We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Wailani Artates. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Wailani below.

Wailani, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

Being born and raised on Maui, Hawaii, it has been a difficult year for our community after the devastating fires that forever changed our island and the town of Lahaina, I felt useless and uninspired to create at any capacity. As a creative, we arenʻt necessarily saving lives, but we can bring people together and we have unique abilities that can help share stories in a meaningful way. I started creating, just to create. Iʻd share them with everyone and encouraged people to use the designs however it helped. Businesses made tshirts, stickers, jewelry, and even cookies with my creations and it helped to benefit some of the displaced survivors. I then continued to use my talents to help in any way I could; a flier here, a logo for an organization there. I realized there were so many ways to make a difference.

Shortly after, I received an email from PUMA GOLF who was hoping to work with a local designer to create a limited edition hat to release at the PGA Sentry Tournament of Champions held in Kapalua on Maui every year, just a few short miles away from the fire destructed areas of West Maui. PUMA wanted to make a difference and was authentic in connecting with the community to determine how. I was honored and immediately saw a need with connecting through the kids of Lahaina. They will ultimately determine the landscape and culture that will return to this area and make it what it becomes. My main concern was to represent the community, to honor the culture and place that I am so proud to come from, and to use this platform to tell our stories that connect with people around the world in hopes of benefiting the people of our community that need it most. The design was centered around the ‘ōlelo noeau (Hawaiian proverb), “Ka malu ‘ulu o Lele”; Lele, an old name for the area we know as Lahaina in the shade of ‘ulu groves that once flourished in this area. The ‘ulu cooled the earth and provided food with its fruit representing the thriving land this once was. This was thoughtfully illustrated in watercolor to be socially responsible in adding “wai” water to the artwork as the lack of water and resources was detrimental to that day. The ‘ulu fruit pattern is the foundation layer of the artwork to symbolize growth and nourishment as we move forward in the rebuilding process. There are hidden mo‘o (Hawaiian lizard) in the shade of the ‘ulu leaves representing our akua Kihawahine, who was a powerful presence in Lahaina inhabiting the area we call Mokuhinia. The return of Kihawahine and her strong presence will be pivotal in the rebuilding process. Lastly, Puma is known for their popular “P” caps, so I suggested the idea replacing the “P” with an “L” for this special edition release. The letterman-style “L” patch was conceptually chosen to represent Lahainaluna High School and the L that is embedded on the hillside overlooking the town. It honors Lahainaluna, the oldest school West of the Rockies. This school is the center of this community producing excellent athletes, students, and human-beings. The hat sold out in a few days before the tournament was over, we were able to gift a hat to all students and staff members, and 100% of the proceeds were donated to Lahainaluna High School.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Artist Biography
‘Ōiwi Creator. Graphic Designer. Thinker. Maker. Dreamer. Doer. Wailani Artates is an award-winning graphic designer born and raised on the island of Maui. Her work has been awarded most prestigious 2023 Pele Award – Best of Show, 2023 Maui Time Best of Maui – Graphic Designer, 4-time Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award Winner – Album Design, and multiple Pele Gold, Pele Silver and Pele Bronze awards for projects ranging in branding, packaging, print, merchandise, and publication design over the last 10+ years.

Wailani Artates is first and foremost a wife and mother of four to her most beautiful creations: Lux Hinamaikalaniamahi, Nox Kamakaoaokaiao, Stone Kaʻaikamahaʻooka‘āina, Tide Kekainakuluikapaepōhaku and attributes much of her ambition, inspiration, and creativity to the life she has created by honoring the ones that came before and the ones that will come after.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Doing what you love is the most overlooked value we teach our children. I know we say it, but iʻm not sure who really means it. As we grow, we understand what we are good at, we can sometimes be burdened by circumstance, and or even lose faith in our purpose, but life is way too short to fall out of love with what you love. I am extremely fortunate to rise every morning (without an alarm), happy to start my day, and completely in love with the life that I have created. Iʻm the lucky one that gets to create for people who are just as ambitious in their lives and passions as I am. It is the highest honor to share my culture and place and to represent my ancestors and legacy in tandem. Above all, the most rewarding aspect of being a creative is being able to instill this in my children; never fall out of love with what you love.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

The public library for the quiet, endless visual stimulation, and literary guidance. The hardware store to build the shit you conceptualized at the library. The supermarket for snacks and packaging inspiration to package the shit you built with stuff at the hardware store that you were inspired by at the library. You donʻt need wifi:)

Contact Info:

• Website: https://artistry8.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artistry8
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wailaniartates

Image Credits

Amanda Emmes
Sebastian Sayegh