In the Hawaiian language our terms for color are very specific. Today “uliuli” is defined as dark blue but really its the deep dark blue of the open ocean, the black of a cloud, the green of a mountain. Most of our words for colors come from dye plants, ‘akala means pink but is also a raspberry, lenalena means yellow and comes from ‘olena or turmeric. Due to Newton, Goethe and other 18-19th century scholars, color is an abstract concept, whereas traditionally color was more experiential. The Color Garden Project is creating locally made and sourced watercolors that empower people to connect to ‘åina, culture, and self but also teach about Hawaiian culture and values.

Kamakaʻāina, was named by her uncle who interpreted her name as, “Overseer of the land”. Most of her adult life has been working in the Native Hawaiian community through education and culture based organizations. She believes that education has the power to heal but it should not be limited to the classroom.