When You Dream of Hawaii Luggage Tag

One of my most popular Hawaiian paintings! In this dreamscape there are many iconic Hawaiian elements. The sacred sea turtle (honu) swims in the beautiful tropical ocean among colourful orchids and palm fronds. In the Hawaiian culture the hono symbolizes good luck, endurance and long life. Often times they will appear as a person's guardian spirit or "Aumakua." They are excellent navigators and will always find their way home. The tapa cloth (or kapa) is an ancient form of decorating cloth with mulberry or other dye. The cloth is actually bark that has been beaten with wooden clubs and then soaked to soften. The prepared bark is then decorated with various designs representing such thinks as a shark tooth, flower or plant symbol, human figures resembling a petroglyph, the sun or other references to nature. Many of the Pacific islands have unique tapa symbols and designs that set them apart. A trained eye can immediately spot the difference in Hawaiian, Samoan, Tongan or Fijian tapa designs. Orchids and palms are more modern Hawaiian themed elements that represent the Aloha Spirit.