“Artists/Hawaii” by J.Clarke and D.Dods, Dana Edmunds (photographer), 1996, University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu ( About the book from SS America Library )

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Talking about the Hawaiian art, represented in the book “Artists/Hawaii” by Joan Clarke and Diane Dods, Dana Edmunds (photographer), published by University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu in 1996, which I picked up in the SS America Library while travelling on Hawaiian NCL cruse , I read thoroughly, photographed it for you to see and appreciate at my photo expose above.

Watching the artists’ pieces, we need to keep in mind the history of the country:

“The Hawaiian archipelago consists of 137 islands in the Pacific Ocean that are far from any other land. Polynesians arrived there one to two thousand years ago, and in 1778 Captain James Cook and his crew became the first Europeans to visit Hawaii (which they called the Sandwich Islands). The art created in these islands may be divided into art existing prior to Cook’s arrival; art produced by recently arrived westerners; and art produced by Hawaiians incorporating western materials and ideas.

In 1967, Hawaii became the first state in the nation to implement a PERCENT for ART  LAW. The art in State Building Law established the Art in Public Places Program and designated one percent of the construction costs of new public schools and state buildings for the acquisition of works of art, either by commission or by purchase.

Art existing prior to Cook’s arrival is very similar to the art of other Pacific islanders. This art includes wood carvings, feather work, petroglyphs, bark cloth (called kapa in Hawaiian and tapa elsewhere in the Pacific ) and tattoos.

Native Hawaiians had neither metal nor woven cloth. Production of this art continued afterCook’s arrival. A few craftsmen still produce traditional Hawaiian arts, either to sell to tourists or to preserve native culture”.

My attitude is as follows: art helps to understand the nation, its traditions and customs, to remain to be ourselves at all the circumstances. Hawaiian closeness to tattoo, wood and stone carvings seems strange to our view, but their curves and zigzags are very natural and intrinsic for locals.

Hawaiian art is never assimilated with the other cultural trends. They are islanders and always will be. Nobody can copy them. Their native spirit and originality.

Good for them!

Looking through this interesting book, sitting at the coffee desk and listening to the wonderful Hawaiian songs performed by Hawaiian guitar, what could it be better mood for understanding  their culture, arts and struggle in life.

Watch video:Traditional Hawaiian Artist Richard Kupihea Romero