"No ka manaʻolana" translates to "for or because of hope" in Hawaiian. It is derived from manaʻo (thought) and lana (to float), literally meaning a "floating thought," which signifies a buoyed, optimistic mind, confidence, or expectation of good.
Medium: Watercolor on paper
Size: 9" × 11"
Original: One-of-a-kind
Includes: Certificate of Authenticity and artist bio
Framed: Upcycled Koa Wood Frame with woven back mat
🤍 The Manu-o-Kū is a native Hawaiian seabird, commonly called the White Tern. It is deeply symbolic in Hawaii —associated with hope, navigation, and guardianship. When fishers and voyagers were out at sea, spotting a Manu-o-Kū was a sign land was near. The Manu-o-Kū is one of the few birds that lays a single small egg on the bare branch of a tree with no nesting material. It is also one of the only seabirds that will nest in the city and can be found in the trees in downtown Honolulu, Oahu.
I painted this in luminous watercolors, inspired to capture the soft layering of clouds with calming blue sky for the backdrop of this delicate yet resolute little white miracle bird. My intention was to create a painting with a sense of peaceful calm yet energizing hope which is one of the great gifts the Manu-o-Kū brings to people.
This original watercolor includes a Certificate of Authenticity and the artist’s biography.
