Hawaii’s Backyard: Art contest spotlights native species of Hawaii Nei

Lanaya Deily’s muse is just steps from her house in Volcano, in 3 acres of forest that she and her husband, Richard, cleared of invasive species and replanted with more than 60 types of native trees, plants and shrubs over the past 13 years. There, amid the lush greenery, she produces spectacular art with her Nikon digital camera.

Deily holds a bachelor’s degree in art from San Francisco State University and a master’s degree in art education from California College of the Arts. She enjoyed a 31-year career in Oakland, Calif., teaching art, math and science primarily to kindergarteners.

“When Richard and I visited Hawaii Volcanoes National Park in the 1980s and 1990s, rangers were leading visitors to sites close to where molten lava was flowing,” she said. “If you stood in one spot too long, your shoes could melt from the heat coming from below. I brought back a pair of my shoes that had small pieces of lava melted in the soles to show my students. I know you’re not supposed to take lava out of Hawaii, but those shoes had too good of a show-and-tell story to throw away. After visiting Hawaii island several times, I knew that’s where I wanted to move when I retired.”

That was 20 years ago. She and Richard lived in Hilo for the first seven years and settled in Volcano in 2005, drawn to its peaceful, laid-back lifestyle and proximity to nature.

Deily has entered five photos in this year’s 10th annual Hawaii Nei juried art exhibition, which is open to Hawaii island residents of all ages and abilities, from elementary schoolchildren to renowned artists and artisans. There are 156 adult entries and 80 youth entries in this year’s contest; per the rules, all are original works that have been created in the past two years and haven’t been previously displayed in a gallery, website or other show. Also key: They must feature a species native to Hawaii island.

In addition to celebrating nature and the diversity of artistic expression, Hawaii Nei has helped groom emerging talent. Hilo resident Cody Yamaguchi has participated in the event since its inception. Now 19 years old and working as a professional photographer, he won second place in the adult division last year for a breathtaking image of an amakihi (a Hawaiian honeycreeper) in a mamane tree.

When Colleen Cole co-founded Hawaii Nei in 2009 with Fia Mattice, former manager of the Volcano Art Center gallery in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, she had just started a new position as the outreach and education specialist for the Hawaii Island Natural Area Reserves System , which comes under the auspices of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.

“I had worked in conservation in Hawaii for many years and was looking for new ways to engage the public in conservation of native species,” Cole said. “Over time, I had come to realize that this was a critical and often-­overlooked piece of conservation efforts. I wanted to find and facilitate ways for people to not only learn about the unique endemic species of Hawaii island but to feel compelled to help protect them.”

She and Mattice had heard about the Malama Wao Akua juried art exhibition, a collaboration between the East Maui Watershed Partnership and Hui Noeau Visual Arts Center that raises awareness about native species on Maui. They thought such an event would be a great fit for Hawaii island given its thriving artist community and abundance of natural areas with intact native ecosystems.

“Fia and I realized an art show would encourage participation of new conservation messengers — artists who could share native species’ ‘stories’ in their own way, using a wide range of media, from paintings and sculptures to ceramics and textiles,” Cole said. “Hawaii Nei requires participants to be residents of Hawaii island and restricts the subjects to species that are native to this island because we want people to observe and portray species in the places they frequent, which could be anywhere from their backyard to shoreline waters to their favorite hiking trails.”

Today, Cole is the coordinator for the Three Mountain Alliance, which organizes and implements Hawaii Nei in partnership with the Natural Area Reserves System, the Mauna Kea Forest Restoration Project, the Wailoa Center and the Hawaii Island Art Alliance.

This year’s featured category is endangered species of Hawaii island. Fewer than 20 individuals of some critically endangered populations remain in the wild.

“With regard to natural history, Hawaii island harbors dozens of native species that are in danger of being lost forever,” Cole said. “The Hawaii Nei exhibit showcases many of these fascinating and unique treasures as well as the growing community of conservationists who are dedicated to studying and protecting them.”

Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi is a Honolulu-based freelance writer whose travel features for the Star-Advertiser have won several Society of American Travel Writers awards.