about our patterns

Aloha mai kākou, ʻO Kekoa kēia!

Aloha Everyone, it’s Kekoa here!

I want to explain the origins of our patterns at Kekoa Creative and the process behind them, as I often get questions about this. Many people aren't familiar with important aspects of Hawaiian culture, so I’m happy to share key cultural concepts that influence my work.

These are all Hawaiian patterns. Some come from our kūpuna and historical artifacts from the past, while others are inspired by my environment as someone of the Kānaka Diaspora. These patterns at Kekoa Creative reflect my view of environments beyond Ka Pae ʻĀina o Hawaiʻi.

There are two main things that I noho as a Hawaiian in my patterns and designs.

  • Hawaiian Worldview - Nā Akua & Ka ʻĀina are our original ancestors. This is firmly rooted in our creation story as Hawaiian people. One such moʻolelo is the Kumulipo, he mele koʻihonua, a cosmogonic genealogical poem orienting kānaka as descendants first of original darkness, then of the stars, light, earthly elements and spiritual beings. This is what it means to be an ʻĀina-based indigenous culture — to be oriented to one’s genealogical environment.

  • ʻOhana & ʻIke Hawaiʻi - As sources of knowledge, this means the unique information transmitted through your family specific to your genealogy, regional knowledge, and individuals who raised you. This also includes what you learn from not only your ‘ohana, but also others you meet who impact your life along the way, along with your own direct experiences.

——————————

Notes on Language:

ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi - Hawaiian language

kūpuna - elders / ancestors

kanaka - a term in ʻOlelo Hawaiʻi that I use to refer to a Hawaiian person

kānaka - Hawaiian people

noho - to sit, dwell. Above, I use this to refer to spiritually pulling down into myself as a living creative force

ka ʻāina - the land, lit. “that which feeds”

nā akua - the primordial elements, nature manifestations, activated spirits, conscious energy, myriad potentials, the gods

moʻolelo - story, oral transmission

ʻohana - family, that which branches out from a source

ʻike Hawaiʻi - transmitted knowledge from kūpuna

Original Patterns

ke kaikūʻono ʻO Kapalakiko

The San Francisco Bay.

Our signature pattern at Kekoa Creative. An expression of our aloha for kuʻu home, the Bay Area.

A marine layer hovering over rolling peaks and into valleys, descending as mist into redwood, or perhaps, oak forests — leading into the cool waters of the bay.

MAI KAHIKO MAI

he mano ka niho

Teeth in multitudes. Teeth of shark.

The nearly equilateral triangle is a very common motif found everywhere in our culture from kapa, to ʻumeke, to kā uhi. It can have very specific meanings depending on the intention and craft. Think of the symbolism first of niho, then of the manō, and then together — this may help you to discover your own meaning in the geometry.

kōnane

A chiefly game of strategy often enjoyed by our aliʻi.

Squares and checkers, perhaps transformed into diamonds. Seen throughout our culture in many forms. Associated with certain islands and chiefly lines as well as with warriors. Ke one hānau, the birth sands. There exist almost as many numerous meanings as their repetition.

kumulipo

mele koʻihonua | poem of creation | excerpt from [Wā KAHI - first era]

Keaulumoku  |  translation by Queen Liliʻuokalani

O ke au i kahuli wela ka honua

O ke au i kahuli lole ka lani

O ke au i kukaʻiaka ka la

E ho‘omalamalama i ka malama

O ke au o Makali‘i ka po

O ka walewale hoʻokumu honua ia

O ke kumu o ka lipo, i lipo ai

O ke kumu o ka po, i po ai

O ka lipolipo, o ka lipolipo

O ka lipo o ka la, o ka lipo o ka po

Po wale hoʻi

Hanau ka po

Hanau Kumulipo i ka po, he kane

Hanau Po‘ele i ka po, he wahine

At the time that turned the heat of the earth,

At the time when the heavens turned and changed,

At the time when the light of the sun was subdued

To cause light to break forth,

At the time of the night of Makalii

Then began the slime which established the earth,

The source of deepest darkness,

Of the depth of darkness,

Of the depth of darkness,

Of the darkness of the sun, in the depth of night

It is night,

So was night born.

Kumulipo was born in the night, a male.

Poele was born in the night, a female.