Malama Wao Akua

East Maui Watershed Partnership's artistic celebration of Maui's native wildlife.
An annual juried art exhibition at Viewpoints Gallery in Makawao. How to enter.

It started with an informal poll of artists and galleries in upcountry Maui: "What do you think about an art contest to highlight the native flora and fauna of Maui?" The response was "Yes! Let's do it!"

For five years now, the East Maui Watershed Partnership has worked with Viewpoints Gallery in Makawao to produce the Malama Wao Akua juried art contest. Artists young and old, professional and amateur have answered the call to help raise awareness about Maui's native Hawaiian species and unique island ecosystems.

In the spring of 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, and 2009 the challenge went out to Maui: create a piece of artwork, using any type of media, depicting a native plant, animal, insect, or native landscape of Maui. The community answered: from veteran painters to keiki artists, fence builders, teachers, and more. Maui's artists took to the books, the internet, and into the forest with EMWP to search for inspiration.

Take a virtual tour of the artwork! Contest rules may change slightly from year to year, but if you're interested in participating in the next contest, check out the MWA '10 prospectus for rules and regulations.

save the date: MWA 2010

Malama Wao Akua 2010: CONSERVATION at WORK

Please mark your calendar with these important dates!

Receiving Day for All Artwork: Tuesday, September 21, 10 am - 4 pm

Jurying: Tuesday, September 21, begins at 5:00 pm

Notification of Results: Tuesday, September 21, after jurying process is over

Pick Up for Non-Selected Work: Wednesday, September 22, 10 am - 6 pm

Exhibition Dates: September 23 - October 26

Jurors' Walk-through: Saturday, September 25, 4:00 - 4:45 pm

Blessing & Opening: Saturday, September 25, starting at 5 pm

Pick Up for Selected Work not sold: Tuesday, October 26, 5 - 6 pm

*Talk Stories (Thursdays): September 30, October 7, 14 & 21, 6 - 7 pm, Viewpoints Gallery
Conservation Conversations in the gallery with Randal Bartlett, Art Medeiros, Fern Duvall and Bob Hobdy.

selected art

What happened to 2006?

In 2006, we took a break from the art contest to create another exciting artistic adventure:

Maui Slam: Words for the Watershed

Working with Dave and Chela of Maui Slam, we created a special poetry slam for the watershed.

Check it out! GO>>

For more information, email us at info@eastmauiwatershed.org