Maui Born Award winning Photographer
Todd Kawasaki
Todd Kawasaki is a Maui born, award winning landscape photographer living on the island of Maui, Hawaii. Like many who grew up on Maui, Todd spends much of his time around the ocean enjoying the year round tropical weather. At an early age, he developed a love for nature and a deep appreciation of Hawaii’s natural beauty. His photographic journey documents this love.
Todd Kawasaki is widely recognized as one of Hawaii’s most distinguished landscape photographers, winning numerous international awards for his photography. Among them, “Hale Honu”, depicting turtles at rest in their cave with the setting sun in the background, won him his most prestigious award. He finished in 2nd place in the IPA (International Photographers
Association) from a field of over 3000 entries from 103 countries. His prizewinning composition skills as well as his patient commitment to capture that “optimum moment” have combined to create a wonderful array of fabulous photographs of Maui.
Dynamic Wave photography
Nick Selway
Born and raised in Lake Stevens, Washington, nestled along the rugged beauty of the Northern Cascade Mountains, he developed a deep and lasting connection to nature from an early age. His childhood was filled with adventures across the Pacific Northwest, where he explored dense forests, misty coastlines, and towering peaks with his family, nurturing his love for the natural world.
After college, Nick moved to Kailua-Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii, where his life took a pivotal turn. There, he forged lasting friendships with fellow nature photographers CJ Kale, Don & Linda Hurzeler. Together, they co-founded the Lava Light Galleries, where his work would thrive for the next decade, earning him a reputation as one of the leading nature photographers in the region. The success of his galleries was a testament to his vision, dedication, and his unwavering commitment to sharing the natural world through his artistry.
Fantastic Under-water Photographer
Drew Sulock
Drew Sulock, originally from Philadelphia, has lived on several islands throughout the Caribbean before settling on Maui in 2009.Throughout his life, he has always been amazed by the earth’s natural beauty, both above and below sea level. He has spent his entire adult life working on the water, and is inspired to share this world with everyone through photography.
Before becoming an award winning photographer, Drew received a masters degree in marine science. While doing research on coral reefs throughout the world, he was struck by the overwhelming beauty of the underwater environment. It was not long before he realized he could do more to help marine life by sharing images of this stunning ecosystem through his photos, than he could by solely conducting research. Someone needs to show the world what we are trying to preserve, and the images Drew has created aim to do that.
Tribal ink
Tina Ah Puck
Tina Ah Puck uses her characteristic optimism to create art that tells the stories of
Hawaii, the history and the legends, from a beautiful and often surreal angle. There
are often hidden images and underlying symbolism in her artworks, urging the
viewer to slow down and look deeper. Tina was born on a farm in Michigan, and
when she won a trip to Maui on the radio she had no idea where Maui even was.
She was called back to the island in 2004, and she began painting professionally on a bet. Art proved to be successful for her, as she began showing in several galleries around Hawaii. Her goal is to create wonder around the Hawaiian culture for those unfamiliar with it, and to give back to the Maui community more than it has given to her.
The Perfection of Wahine Art
Emily Bouvet
Emily Bouvet is a self taught artist even though she studied history of Art at La Sorbonne University in Paris. She grew up in the small town of Barbizon in France, famous for its pre-impressionist painters but she drew her early inspiration from her many travels, starting with Africa and South America from where she brought back travel logs that got published world wide.
She spent most of her summers in San Diego California in her mother’s hometown. As a teenager, she fell in love with Maui, during her first trip in ‘96 to the valley Isle. Since then she has been coming back regularly for extended periods of time, painting Hawaiian landscapes, portraits and daily life . Of Special interest is her fascination with Hawaiian Women and capturing them in a natural beautiful manner.
Emily’s paintings refer to a timeless primitive beauty. Gauguin, Le Douanier Rousseau and also Klimt are part of her pantheon. She could say as Le Douanier Rousseau claimed that she has "no other teacher than nature”.Her world is poetic, oneiric and haloed in mystery. The company of her paintings makes one feel happy.
Abstract Blues
Dina Cline
Dina Cline is an interdisciplinary artist working primarily in painting and ceramic sculpture. She has an MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She lives and works in Maui, HI and frequents NYC.
She has studied with NYC Crit Club, Kipaipai Fellows, and at the Oxbow School of Art. Her works were recently exhibited at the Louise Nevelson Chapel in NYC with Work in Progress Advisory. Her works have been acquired by the Richter-Shirley private collection, and have been shown and collected internationally.
Cline’s practice is multifaceted; working as a painter, a ceramic sculpture artist, and more recently in short films. The work contains recurring and evolving symbols such as fruits, juice boxes, and buildings — all pertaining to elements of the shared human condition. Overflowing with gesture, color and peripherals, she invites viewers to engage with these musings.
The Whimsical Artist of Hana
Laura Mango
Laura Mango has been painting on the island of Maui since 1978. Her original paintings have been acquired by numerous island visitors and long-time residents. She currently resides in the Hana rain forest, surrounded by waterfalls, birds and exotic vegetation.
This love and respect for nature translates to her paintings. Laura is a self taught artist with a highly evolved style, making her works recognizable and authentic. Her unique use of color, combined with her diverse subject matter, has made her art very collectable. Upon seeing Laura’s work, the viewer experiences a true Maui artist who follows her dreams.
Pastels of the Pacific
Laurie Miller
Inspired by so many things including the expressions on a strangers face, the reflections on the water in Venice Italy, the shadows and the glows dancing through ancient cities, the magical singing shades of New Orleans, the long, open winding roads in Kaupo Maui - and the love of life - Melissa continues to follow her soul with Line and Color. She's experienced life moving around and growing while watching the world outside and feeling the world inside of her. Because of this, she considers all of her paintings to be Self Portraits as she has spent a lot of time reflecting & her art is intensely impacted by this introspection.
Fantastic World on Acrylic
Jaquelynne Mauvais
Jaquelynne Mauvais is a watercolor and acrylic artist whose uncommon imagination has interested buyers for years. Traveling extensively throughout the world, she has studied different cultures and nature in depth and has a deep understanding and respect for the natural environment. She instills this in her work by depicting human portraits and floral subjects in a natural setting altered by her dramatic vision of color and design to articulate the subject’s full vitality and personality.
Ms. Mauvais has been a member of Lahaina Art Society since 1987 as well as been a part of numerous galleries throughout the island over the decades. Her style has changed over the years from her earlier work of captivating portraits to the more whimsical vibrant world that Maui shaped her heart.
Abstract Floral Water-colorist
Karin Novak-Neal
After taking an early retirement and relocating to Kona, Hawaii, Karin launched her art career. Together with her husband, she established an art gallery and artist supply store near the Banyans Beach in Kailua. Karin's watercolor style underwent a bold and distinctive transformation towards abstract after she discovered the vibrant tropical flora and fauna. This led to her work becoming larger and more colorful.
When she noticed that no one was offering a 'beginning from basics' watercolor class, Karin took on instructing. She then developed a workshop based on her extensive knowledge of the medium, which quickly became popular and continues to be so today. One of Karin's most sought-after workshops in Hawaii is pastels, where students are encouraged to work on a large format.
Master of Acrylic
Ron Phillips
"Many creative types have one or more philosophies that they follow. My only philosophy is to paint what I feel and from the heart. I think one should, as in style, create one’s own philosophy. Of course, I’ve picked up inspiration, techniques and tidbits of wisdom from other artists I respect and admire but only to create my own dialogue with my art and way of life. What I try to convey in my art is passion, color and a heart felt dialogue beyond words and semantics.
I try to use brushes only to apply my medium though I will sometimes use a cloth. I use a background color to set the tone in my oil and acrylic paintings. During the process I may take the liberty to deviate from the original planned background color to change or enhance the feeling I want to convey." - Ron Phillips
capturing the jungle
Nadine Ramelb
Inspired by the beauty of my paradise home of Maui, I chose the profession of visual artist 35 years ago. Travels to 15 countries influenced my distinctive composition and dynamic use of color. My paintings are depicted in acrylic medium on watercolor paper and canvas. With subject matter of floral, fauna, marine life, birds and hula images, I combine delicate light with bold color to translate timeless tropical essence. My bamboo and banana leaf art reflects earth tones of comfort that offers the warmth of Hawaii.
The Abstract World of Oil
Melissa Rigney
Melissa Rigney was born in the early eighties and after just 5 days her parents took her to Mexico and then moved to the wild Big Island of Hawaii. She grew up in a hula skirt between the lava tubes and the ocean waves.
The bright vivid colors of Hawaii were her home and Hawaiian colors influenced her art tremendously. She was living in a breathing color wheel.
Melissa started pencil drawing recognizable people when she was just a baby, animated by the outdoors- the people, the bugs, cuddly animals and palm trees swaying in the tropical wind. She was fun and fancy free running around barefoot in her purple bikini and grass skirt with her colors.. always coloring and smiling.
When she discovered oil paints at Maui’s Baldwin High School, her passion was inflamed & she fell in love with painting for life.
Maui has healed, inspired, and uplifted her and almost 100% of her oil paintings were created here.
Vintage Maui Impressionist
George Young
Local artist George Young began studying art and painting under the guidance of his father who was also an artist and teacher. A native of Newport Beach, California, Mr. Young has resided near coastal locations for most of his life and that proximity has cultivated a love of lush ocean landscapes and warm tropical climates. His beautiful oil paintings are primarily images of Maui’s paradise. He skillfully blends vivid color and shadow, and he genuinely captures the languid beauty that his subjects inspire.
Leaving an impression
Simon Williams
Simon Williams was born in Dunedin in 1961. He grew up in Mosgiel serving an apprenticeship in horticulture and landscape gardening. During the 1980s Simon lived and worked in Europe where he began painting. Originally influenced by Australia’s Heidelberg School of artists. Mr. Williams has been the recipient of numerous juried art prizes and routinely shows in both joint and solo exhibitions. Living in Auckland since 1994 Simon exhibits annually with International Art Centre. Simon's work has featured in every edition of “New Zealand's Favourite Artists” and hangs in embassies and collections worldwide Including that of former President Bill Clinton. Simon visits Maui regularly and his work succeeds brilliantly in capturing the essence of the panoramic harbors, bays and beaches that he depicts. His paintings reflect his delight for the outdoor life
Mapping of Hawaii
William Horak
William Horak performed geological reconnaissance on Oahu, Kauai, Molokai and Hawaii. As a result, he was often in remote locations and in close association with kô ‘one‘i po‘e. Therefore, this provided him with the opportunity to explore both the physical and cultural aspects of the Islands. His images of Hawaii are influenced by the ho‘okahiko of the kanaka maoli and a way of life that has been consumed by the past. His interests in historical cartography, Hawaiian antiquity, and the natural history of the Islands are the foundation for his works.