For twenty years of my life, my parents lived in Kihei, Maui. In that time, I had the privilege to get to know this Hawaiian island in its many seasons and sides. I painted there, I drew, I walked, floated on kayaks, and carved maps in long distance running. I ate fresh pineapple, macadamia nuts, and papaya. I helped pick an overflow of mangos in the yard to save them from feral chickens. I would fall asleep to the sound of waves through open windows and wake up to the crow of a distant rooster. I’ve seen giant turtles land ashore to rest from a long journey and sleek peacocks cross the road like they owned it. I’ve seen sunsets come to life and oceanscapes in pinks, silvers, yellows, and blues; rainbows that land in the palm trees.

For all of this I am eternally grateful. My life has been rich with landscape, sand, and water. It is with this body of work, paintings old and new, that I want to say Thank You to Maui, for the Mother Earth that she was to me all those years. How every visit her shores healed me, celebrated with me, cried with me, and hugged my children in her lush beauty and calm.

Mahalo, Maui, you will always be a part of me. I am blessed to share just a glimpse of your beauty through this exhibit.