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kohala
Karaka says this series of paintings “explores the life force of volcanoes on the Island of Hawai‘i, portraying the mauna as living entities deeply connected to the land and its people. Kohala and Hualālai capture mauna under a pristine sky, prior to the 1893 overthrow of Queen Lili‘uokalani and the US military occupation that followed. These works reflect a time when the land was free from foreign domination, honoring its original sacred state. Mauna Kea depicts the ariki (chief) mountain, symbolizing resistance and defiance against the illegal annexation of Hawai‘i by the United States in 1898. This act was later acknowledged as unjust when US Congress passed the Apology Resolution in 1993. Mauna Loa and Kīlauea illustrate the profound impact of more than a century of colonization of Hawai‘i and its people, highlighting the ongoing struggle for the protection of sacred ancestral sites and the resilience of Indigenous Hawaiians in their efforts to restore sovereignty, self-determination, and the vision of an autonomous, independent Kingdom of Hawai‘i.”
Mixed media on canvas
1830 x 1830mm
2024
Kohala is the oldest of the five volcanoes on the Island of Hawai‘i, otherwise known as Big Island or Moku o Keawe. He tapu hoki koe: You are sacred Nā Pu‘u o Kohala: Hills of Kohala Ua mau ke ea o ka ‘āina i ka pono Meaning “The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness,” these words are attributed to King Kamehameha III, who voiced this statement on July 31, 1843, when the Hawaiian flag was raised once again following an unauthorized takeover by the British. Symbol of Uenuku Uenuku is an atua (god) of rainbows and a prominent ancestor in Māori tradition, who travelled to Aotearoa from Hawaiki. The appearance of a rainbow could be read as a tohu, or omen. The ancient carving Te Uenuku is one of the greatest treasures of the Tainui people. The carving is unlike other Māori carvings, but resembles some traditional Hawaiian carvings.
Hualālai
Mixed media on canvas
1830 x 1830mm
2024
A celebration of Kānaka ‘Ōiwi/Kānaka Maoli, or Native Hawaiians. AKE AKE AKE, interpreted here as, “as long as it takes” embodies the spirit of Māori protest, symbolizing the resilience and unwavering commitment to carrying forward the legacy of our ancestors. Kānaka Maoli: real people Kānaka ‘Ōiwi: people of the ancestral bone
mauna kea
Mixed media on canvas
1830 x 1830mm
2024
The tallest mountain in the world from base to peak, Mauna Kea has been the site of protests aimed at protecting the ancestral land and iwi kūpuna (bones of the ancestors). The proposed construction of a thirty-meter telescope and additional observatory domes is seen as a blatant disregard for Hawaiian culture and Indigenous rights. Aloha ‘Oe Aloha ‘Oe is a song written by Queen Lili‘uokalani, an accomplished musician and composer. It is an iconic song of Hawai‘i. Brudda IZ A reference to the late and renowned Hawaiian musician and singer Israel Ka‘ano‘i Kamakawiwo‘ole, a champion of Hawaiian independence. Na wai e ho‘ōla i nā iwi? Used in and as the title of a 1988 documentary by Nā Maka o ka ‘Āina, which translates to “Who will save the bones?” The documentary highlights the issue of safeguarding ancestral remains in the face of development and construction.
mauna loa
Mixed media on canvas
1830 x 1830mm
2024
January 16, 1893, marks the day before the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy and the subsequent US military occupation. Some estimates suggest that the Native Hawaiian population declined from around 400,000 to 40,000 between 1778 and 1878, largely due to the devastating impact of disease, displacement, and social upheaval following Western contact. Kānaka Maoli call on the kia‘i, or guardians, to protect and defend places of cultural importance. Similarly, Māori continue to advocate for self-determination, with the words Mana motuhake emblazoned in red across the mountain that spans more than half of the Big Island. In a rousing 1897 protest speech made by resistance leader James Keauiluna Kaulia to thousands of Hawaiians, he declared, “Consenting for our nation to be subsumed within America is like agreeing that we…be buried alive.”
Kīlauea
Mixed media on canvas
1830 x 1830mm
2024
An active volcano inscribed with the words Nā maka o ka āina. The Kanaka Maoli flag signals resistance and survival, strength and independence. Pele-honua-mea: Pele of the sacred land In Hawaiian stories, Pele is the goddess of volcanoes and fire, and the creator of the Hawaiian Islands. Her home is believed to be at the summit of Kīlauea. Similarly, Māori have an ancestor and goddess called Para-whenua-mea. Nā Maka o ka ‘Āina: Eyes of the Land Nā Maka o ka ‘Āina speaks to the inherent wisdom of the land, and reflects the profound connection Hawaiians have with it. In a political context, it could be used to convey the idea that the land has a life force, and is a witness to the history and actions of those who inhabit it. Nā Maka o ka ‘Āina is also an independent video production team founded by Joan Lander and Puhipau. Emerging from the social and environmental justice movements of the 1970s, they dedicated themselves to documenting and amplifying the voices of Hawai‘i and the Pacific.
