About

MAI

noun; here, this place.

adverb; in or toward this place.

MANA

a spiritual and/or ancestral force through which a person, place or object is seen to possess energy/power/authority/reverence, either inherited or cultivated.

Believed to be a sacred gift from the Gods, to have MANA is to have great honour, power and authority or be seen as sacred.

From the dawn of the first voyagers, MANA has determined everyday life throughout the Pacific.

Mauna Kea, the tallest mountain on earth from ocean bed to summit is viewed by Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawai'ians) as the most sacred place in all of the Hawai'ian Kingdom and a place of great MANA.

The Taputapuatea Marae on Raiatea, once the most scared marae in all of Polynesia holds sacred MANA from the god of war 'Oro and was believed to be the legendary Hawaiki, the historical homeland of the Polynesian people.

Tahitian navigator, Tupaia, who guided Capt. James Cook through the Pacific and towards New Zealand was regard as a man with great MANA both in the Society Islands and Aotearoa.

In Fiji, MANA was associated with the power of chiefs. Direct or indirect contact with a chief was forbidden by lower-ranked villagers as it was believed to undermine the chiefs sacredness, in so weakening their authority and contaminating their MANA. This was a taboo that English missionary Thomas Baker would discover in 1867.

Ancestral MANA is passed from generation to generation in Samoa through the process of tatau, while in Tonga weapons were placed in temples and mala'e to receive MANA from the Gods before battle.

Great deeds or cowardice determined your MANA in the Cook Islands and wars were waged and treaty's passed in Aotearoa all because of MANA.

I create artwork inspired by MANA. Paintings that reflect the MANA of each Pacifika nation and the forefathers who voyaged, discovered and settled our tiny islands amongst the vast moana.

Portion of each sale is donated to a children's charity in the respected nation represented in each artwork. Full list of charities we support and ways you can help donate can be found in the 'CHARITIES SUPPORTED' tab. 

Vinaka vaka levu, Malo 'aupito, Fa'afetai, Māhalo nui, Ngā mihi, Fakaaue lahi, Māuruuru roa!