Growing up in Hawai’i, I fondly recall family and friends "talking story" while piled on a Pune'e (pronounced poo-nay-ay).  In Hawaiian, Pune'e translates to "movable couch", but has come to describe a central daybed commonly found in living rooms and lanais. In its simplest form, it is a mattress placed against a wall and adorned with throw pillows.  It's casual, unfussy nature invites people to come gather and relax, embodying the island lifestyle.

The quilted pillows were handmade by master Hawaiian quilter Pat Gorelangton. The original quilt pattern we designed references the 'Ohi'a Lehua, a flowering evergreen.  It holds special significance as it is inextricably linked to the Hawaiian myth of Pele, the goddess of the volcanoes.  It is also the state tree of Hawai’i and among the first to emerge from new lava flows. 

Exhibition:
The Independents
May 8-22, 2025
Colony Showroom, NYC