Hawaii, my sanctuary, has been a dream destination since my youth. Adopting a Hawaiian name, I envisioned living there, a dream realized in my early twenties. The moment I set foot on the island, its energy and the air’s scent confirmed I was home.

In Hawaii, I found my closest, dearest friends almost instantly, relationships that have endured. The island becomes a haven during life’s disarray, offering healing and self-discovery. There’s an inspiring energy that fuels creativity and personal healing, as if the land itself communicates.

Hawaii’s spiritual essence is palpable, marked by pervasive synchronicity. The community epitomizes a utopian existence—conscious living, eating, dancing, singing, and creating. It’s a place of rejuvenation and inspiration, especially vital for an artist like myself, constantly giving. In Hawaii, I find the chance to receive abundantly.

In my sculpture ‘Kehena Dancer,’ I explore the embodiment of freedom and healing. It’s a journey of reconnecting with my younger self, unhealed and left behind, and integrating these pieces into my adult life. Inspired by Hawaii’s dance community, this piece captures the beauty and peace in movement, the synergy of bodies in motion, and the joy of dance. It’s about the fluid visual flow, the feeling in movement, not just the physical aspect but the energy, the give and take. Creating ‘Kehena Dancer’ was like dancing with wire, a meditation, a symbol of peace. This sculpture is not just an artistic expression but a reflection of my transformation, tapping into the magic of Hawaii’s flora and fauna which constantly draw me back for inspiration. It embodies the ephemeral art of dance, a freedom that lives in the moment, translating it into something tangible that can live on.

Kehena Dancer, 2023

A study in dance and movement

In my sculpture ‘Kehena Dancer,’ I explore the embodiment of freedom and healing. It’s a journey of reconnecting with my younger self, unhealed and left behind, and integrating these pieces into my adult life. Inspired by Hawaii’s dance community, this piece captures the beauty and peace in movement, the synergy of bodies in motion, and the joy of dance. It’s about the fluid visual flow, the feeling in movement, not just the physical aspect but the energy, the give and take. Creating ‘Kehena Dancer’ was like dancing with wire, a meditation, a symbol of peace. This sculpture is not just an artistic expression but a reflection of my transformation, tapping into the magic of Hawaii’s flora and fauna which constantly draw me back for inspiration. It embodies the ephemeral art of dance, a freedom that lives in the moment, translating it into something tangible that can live on.

Kue’s Reflections

Emotive construction

Artistry and magic, the embedding of emotion by forming tangible objects is my meditative technical process. There is a moment when what I create reaches a point so true to my vision that in that very tiny little fragment of time, a feeling of perfection is achieved.