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g0b1in — taming the sun
Published: 2012-09-09 02:20:23 +0000 UTC; Views: 1369; Favourites: 30; Downloads: 1
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A gift to my little brother.The legends of Maui are a much beloved collection of stories to the Hawaiian people. Depicted is the tale of him lassoing the sun in order to lengthen the days. He stands atop the summit of Maui island's Haleakala (House of the Sun). At his foot is a budding Silver Sword, a plant exclusive to this summit and found nowhere else in the world.
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Comments: 29
Mahalo!
It's all done in graphite with color and tone added via computer.
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Just to let you know Maui was also a highly featured Demi-God in the Maori (New Zealand) legends. He fished up the North Island (shaped like a sting-ray), the 'great fish' out of the depths of the ocean. Called "Te ika a Maui".
Maui is a potent figure of our legends here. The Hawaiian people share those legends with us.
Love the piece as per usual.
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Thank you! I've been investigating Polynesian legends to inject some culture into my work. Having a great time with it.
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When I saw this, I thought, "Maui!!!"
And awesome drawing, this is absolutely beautiful!
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dammm...thats so badass! love the figure work and concept...
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i love that you're back doin hawaiian legends again. there just isnt enough ppl doin it. great job!
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You're absolutely right! There's not nearly enough of us represented here. Especially with the amount of talent in the islands.
Just doing my small part.
Mahalo!!
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AW YISS!!!
Dude, you totally brought me back to my elementary days! I loved, absolutely LOVED, the story of Maui and his insane adventures. I think the story of Maui tethering the sun was the first legend of him I heard.
You really captured his spirit well, and I love how you rendered the sun and mountain textures of Haleakala. I also love his superhero anatomy; way to represent! OH! And the silver sword! Can't believe I remember that as well.
Maui: Hawaiian Superman.
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Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's song played heavily in the background during the making of this piece. Took me a day. Kept it simple but I think the essentials are there!
I'm especially glad you like it, my fellow kanaka Hawaii!
Aloha!
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I have never heard this story! Another beautiful work! the detail on the rope may not be important to most but you always put the smallest of details in. 
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I like when I can present people with things they've never seen before. And thanks for noticing those little details.
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I thought he used his fabulous jawbone-hook to slow the sun down.
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He used a lasso made of hair. I won't say where the hair was from.
The hook, he used to fish up the islands.
But it depends on the version that is told. Hawaiians didn't keep written records but passed everything through word of mouth and dance.
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Ahhhhh...
The jawbone he took from his uncle or his cousin?
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If you're thinking of his raising of Aotearoa (New Zealand) then I believe it was his grandmother's jawbone. I don't remember it being a part of Hawaii.
I guess I should mention that legends of Maui actually are part of larger Polynesia. I meant specifically to represent his legend in association with Hawaii being that it's where I'm from and those are the tales I'm familiar with.
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On the other hand, I do know that the silversword and the greensword are descended from California tarweed daisies.
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I'm referring to the Haleakala Silver Sword (argyroxiphium sandwicense) which is found only there. There is also a Mauna Kea Silver Sword which is found on the island of Hawaii. It's a subspecies of macrocephalum and is related to Asteraceae or daisy, as you put it.
The plant has been a subject of conservation efforts in Hawaii over the years and is nearly extinct. Haleakala is the only known place where this specific species of the plant is known to grow.
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I wonder if it would be possible to (eventually) cultivate these endangered plants commercially. I know of some horticulturists and ethno-botanists who spend their lives searching for and cultivating rare and endangered plants for sale.
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Given their status as endangered, that would be wonderful. They're extremely sensitive plants, growing at very specific altitudes starting at about 7,000 ft. I'm sure it would take a lot of effort. Cattle grazing and vandalism in the 20s threatened their existence until conservation efforts were put in place.
The loss of Hawaii's cultural heritage with the insurgence of the West is one reason I intend to focus on Hawaii's culture as a subject for my art from here on out...so I apologize if I seem overly passionate about it at times.
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Do you have a copy of "Remains of a Rainbow"?
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I've heard of it...but no. I'm actually interested in getting it, now that you mention it.
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It's a beautiful book filled with photographs of the remaining living fauna and flora of Hawaii.
It's also so sad, too (like an obituary written about a still-living person).
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Pardon: I know that there are extensive legends of Maui from both Hawaiian and Maori culture, but I get the two Maui's confused.
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