The Nā Leo Team is proud to announce the April 2020 Student of the Month:
Hiwalani Nahoʻolewa!
Hiwalani is an optimistic, shy, and caring student residing on Maui. She is the second high-achieving student from Kamehameha Schools Maui that we have featured as a Student of the Month.
Art is something that she is very passionate about as it gives her an outlet to express herself and her feelings in a different way since she is a person who is quiet most times. The art she creates is often inspired by nature, both foreign and native to Hawaiʻi.
While there were several incredible pieces submitted in the month of April, Hiwalani’s depiction of the ʻōhiʻa lehua blossom was the one all of us at Nā Leo felt drawn to. This piece truly resonated with us, even more so with her genuine and vulnerable story behind it.
As April’s Contest Winner, Hiwalani decided to share the story behind her winning piece “Lone Blossom”:
“In the past, finding my identity as a Hawaiian was a challenge for me. I felt a disconnect between myself and my culture. I wanted to utilize my passion for art to help me reconnect with my culture, and so, this piece ‘Lone Blossom’ represents my personal journey to reconnection.”
We are beyond honored to showcase the beautiful work of Hiwalani!
