He Noho Kou I Ko‘u Wa‘a

(You have a seat in my canoe)

 4th from the series:‘Ike Ho‘omaopopo  by artist:  LeoHone

In the early hours of the morning, back in the winter of 2000, I awoke from a vision that gave me “chicken skin.”  I could see the painting complete as it now is and I knew something very special had been entrusted to me.  For some reason I had been chosen to do this; as a Christian, I felt that God was guiding me. [As a paddler myself, I was baffled about the ama (outrigger) being on the right.  I had only known it to be one the left and, to me, it was backwards.]

Although I spoke to noone of what I had “seen,” my hänai mother called me about a week later and told me she had just had a dream about the painting I would soon do.  I started to respond but she interrupted, “No.  Don’t talk.  Let me tell you.”  She described the exact same scene as I had seen and then asked me, “But why is the ama on the right?”

I told her, “I don’t know, Ma.  I only know that I need to paint it exactly the way it has been given to me to do.”  I have subsequently learned that fishing canoes are, more often than not, rigged on the right because more people than not are right-handed.  They rig for their personal convenience and not because of some tradition.

The physical setting is the open ocean out from Honolulu Harbor looking towards Ewa.  The model for the steersman in the canoe is modern day legend, Nappy Napoleon, my coach from Änuenue Canoe Club. The middle paddler is me.  It is you.  It is “everyman” – and the stormy sea is the sea of life.  It is appropriate that the face of the middle paddler not be seen because the power of this painting lies in its individual message to each viewer.  Every person will sooner or later in life experience that middle seat.  Just remember, there is always hope.  There is always guidance.  There is always help.

For me, this painting is based on Psalm 91:11 & 12: “For he shall give His angels charge over thee and they shall bear thee up, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.”

Mai poina ‘oukou  i  nā ‘ānela.  Don’t forget the angels.

– Leohone 2002

Artist Proofs      48″ x 60″          signed “LeoHone” and numbered 1/75 – 75/75

Edition A          32″ x 40″          signed “LeoHone” and numbered 1/450 -450/450

Edition B          24″ x 30″          signed “LeoHone” and numbered 1/650 -650/650

If you are interested in purchasing limited edition canvas giclées,
please contact us directly at (808) 295-9513 for special pricing.