Artists’ Statements

Kyle Correa ’24, Standstill (14)

Truthfully, I took this picture accidentally while walking through a hallway to get back to my workplace, hence the awkward angle. Upon looking back at my camera roll, I noticed it and played around with the saturation, colors, and overall vibrance of the picture, thus giving me this picture.

Sara

Tash ’23, A Flicker of Hope (20)

I originally started this piece as practice for an art style that I had been recently wanting to try. I ended up completing it, and I decided to take this opportunity to submit it because it’s my senior year.

Flora Elham ’25, Lazy Summer Evenings (23)

The title of this piece was inspired by the lazy summer nights I would spend working on this drawing. The name also exemplifies the tone and overall lighting of the drawing itself. This was one of the harder art projects I’ve worked on, given how I was striving to draw this piece in a hyperrealistic style.

Ian Watanabe ’23, The Monarch Retires (28)

You know, it’s funny how I can imagine a world with giant monsters and robots, and yet not one that’s free from colonialism or cultural appropriation.

Tyf Katsuda ’26, Mirror Mirror on the Wall, Tell Me, Who Is Bound to Fall? (31)

This artwork is a redraw of one I had done a pre-pandemic. Although the original isn’t shown, the main improvements I made were in expression and overall design. This piece is a simpler one, with easy shapes as background and not a very complicated outfit or design. I enjoy it because of the mystery and emotion it conveys. I really enjoy the hand pose and how that transfers to the mirror, and the bright colors and harsh lighting really add a mood to the piece.The character’s name is Jolee and she’s the stereotypical mean girl, with a little bit of moral dilemmas and guilt on the side. ;) The reflection is a much meaner side of her that is her usual personality, whereas her real self is in a moment of doubt and self-pity.

Kanani Steward

’24, Back When I Used to Paint (50)

A freshly picked bouquet of colorful flowers from Nu’uanu (courtesy of Alana’s yard) captured by the up-and-coming, multi-talented pop star. This piece is on a large canvas, done with vivid oil paints, fluidity, depth, and lots of love. You’re welcome. I hope you feel the breeze, the swaying of the curtains, and smell the sweet ginger. It’s an ode to Matisse, of course, the king of flowers, vases, and painting.

Adam Gerhardt ’26, Elio de Angelis (57)

“...You touch this limit, something happens and you can suddenly go a little bit further.”

- Ayrton Senna

Kealoha Comcowich ’25, Teton Afternoon (59)

I was fishing in the Tetons in Wyoming last summer, and this scene caught my eye as I was walking back up from the river to our camp. I like this picture because it captures the beauty of the horse, the mountain range, and the pasture–three of my favorite things about that area.

Serene Kim ’24, The Forgotten Sword (62)

The scene where Ariel sings “Part of Your World” in The Little Mermaid has lived within me for a very long time. Although Ariel dreamed of becoming a human, her life under the sea seemed wondrous and appealing to the younger me. But I realized this must be what Ariel thought about our lives. The “forgotten sword” is a metaphor for something people may have forgotten they possessed--that may be a skill, a passion, a strength, or a goal. This drawing is an encouragement to value your personal “treasures”; it’s a reminder to open up your eyes to the things in our lives that Ariel might find fascinating.

Nicole Dao ’23 Ian Watanabe ’23 Ava Pakravan ’24

Nicole Dao ’23 Mika Hiroi ’24 Jill Sprott Mark Pangilinan

Nicholas Flores ’26 Morgan Hom ’26 Sophia Hurd ’24 Crow Villanueva ’25 Tyf Katsuda ’26 Silvia Kim ’23 Amber Nobriga’23 Greg Lippert ’26 KG Pan ’25 Ben Watanabe ’26

Nicole Dao ’23 Ian Watanabe ’23 Ava Pakravan ’24

Ka Wai Ola seeks to showcase original visual and literary artwork from the Punahou community that displays knowledge of craft and impactful artistic intent. KWO celebrates the artistic gifts and talents of Punahou’s students, offering an authentic space for storytelling, expression, learning, and sharing beyond the classroom.

Would you like to see your art or writing published in the upcoming issue? Check out our website at kawaiola.punahou.edu for information on submitting.