Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 40, Number 11, 1 November 2023 — MAKING ART THAT MAKES PEOPLE SMILE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

MAKING ART THAT MAKES PEOPLE SMILE

V KĀKO'O 'OIHANA «ŌĪWI ^

Artist Kiani Yasak, owner of 'Opihi Moui, hos o little fun in front of o disploy of her hoppy hondpointed signs. - Courtesy Photos

ByCheryl Ūhee Tsutsumi When she was a young girl, one of Kiani Yasak's favorite pastimes was watching her paternal grandmother, a gifted artist, at the easel. "She used acrylic paints to create beautiful Maui landscapes," Yasak said. "My favorite ones were her paintings of Kula - where I grew up - with the narrow country roads, hillsides of Haleakalā and jacaranda trees in hloom. Ihe colors were so vibrant, it was like you were there." From ages 7 through 16, Yasak studied with acclaimed Maui fine artist Philip Sabado, and entered art contests in school winning several of them. Today, she is the owner, founder, and creative force of 'Opihi Maui, whieh specializes in hand-painted wooden signs, magnets and ornaments adorned with Hawaiian words and illustrations. Yasak launched the company in January 2012, five months after she started teaching social studies for Ke Kula Kaiapuni 'o Kekaulike, a Hawaiian language immersion program at Kalama Middle School in Makawao. Yasak is also a product of Hawaiian immersion education and has danced with Hālau Kekuaokalā'au'ala'iliahi for 15 years, performing at the Merrie Monarch Festival eight times.

"Dancing hula and being fluent in the Hawaiian language have kept me closely connected to my culture," Yasak said. "I started 'Opihi Maui as a side business to perpetuate Hawaiian culture, values and language; to share my love for art; and to make people happy." Feeling good is easy when you look at 'Opihi Maui's products, whieh eome in about 35 different designs. Colors are typically bright, cheerful blues, greens, pinks, oranges, yellows and lavenders. Illustrations include ieonie loeal images such as shells, whales, pineapples, shave iee, the shaka sign and tropical plants and flowers. Some designs feature just one or a few Hawaiian words such as aloha, mahalo, and e komo mai. Others share short messages: e mau ana ke aloha (love shall endure); e ho'ohemo i kou kalipa (please remove your slippers); and e ola mau ka olelo Hawai'i (perpetuate the Hawaiian language). Realizing many of her customers aren't fluent speakers of Hawaiian, Yasak provides English translations or combines Hawaiian and English words for some designs. Her dad, Mike, a painting contractor, has been an invaluable supporter from the beginning. "We get most of our scrap wood ffom building contractors and job site dumpsters," Yasak said. "Rather than have it go into the landfill, we repurpose it to make our products. We want to do our part to mālama the aina." Redwood and pine are their usual materials, but recycled wood ean be "any kine," Yasak said. "We've also worked with rare and coveted koa and ohi'a." Mike handles most of the prep, including planing, cutting, and sanding the wood. He makes keyholes on the backs of signs so they ean be mounted flush against a wall. All products have a protective clear coat finish. Yasak does the creative work, using exterior paint so they ean be displayed indoors or outdoors. "Everything is hand done; I don't use stencils," she said. "Every pieee we make is an original work of art, they're sturdy, they're gender-neutral and appeal to all ages. They celebrate all kinds of occasions - weddings, birthdays, moving into a new home or opening a new business. "When my students graduate from eighth grade, I give eaeh of them a sign that has our school's name on it, the year they're graduating and a frame where they ean put a niee picture of themselves with classmates." 'Opihi Maui products are sold online and at select stores, including Na Mea Hawai'i on O'ahu and on Maui at Sunkissed Wahine in Kīhei, Paradise Now Hawai'i in Wailuku and at Ports, the sundry shop at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea. Yasak also sells her products at special events on Maui, including the Made in Maui County Festival and Ho'omau, an annual fundraiser for immersion schools on Maui. Online customers ean even customize orders by choosing the font, wording, colors and/or design they want at no additional charge unless they are request-

ing an intricate logo or color that's not normally in stock. Large retail companies have approached Yasak about carrying 'Opihi Maui products, but she doesn't want to make major changes just to meet demand. For instance, she would have to stencil designs instead of hand-painting them to increase production. And since she and her dad both have full-time jobs, time is already tight. "I considered it, but that's not what we're about," Yasak said. "What's important to us is doing what we enjoy, making people smile and showing what it means to be Hawaiian and live aloha." ■ For more information email opihimaui@gmail.com, or shop their online store at www.opihitnaui.com or @opihi_maui.

Entrepreneur Kiani Yasak's business, 'Opihi Maui, has gained ū reputation for its cheery, colorful handpainted signs with lots of support from her 'ohana and friends. Pictured ot the Made in Maui County Festival (l-r) ore brother Kūōkeo Yasok, Kioni Yosok, friend Celino Boiley, mom Kili Nomou'u, sister Kōlio Akinoko, ond dad Mike Yosok.

'Opihi Maui's handpointed wooden signs, ornoments and mognets ore sold online ond eon even be customized.