1. What was your inspiration for your Palama piece?
The night before on Kauai i had a vision to paint me as King Kamehameha graff style holding out spray cans bringing the islands together. Honestly I had know idea but I found out it was King Kamehameha the next day, I had chicken skin and out of respect was going honor the day and keep it traditional.
So now the theme word changed and Palama was my next choice, due to signage permits not allowing direct marketing to the ongoing traffic. Mike a teacher at the settlement thought of Malama as a replacement word. The font style was a rough freestyle of something legible from the highway but not to simple.
The next thing I had to throw in there was a boat since my mission for this year is called “its about the journey”. The boat is leaving the islands and sailing away.
With Diamond Head in the background it made it an official Oahu coastline. It began to drizzle several times on me when I was completing it. In my eyes it was another sign to pack up and finish my work was done.
2. How long did it take you to paint that piece?
I had some support in the red and baby blue fills, but altogether a continuous 4 hours.
The speed rate is due to everything being at ground level and accessible without a ladder.
3. What do you do while you paint? Listen to music? What kind? Meditate?
While painting I found most music distracts unless it’s instrumental. Now bare with me I like to go where what some call the zone even when creating a quick piece. The state is some what of a mental meditation I guess. I visualize the image in my head and begin to move formatting sections and blocking out areas with color to build zones. These zones become my territories of interest that make a quick production feel complete. Based on color selection and characteristics of the paints I pre-determine where colors will be utilized effectively and what brands to use for certain effects e.i. detailing, shading etc. The deeper we venture into the dimensions of layering and start to create the illusion it becomes clear on how much time is involved in each zone. At this point the game has just begun and the only disadvantage is the how fast you can psychically paint. While progressing on the mural the next level is bending time by minimizing your lines and strokes for more accuracy and purpose. If I get any more philosophical it could make you really reconsider spray painting with out a respirator. This how I keep each painting entertaining enough to paint even if its not worth my time.
4. How often do you paint commissioned pieces?
The rate of commission varies some could take 1-3 days. If I were to look at a ratio based annually at completed murals it would be around 250 large and small. I believe it’s the best way to promote my paint line and still network with business.
I can’t forget custom canvases, prints, shirts, hats, workshops, events and free painting with fellow artists.
5. What's it like traveling the world?
Travel has mostly been a work experience for me since I first traveled internationally at 15.
Ive learned through traveling it’s a worldwide competitive playground and its entertaining hanging with people who don’t speak English. Every thing else is a dream you will probably never experience ever again so cherish it.
6. If you could do something else, what would you be doing?
Id be surfing with my younger brother Emery Kauanui back in Kauai.
Id like to say thanks to Aero for his time and committment to aerosol artists around the world. You can view his murals from around the world at
