Welina mai kakou!
I am Kamele, a Native Hawaiian artist and the owner of Pueo Projects.
I was born and raised in Hilo, Hawai‘i and currently call ‘Ewa Beach, O‘ahu home with my wife and daughter. Growing up in Hilo, I hadn’t realized how spoiled I was by my environment—surrounded by endless greenery; beaches that are blanketed by black sand, white sand, green sand and lava rock; snow-capped mountains; beautiful rainforests; an active volcano; and plant life that you can’t find anywhere else in the world. Now living on O‘ahu, where pockets of nature can be found hidden between bustling concrete jungles, I find myself creating my own spaces of nature through art and design.
As a Native Hawaiian, I draw a lot of inspiration from our deep relationship with ‘aina. This symbiotic relationship is the foundation of existence, understanding the importance of caring for our environment and acknowledging nature as our ancestors, gods and goddesses. Through art, I am not only able to create spaces I dream of, but also share the stories of our culture. Becoming a mother was a pivotal moment in realizing the importance and value of amplifying and passing on these stories.
My professional background is in graphic design, working in the industry for 15+ years, and having invaluable opportunities to work under and be mentored by Stacey Leong Design and Sig Zane Designs. Before taking on Pueo Projects as a full-time business, I also worked at MidWeek Hawai‘i as a creative manager. But art—drawing, painting, creating—has been my passion for as long as I can remember.