Aspiring Legends (of Kā I Mua) print (18″x24″)

Being one with your surroundings and having appreciation for the source of nourishment or necessity was a lifestyle belief for our Ancient Hawaiian ancestors. Most everything they depended on was gathered, harvested or hunted from the Āina (land) and from the Kai (Sea). The Ahi (Yellowfin Tuna) was (and still is) considered one of the most bountiful gifts from the sea, sometimes feeding entire villages.

Each bounty in fact, was considered a gift of the Mana, yet not a gift just given, but a gift earned.

Spearfishing was one of the more demanding methods of earning the gifts the sea had to offer. The vulnerability of being in the waters of more dangerous sea thriving creatures than yourself, while still keeping the mentality of a hunter takes courage.

My time spearfishing allowed me to try and understand how challenging, yet extremely exciting it is, and must have been back then for those before us.

Kā I Mua, directly translating to (Thrust into Men’s eating house) was the practice of pushing a boy from his boyhood to manhood. The Mua was a “men’s only” house to feast and honor their gods. Young men were brought into these houses where they were told of amazing feats of brave warriors, hunters, and fishermen; the legends of their villages.

I imagined young men of Ancient Hawaii coming of age, filled with a need to prove their place as men, attempting to conquer feats like the legends told during Kā I Mua. Knowing most traditional spearfishing was done in the shallows or of rocks or cliffs, these two young men attempt to paddle out on an outrigger canoe to spear the mighty Ahi and bring it back to their village.