KANAKA MAOLI ARTIST – LEHUANANI C. WAIPĀ AH NEE

5 Dec

USA, HAWAIʻI

Waipā Ah Nee’s imagery is scaffolded with generations of traditional ‘ike, knowledge that reflects the Kanaka connection to ‘āina, land, wai, water and ea, air. Her artistry in depicting her Native Hawaiian culture through her photography rests on the backbones of her mo’okūauhau, genealogy and her direct relation to Hawai’i. Her ability to convey Hawai’i’s indigenous culture through her artistry is embedded in practice and customs of her ancestral lineage.

The series “Aloha ‘Āina dives into the very relationship one has with their ‘Āina and that connection through Aloha, that binds one to the very lepo, earth, that they ascend from. To live Aloha ‘Āina is to be cognizant of what is not just happening to the lands you descend from but also to be proactive about protecting the mana that it possesses and be willing to defend it at all costs.