Island Gourds

phone: (808) 398-6412

Aloha and Welcome!

I've been fascinated by gourds since 2003.
After looking at a red-painted birdhouse
in a book my aunt had sent us,
without any experience in carving, painting or even drawing, I just had to get a gourd, picked up the tools we had and just like that, I was addicted! (Nobody had warned me!)

Six years later, it's still a hobby rather than a business.

Gourd is a beautiful gift from nature. It takes about six months to grow and six more months to cure them.
They have been an
important part of history of many cultures throughout the world and still play an important role in the Hawai'ian culture. They're used widely in the hula dance and traditional chants.

I have a high respect for gourds. They're beautiful as they are and when working with them, I try hard to preserve the beauty of their natural shapes, textures, unique characters and "imperfections" by designing them accordingly. The last thing I want to do is taking away the gourd's natural beauty. 

I have been using paints that last and better suit even the Hawai'ian humid and sunny weather.

The beautiful tropical flowers, leaves and the gentlest creature, the giant green sea turtles here on the islands give me inspirations for the designs. Most of my work are carved or woodburned, some cut-out. They're all done right on my lanai (deck) at my home, here in Hawai'i. Each design is original and freehand, sketched one at a time.

To see what's available at this time, please visit the What's Available page

If you have a non-island designs or different styles in mind, I'll be glad to introduce you to my wonderful gourder friends. I have a lot of wonderful gourder friends who specialize in different things, such as human figures and Native Americans that I'm fond of but not good at. I would be happy to ask them to contact you directly.

What's New:

I'm back on the island and working on orders. Summer time is close to non-gourding time. It will be better in the fall. 

Mahalo for being patient.

New Design!

Ti Leaves

Not to be confused with the Tea Leaves, Ti leaves are one of the most important leaves of Hawai'i. They are used for making hula skirts, decrorating, luau tables and cooking amont other things. They come in wide variety of species and colors.

Pink Ti Leaves


Red Rainbow Ti Leaves

   ~Island Crafts~

I've been working with natural seed pod earrings. The dolphin earrings might bring you back the sweet childhood memories if you grew up on the islands. I have also been working with palm barks of different sizes to make short table vases to tall floor vases. To view what's done so far, please visit Island Crafts
I will continue to work with natural island material.

The page was last updated on July 31st, 2010

 

  Mahalo for visiting!

 


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