After spending 40 years on fisheries and art careers in the Paciifc islands, Richard Morgan Howell, wood carver of Pacific and Hawaiian legends, will establish his work site in January on Hawaii Island.
Howell began Hawaiian legend carving in 1986 at the urging of the late kupuna Lorna Dunne, who, with her son, renowned calabash turner, Michael Ilipuakea Dunne, operated the Nuuanu/Pauahi Gallery in Honolulu.
“Lorna always encouraged and supported my early efforts to portray, in wood, the chants and legends of old Hawaii, starting with my first attempt in milo wood of Hi ika-i-ka-poli-o-pele. Now I plan to delve into legends of Hawaii Island for my renderings,” said Howell. Many of these legend panels and sculptures carved over the years can be viewed at oceania-art.com.