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Other Art Projects
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Leilehua began her career as an artist in the traditional Hawaiian arts:
Hula, storytelling, implement making, kapa design, and the utilitarian
crafts.
When her father, Don Yuen, invited her to study the Western fine arts as his apprentice, she found that, like her father, she enjoyed using the new media and techniques to explore traditional Hawaiian themes. Here are presented some of her works, both traditional Hawaiian, and modern. At left, Don and Leilehua at the opening of Leilehua's April 2005 show at the Fountain Gallery in the Wailoa Art Center. Reproductions of many of her works can be purchased at www.CafePress.com/HawaiianCards. |
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  She designed this hand-painted 100-percent cotton bedcover using traditional Hawaiian kapa (tapa) motifs which were popular in the 1770s. At left, she demonstrates kapa decorating at Pu`uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park in the mid 1990s. |
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The ipu holds an important place in Hawaiian cosmology. Both utilitarian and beautiful, providing everything from bowls to boxes to food to medicine, the ipu is an excellent subject to explore in various media. At right, a watercolor combined with traditional kapa stamping. |
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A set of ki`i hula representing the Maile Sisters of Hawaiian folklore. Both sculptural art and functional puppets, they have been used in many hula performances. At right, another set of ki`i hula crafted by Leilehua. This set is in a private collection in Japan. |
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In
addition to studying kapa making under the talented Carla Freitas, then a
park ranger at Pu`uhonua o Hōnaunau
National Historical Park, Leilehua also studied kāhili
making under her patient mentor. At left, Leilehua ties feathers for the Mo`i Wahine's kāhili pa`a lima. At right she ties feathers on Malama ka Mo`omeheu, at 15 feet tall, the largest kāhili Leilehua crafted for the park's collection. |
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At
left, a red crayon sketch of Hina i ke Ahi, the fire goddess of home and
hearth who dwelt in Hāla`i
cinder cone in Hilo. Leilehua grew up in the family home on Hāla`i
Hill, which she and her husband are now restoring. At right, an oil painting of "The Battle of the Red Mouthed Gun," a historic moment in Pai`ea Kamehameha's rise to power. |
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Leilehua and Manu are both avid motorcyclists, which also shows up in her art! |
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Leilehua has added a line of
"primitive" style copper jewelry.
Shown at far left is the Manai o ka Lani (Maui's Fishhook), known to the Western world as Scorpius. At left is her Iwa Lani, known to the Western world as Cassiopeia. E-mail Leilehua at YuenL008@hawaii.rr.com for more information on purchasing. |
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