Rising Stars: Meet Kimo Watanabe of Bountiful

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimo Watanabe

Kimo, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I believe that it’s important to be rooted in things that nourish our souls. If we ourselves have a strong foundation it enables us to then get out and serve/strengthen others. In my sphere, I’m doing my best to learn and to perpetuate the traditional Hawaiian and Samoan carving arts taught to me by my mentors and teachers.

When I picked up a coconut shell four or five years ago and made what I thought at the time was a pretty good coconut shell cup, I never imagined that a few years later, my carving would find me being able to share things that I’ve learned within our broader Hawaiian and Samoan communities, or that it would find me participating in a fellowship with Harvard University recreating some special pieces that hadn’t been made in over one hundred years.

I think that all I knew at the time I picked up that coconut shell is that I enjoyed it. In that instant, it wasn’t anything that I would’ve considered life changing, but I liked it enough to do it again. Following that it got me thinking about what else I might be able to do. That led to another project, and another, and another and another. As the projects I wanted to work on became more complex and as I started to be interested in more of the finer details I started talking with those in my circle who were already masters of their crafts. People like Su’a Sulu’ape Malama ‘O Mataitoa Keone Nunes; the master traditional tattoo artist responsible for revitalizing the craft within Hawai’i. Keone worked with me on a few projects and challenged me with a few additional “stretch projects”.

Through working with Keone and others like him, I found that the work was almost activating something in me. There was a thirst to learn more, to do more, and to share what I was learning and experiencing. To this day that’s still how I feel. Carving is not what I do for work. I don’t make any money doing it, but through it, I have been connected to mentors, teachers, various practitioners and like minded people who have enriched my life in ways that I could never have expected. I think back to that rudimentary coconut shell cup (which I still have) and am amazed at all of the meaningful experiences and connections I’ve been fortunate enough to have as a result.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Learning a new skill, or embarking on a new adventure is never a smooth road. There will always be struggles along the way. I was in Hana Maui a couple of years ago working on a project with a couple of my nephews. I was showing them how to use a drill to put holes in shark teeth. I had literally just finished saying, “See, it’s really pretty easy.” when the drill bit caught the shark tooth just right and ripped it out of my grip and started spinning it around. It immediately sliced open my finger, which miraculously my nephews missed! I grabbed my finger to put pressure on it and made my way as quickly and as nonchalantly as I could to the sink to rinse the cut and see how bad it was. In the moment, I was terrified that I was going to freak out the nephews and was worried that I wasn’t going to be able to finish the project with them.

Thankfully, it was a shark tooth and therefore produced a really clean cut that I was able to clean out and get bandaged up with minimal nephew scarring! In retrospect, it’s more funny than anything else in that I wasn’t hurt as badly as I could have been, but it caused me to learn better methods for securing teeth as they’re drilled, and has helped to change the way I look at project preparation and has given me a greater respect for tools and materials. Any time you’re working with sharp tools, dangerous materials, etc. it’s essential that you wear the appropriate safety gear and take all of the proper safety procedures.

There have been other experiences along the way that could certainly be considered challenges, but in each instance, I’ve learned something that has incrementally helped to make me better at what I do and has left me with lessons that I can then share with others.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
In my artistic life, I work on mostly traditional Hawaiian and Samoan carving arts. I suspect that if I’m known for anything it would be being able to carve and lash items that have not been carved using traditional tools and methods for a very long time. Having been able to carve Lei Niho Palaoa, Ula Lei, Tabua, and other cultural treasures has been very special to me. Regarding the question as to what might set my work apart from others, I suspect that there may be a few things that set my work apart from others. As I answer that question though I think it’s important to call out that the reasons that people do this work are many and varied. My reasons might be different than others. My access to mentors and teachers might be different than others. I would hope that anyone doing this type of work would find value and connection as a result of the work, but that might not be what they want out of it. I see other’s work and very much appreciate that there are people working all over the world who are much better craftspeople than me.

To me, being “the best” is not as important as it is to “Kulia i ka nu’u”. To always strive to be our best. To me, I want to honor the lineage of learning that I come from. I have been fortunate enough to learn from individuals like Su’a Sulu’ape Malama ‘O Mataitoa Keone Nunes, Malama ‘O Mataitoa Norman Tochiki, ‘Olohe Lua Umi Kai, Master artist Brook Parker, and others. When people see my work, I want them to be able to see techniques and elements taught to me by these greats. I want to be able to carry on their legacies and those things that they learned from their teachers before them and in that way, do what I can to ensure that their legacies continue into the next generation.

Inasmuch as this isn’t work that I do to make a living, it means that I only work on those projects that interest me. Most of the time when I’m working on a project it’s with the intent to gift it. That means that when I’m working on a piece for someone, they are my focus. I start my work by following protocols to help me to get started on the right track and for the right purpose. When I work I try to put myself in an environment and a mindset that lets me consider who I’m carving for, why I’m carving and helps to keep me open to any inspiration that might come. Before I start working, I’ll have conversations with the individual to try and understand who they are, who their family is, where they come from what and who they represent, where they may be at in life, what’s important to them, etc. I find that having an understanding of these things (to the extent possible) helps to direct the work in a more meaningful way. It’s always good to be thoughtful and and questions.

I believe that while the work itself is important; it’s really just a reminder or a reflection of the intent behind the work. Intention is everything; the work is just a reminder. To me; it’s all of the homework. It’s talking with, and getting to know the person. It’s gathering the materials. It’s contemplating the design, and going into the project with one idea, but knowing that ultimately the material and tools will also help to dictate what the finished piece becomes.

It’s nice to walk away with a carving to wear that’s aesthetically beautiful, but if that were the only thing that matters it would feel kind of hollow in my way of thinking. When someone wears a carving I’ve made for them, or has a piece from me in their home its my hope that it will be a reminder to them of where they come from, who they are, who they can be, the love that the community has for them, and whatever other kaona or underlying meaning the piece is imbued with.

As I say; I know that there are other carvers that are certainly more skilled than I am, but I will always work to do my best and give my best.

What matters most to you?
My Aunty Hulu once told me that “People are more important than places.” I would extend that to “things” as well. People are just “more important”, and as much as I love the physical act of carving and creating, I love the connections that it helps to foster even more. Being able to gift projects, or do “art for art” trades with other artists, or work on pieces with family, various friends, nephews, nieces, etc. means the world to me.

It’s my hope that when someone receives a piece from me that they will be able to feel the aloha that I and the community have for them. It’s my hope that they’ll be able to understand and remember the kaona associated with the piece and be able to feel of that mana. It’s my hope that having a physical reminder of those things will help to strengthen and empower them in their own lives and I would hope that as they think on those things that their understanding will grow and that they will be able to pass along whatever good things they feel as a result.

People are “more important” and I hope that if readers take away anything from this piece it would be that message. Given the opportunity, I hope that they will do something in their sphere to make someone else’s day better. That they / we will look for opportunities to provide service and strengthen each other as we go throughout our life’s challenges. I think we’d all be better off for that.

Mahalo nui loa for the opportunity to share some of my thoughts and work. It’s much appreciated.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Kimo_Watanabe
• Other: https://rebelzionmusic.bandcamp.com/album/ka-noho-ana