Leohone

"I realized about 10 years ago that what I am doing now with my art is my special calling. This series deals with the relationship between past, present, and ultimately, the future. I refer to my work on this series as my 'mission.' This is what I am called to do; it is likely what I will do for the rest of my painting life." — Leohone

Hawai‘i artist Leohone has been a “People Painter” since childhood. She began her renowned Hawaiian cultural series, ‘Ike Ho‘omaopopo, in 1999. This series portrays present-day Hawaiian individuals practicing cultural skills, while also honoring the spirit of those who passed these traditions down. These mentors—whether family members, teachers, or monarchs—are represented as spirit figures within the artwork. As Leohone explains, she is "just painting an influence."

In her work, Leohone distinguishes between spirits and ghosts. "I do not paint ghosts," she says. "I paint spirits—the essence of something alive and vibrant. Those spirits could represent both deceased and living individuals, but they are always full of life." Through this lens, her art illustrates the continuity of Hawaiian traditions and the ongoing influence of Hawaiian monarchs.

The phrase Ola nā iwi me nā hana no‘eau—"The skills are passed down from generation to generation"—is a central theme in her work, underscoring the vitality of these cultural legacies.

Leohone’s paintings hang in collections worldwide, including Denmark, England, Australia, Germany, and Canada. While painting was her first love, music became equally important. Following the airing of a documentary on her work in Alberta, Leohone shifted focus to musical studies, earning a Master of Arts degree from Norwich University and a Fellowship in Organ Performance from Trinity College of Music in London. For many years, she performed organ recitals across Canada and the Western U.S. before retiring from the concert scene and returning to Hawai‘i in 1989, where she returned to her passion for painting.

Leohone is the hanai daughter of Paulie Keakealani Jennings, Executive Producer of the World International Hula Festival, E Ho`I Mai I Ka Piko Hula. She is an active member of several cultural and civic organizations, including the Prince Kuhio Hawaiian Civic Club, Na Wahine Hui o Kamehameha, and the Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce.

Her ‘Ike Ho‘omaopopo series is used in Hawaiian Immersion Schools across the state, including Samuel Kamakau School on O‘ahu and Kealakehe Intermediate School in Kailua-Kona. A monumental painting, Ke Ea o ka ‘Aina, is displayed at the Department of Hawaiian Homelands headquarters in Kapolei.

In addition to her artistic and cultural pursuits, Leohone is the Organist/Choirmaster at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Honolulu and paddles with the Keola o ka Kai Canoe Club at Ke‘ehi Lagoon.