Herb Kane, Solomon Enos, Paul Gauguin, Punky Aloha, and Katch1

There are many definitions to what success means. Right now one definition for me is.... A successful artist is unapologetically themselves, free to create as instinct directs, one who listens to their naʻau and acts on it.

Oftentimes we are afraid of how others perceive us. Those opinions build social walls which limits our agency, the freedom to choose for ourselves. That agency is a powerful tool in the hands of those who are free. A successful artist listens to their naʻau, more than others opinions. They are free to create without interruptions from the outside world

Each piece is a favorite because they are all pieces of me. Each is a reminder of where I've been, and who I've been at different points in time. Each piece holds a lesson I learned from the creative process.

But more specifically a Mural I painted in 2024 in Koloa town on the Hawai'i Island. This mural depicts a young ali'i at the entrance of a cave. He's either preparing to enter into the dark cave which is a symbol of Pō (The realm of the Gods or the place where our ancestors exist.) The young aliʻi is tested as he must travel into the darkness, face his fears and make it to the place where his ancestors reside, to greet him and connect with him, teaching him the ways of the unseen world and his true identity. As the aliʻi emerges from the cave he stands taller, ready to shoulder his responsibilities to take care of his ohana and his lāhui. He then sits to contemplate what he just experienced, processing all the ike from his kupuna.

Wherever we are in life, as we face our fears, we learn the true nature of who we are.

This is a reflection of my experience as I became a father and found my lifeʻs purpose. Each one of us has a purpose in this life and they are all unique to our lifeʻs plan. We just need to be brave and find out what it is.

I've always been surrounded by creative individuals in my environment. I had every opportunity to discover any hidden talents my curiosity led me to. As a kid I drew all my favorite heroes and characters from the T.V. shows I'd watch after school. But it wasn't until my cousin introduced me to Graffiti art and that's where I found my artistic path as a teenager. Painting graffiti and going on adventures with my friends was where I thrived as an artist. It's somewhat of an "extreme sport" if compared to the rest of the art world. Getting out of the house, climbing fences, running from the law, going on late night missions, all of it was so exciting to me. We got really good at painting large mural like graffiti pieces and that eventually led to getting paid for mural work as a kid. I continued painting graffiti and painting murals on the side during college at BYU-Hawaii. During my last year of school, I managed to build a client list, and became a working artist during my senior year. After I graduated, I jumped right into being a full time artist painting murals, designing for surf brands, and showing my canvas paintings in galleries. All of my young dreams have come true, I've used art as my Wa'a to take me around the world, seeing new places, meeting new friends, experiencing other cultures, and providing value to my life and those around me as we journey together.

Art is my life source, mentally, spiritually, and physically. It's my kuleana. I communicate through visual design and creativity. That sense of purpose has driven me through life's ups and downs. It has taught me a lot about my identity and my unique position in this world. It brought me joy and pain, but taught me who I am, where I come from, and where I'm going.

Inspiration comes in many forms from many places. Some of my work is inspired by my environment, the surf culture on the North Shore of Oahu. Other works are inspired by my roots in graffiti. Recently I've leaned into my Hawaiian culture more and receive inspiration from my Kupuna.