The artist developed a specialized regional art form by combining the stylized royal palaoa and cape shape. This series also includes a kapa series painted in four by four foot squares with geometric relief indicating fold creases.

Recording a Story or Historical Narrative
These works are meant to infer the telling of a mythological tale or historical event. They remain enigmatic and mysterious, relying on the viewer’s imagination.

 

Legend of Taro
Illustrates the legend wherein Haloa Naka, the first born son of Wakea, the father of life, is resurrected as the first taro. Haloa Naka is represented by the royal palaoa turning into taro leaves. Hawaiian repairs indicate Haloa Naka’s death.

To mend or repair
Traditional Hawaiian woodworking repairs turned into abstract contemporary compositions.

 

Olelo Noeau 2001

Hawai‘ian aphorisms
The aphorism itself is often included against the cape shape in the composition. Some works illustrate landscapes as described by olelo noeau.

 

Keanakakoi 2004

Cave of the Adzemaker
This series refers to Keanakakoi, the ancient adze quarry near the summit of Mauna Kea, on the island of Hawai‘i. The works are meant to be reminiscent of stone implements created at Keanakakoi. It is the largest ancient adz quarry in the pacific and produced the hardest adzes in Hawai‘i.