Hālau men’s shirt

The Ko‘olau mountains of Oʻahu, which have nourished and inspired my ʻohana for generations, is the ʻāina of this image and forms the upper part of this open pipi (oyster). The ocean, which connects us and upon which our kūpuna navigated from Kahiki to Hawaiʻi, forms the lower part. The native pipi is being used to improve water quality in the seas around Mōkapu pensinsula. The dancer is the momi (pearl), as is the hula and moʻolelo (story) she is telling. The lehua is one of the first plants to grow on a new lava flow, which connects with this being my first piece. The word lehua also has good connotations, besides being a flower often described in mele. A graceful dancer can be compared to the soaring ʻiwa that float on the makani (wind).