Koolau Mountains Pillows

A girl on its way to the restroom in a park in front of the Ko’olau Mountains on O’ahu, Hawai’i

Painted as a sister piece to Koolau Ohia, this painting was derived from a view that I saw on the same day as Koolau Ohia. It has been raining a lot for a few days, and finally, the mountains had spilled over into beautiful waterfalls, emerging from the mist and rain to show silver streams of water running over 100 feet down the face of Lanihuli Mountain. As the mist shrouded the tops of the mountains, the greens and yellows of the tree and its blossom seemed all the more vivid on a rainy day. Ohia Mamo (mamo means yellow in Hawaiian), is the rare endemic color of metrosideros polymorpha that only occurs naturally on Oahu. I felt very fortunate to see this view with the unusual blossoms of the sacred ohia mamo tree. I have increased the ...

Painted as a sister piece to Koolau Ohia, this painting was derived from a view that I saw on the same day as Koolau Ohia. It has been raining a lot for a few days, and finally, the mountains had spilled over into beautiful waterfalls, emerging from the mist and rain to show silver streams of water running over 100 feet down the face of Lanihuli Mountain. As the mist shrouded the tops of the mountains, the greens and yellows of the tree and its blossom seemed all the more vivid on a rainy day. Ohia Mamo (mamo means yellow in Hawaiian), is the rare endemic color of metrosideros polymorpha that only occurs naturally on Oahu. I felt very fortunate to see this view with the unusual blossoms of the sacred ohia mamo tree.

Original oil painting on canvas

The Koolau mountain range in Oahu is in the background, and ohia lehua is the Hawaiian name for metrosideros polymorpha, the beautiful tree with red flowers sacred to Pele (the goddess of volcanoes). Together with certain ferns, they are the very first plants to emerge from the land when the lava has cooled and the landscape is barren. They grow slowly, breaking rock into soil, creating a place where the other plants can thrive. You know you are in a special place when you see them, for they are usually found in the high hills and mountains of Hawaii – such a beautiful tree! This particular specimen is at the higher elevation area of the Hoomaluhia Botanical Gardens. On the day I was inspired to paint this scene, recent heavy rains creat...

original oil painting on canvas 24" x 30"

Original oil painting on canvas

When I first moved to Oahu, Hawaii, I saw a landscape so unlike anything I had ever seen before, that it haunted me. I was inspired to paint the beauty of the river basin with Konahuanui Mountain Peak in the background. In the foreground, naturalized red ginger sways in the gentle tradewinds. The sun illuminates the green of the leaves and the tall grass, a green so intense it positively glows, the light sparkling and changing, moving over the landscape on a beautiful sunny day.

Digital altered photography. View to the Olomana Mountain from the Pali Highway lookout.

origial oil painting on canvas