Mahina
2017, by Kamea Hadar
3 stories tall – Honolulu
This striking mural by Kamea Hadar spans the side of Kewalo Apartments and features a powerful portrait of Native Hawaiian model Mahina Garcia Florence. Painted in 2017, the piece blends realism with cultural symbolism, transforming a residential building into a monument of identity, strength, and heritage.
At the heart of the artwork is the subject’s intense gaze—one eye green, the other brown. This heterochromia symbolizes a duality that resonates deeply in Hawai‘i: the balance between past and future, land and sea, tradition and innovation. It reflects the complex and layered identity of the Hawaiian people, where diverse elements coexist in harmony.
Crowning Mahina’s head is a vivid red haku lei, traditionally worn to honor aliʻi (chiefs) and signify mana (spiritual power). In this mural, the haku becomes a visual halo—bold, organic, and proud—connecting the subject to the land and lineage she represents. The red tones evoke strength, passion, and cultural pride.
This portrait is more than a depiction of beauty; it’s a visual assertion of presence and power in the heart of urban Honolulu. Through Mahina’s face, Hadar offers a tribute to wāhine (women) of Hawaiʻi and a reminder that identity, like art, is both rooted and evolving.
