Honolulu. Kamea grew up in the worlds of his Japanese/Korean mother and Israeli father. As a child, he took classes at the Honolulu Art Academy and University of Hawai’i, and later studied art at the Sorbonne in Paris, the University of St. Louis in Madrid, and the University of Tel Aviv, Israel. His work has evolved from traditional oil-on-canvas photorealism to surreal portraits that strip their subjects to their purest forms, and aim to communicate more with less. Kamea is the youngest board member of the Hawai’i Arts Alliance and resides in Honolulu.
The Art Conversation…
Daniel Ikaika Ito was recently interviewed by Sarah Tamashiro for The Art Conversation: Connecting People and Art. He shouted out Pai’ea Projects during the interview. Read the whole thing here.
Shoutout to the kupuna…
Justin Timberlake dedicated the latest video, “Mirrors,” to his grandparents’ and their love story. The latest single from JT’s “20/20 Experience” is a throwback and modern at the same time. It’s a mini-movie reminiscent of Michael Jackson’s heyday when music videos were epic tales. Furthermore, the fact that “Mirrors” is the retelling of how Timberlake’s kupuna fell in love when his grandfather passed away last year shows that honoring your ancestors with your art is still relevant in pop culture today. (Applause)
Kamea Hadar x Rone mural on corner of Cooke and Pohukaina…
Photo by Brandon Shigeta
“The biggest inspiration for me was to work together [with Rone]. ABC Stores offered us the wall last minute and were pretty happy with Askew’s portrait on the other side. They mentioned that they like Rone’s and my work because we do portraits as well so we got really inspired to work together. We kind of have similar styles, and at first I was kind of worried because if two styles are too similar it gets kind of hard to figure out who is going to do what, but in the end it worked out better. It’s a true collaboration where you can’t see where his work ends and my work begins: it’s all one in the same. It was painted on the last day [of Pow Wow Hawai'i], on Saturday on the finale so we actually had to finish it up after the Pow Wow week. Even though it was rushed, for me it was a release because I was working all week on Pow Wow and I needed a break. To me, painting is a nice break and a way to release all my stress. Even though it was hard work it was fun. I can’t speak for Rone and his intentions for the piece and his imagery, but for me I was happy that I got to work with Rone because he is one of [my girlfriend's] favorite Pow Wow artists. So the piece for me was a way of saying, “Happy Valentine’s Day,” to her because she gets neglected a lot during Valentine’s. So it’s actually funny because she’s already looking at next year and making a list of her favorite artists that she wants me to paint with as a Valentine’s present, which is cool because she’s getting into it.”
—Kamea Hadar, 29, Pow Wow co-lead
Photo by Mikey Inouye
When dragons fly…
03.31.13 on HBO.
Askew1 mural on Pohukaina Street…
“It’s good to come to Hawai’i and join a few dots. I come from the city that has the biggest Polynesian community in the world, South Auckland specifically, so it’s nice to come here that has a very similar vibe on a lot of levels. I painted a portrait of Tame Iti, who is an activist, artist and a really iconic human being from my country, Aotearoa. He’s very distinctive because he has a full-face tā moko, which I know will resonate with the local people and they’ll understand because obviously the people of Hawai’i and the people of my country are related in language and culture. It was nice to bring a little token of something from my land, and also Tame is Tūhoe . I think he is very symbolic of the struggle and fight of the Tūhoe people. It’s nice to address that because there is a lot of people here that feel the same way about the American colonization of Hawai’i.”
-Askew1, 33, Auckaland, New Zealand
A Hui Hou, Mālama Pono…
Pow Wow Hawai‘i 2013 closed with a lū‘au on President’s Day to celebrate the end of the week-long art festival and Kamea Hadar’s 29th birthday. The feast was held at the Utopium Estate in Pupukea, and Pai‘ea Projects rolled through in full force to party for our boy’s b-day. In addition to the Coors Lights, fried chicken and manapua for the potluck, we also brought two sets of Podageehorseshoes for all the artists, media and cool peeps to play. The boxes were a huge success and the lū‘au was good fun! Till we meet again, Pow Wow Hawai‘i…
We Support Pow Wow Hawaii…
Help share the art and community of Pow Wow, a contemporary art movement in Hawaii, with the rest of the world. Check out their Kickstarter site here and pledge a donation.
Fitted x Pow Wow…
Getting psyched for Pow Wow 2013! Weʻre stoked to have been able to help push this Fitted x Pow Wow collaboration and support Hawaiiʻs local artists.
#9OTW this First Friday…
Pai’ea Projects’ Paul Kema will have a couple of images on display at “9 On The Wall,” a photography exhibit featuring photographers from the latest issue of Contrast at the Human Imagination (1154 Nuuanu Avenue) on February 1, 2013. This free event starts at 5 p.m. and is open to all ages. The photo exhibit will be held alongside Chinatown’s First Friday Art Walk.
Cover…
Our boy Kuha’o Zane landed the cover of the latest Mana Magazine. Check it out…
The Knocks…
Buy your tickets for the Last Ever here…see you at The Republik on Friday, Dec. 21.
Everyone Loves Bikinis…
The Stoli Winter Series fashion show went down yesterday at the Modern Honolulu. Kaimana Beachwear owner & designer Ben Fieman asked PP to come down and help shoot the event. We’re all about helping support local artists, especially during events like this. Hope you enjoy his work!
Kaimana Beachwear: @_sarahaimee, @benfieman & Shelsea Brown
Mahalo @supercw & @kaimanabeachwear for putting together this Stoli Winter Series Event!
