ABOUT KANANI
kanaka ‘ōiwi . chinese . austrian jew
the lands that have shaped me: maunawili ko‘olaupoko, o‘ahu . aiea, o‘ahu . miloli‘i kona, hawai‘i . kailua kona, hawai‘i . keaukaha, hawai‘i . ola‘a, hawai‘i
I design spaces with the belief that effective and impactful design is malleable to each environment, people, purpose, and period. Therefore each project invites innovation, deep listening, and humility.
My curatorial concepts explore the changing cultural and social values in Hawai‘i, with emphasis on representation of ethnic minorities and underserved communities. I collaborate with contemporary artists from Polynesia with intention to explore and redeem native narratives. Together, we approach the gallery as a space for diverse perspectives to seek ways to preserve and perpetuate humanity with a plurality of stories.
Vision and Mission: No ka lāhui
Create platforms for marginalized groups, such as (but not limited to): indigenous women, incarcerated Hawaiians, and Māhū.
Reflect the challenges of the contemporary experience for native peoples of Polynesia, specifically Native Hawaiians.
Explore the changing cultural and social values in Hawai‘i and observe how these changes impact people, place, and systems. These observations invite conversations to move us forward in ways that prioritize indigenous relationality, which include the multicultural and multiethnic generations of people in Hawai'i.
Create multigenerational learning experiences that acknowledge lineage knowledge, that include play, climate education with Hawaiian methods of observation, and food systems.
Embrace new ideas and ancestral values: to intentionally design experiences that invite innovation by exploring how tradition and modernity can weave new insights and approaches to creativity.
