About

Naia Nakai has been a painter since 1985 and has a degree in art from CSUC. She is born into a family of artists. Her grandmother, aunt, cousin and mother are all extraordinary artists. Her unusual name has Greek origins meaning "water nymph".  She is incredibly inspired by Maui’s natural beauty on land and underwater and loves to share it with others.

In between painting sessions she captains her own boat into the deep blue to be with whales, dolphins, turtles and all varieties of reef fish. These experiences have become a catalyst for expressing the joy and peace that emanates from her work. Being underwater has become so much a part of her that she is able to capture not only what sea life looks like but what it actually feels like to be a part of their world. This feeling of connection is universal and so needed in an age where screen time compels our attention.

After spending most of her adult life painting in oils, she became enchanted with the luminescent beauty of painting with permanent dyes on luxurious silk. Silk painting lends itself beautifully to express the fluid nature of island life.

Naia is currently a board member with Art Maui and strives to help artists on Maui achieve their art dreams.