Nā Mea Kaua, Nā Makau, Nā Hana Wehi

Program Lead

ʻUmi Kai

Gordon ʻUmialiloaalahanauokalākaua Kai is a master of Native Hawaiian arts, who creates objects used by his community in fishing, farming, making kapa, pounding poi, practicing hula, and martial arts. Known especially for the weapons he creates, the artist works in bone, wood, shark’s teeth, and natural cordage employing pre-colonial techniques and tools. His work is featured in the collections of the Peabody-Essex Museum in Massachusetts, the Captain Cook Museum in England, and Kamehameha Schools and the Bishop Museum in Hawaiʻi. Between graduating high school and completing a degree at Chaminade University, curiosity about Native Hawaiian culture led him to study under respected traditional arts masters of mele (song), hula (dance), throw-net fishing, canoe building, weaponry and lua (Native Hawaiian martial arts). He was a student of kumu John Cummings, Kahauanu Lake, Makahiwa Lua, Wright Bowman, Sr., Dr. Yoshi Sinoto, and Olohe Richard Paglinawan.