Artist, Storyteller, and Family Historian: Brook Kapukuniahi Parker
-by Rachel Aubrey
-All photos by Jessica Atoa.
In every culture there are storytellers. These storytellers tell of people and places and things from long ago, and from not so long ago. However, not everyone tells the stories the same way. Some tell stories orally, others write down the stories, and some do a combination of the two. O‘ahu native Brook Parker discovered how he could tell stories about people that lived long ago using something as simple as a paint brush.
As a small child growing up in Kāne‘ohe, Parker started to draw, the way he saw his father, David Parker, draw. His father was an artist and helped foster young Brook’s interest in the history of his ancestors many of who are Hawaiian ali‘i or Hawaiian royalty.
“His interests became my interests,” said Parker of his father, “I learned to draw by watching him, but Hawaiian style, you just watch.”
For years Parker would continue to draw, with only instinct and a few art classes during his years in public school. Having only used colored pencils or pen and ink, that is how he would continue to draw for 20 years.
“I never really had formal training,” admitted Parker, “It’s one of those talents that God blesses you with.”
Finally, in 2009, Parker realized he wasn’t getting any younger, and decided he needed to paint. He didn’t just paint anything; he began painting his Hawaiian ancestors. One of the first paintings he ever did was of the twins Kame‘eiamoku and Kamanawa royal counselors and uncles to King Kamehameha I. They are most recognized throughout the state of Hawaii as being the men on the royal coat of arms, which is an emblem that Parker started painting also. The twins are also Parker’s great uncles, and he named his two youngest children, twins, after them.
“For me to be able to tell the stories of my ancestors through the paintings I do, I always remember that it is never about me, it’s their stories,” said Parker, “their stories inspire me.”
Telling these stories has become a full-time responsibility for Parker, who is a direct descendant of John Palmer Parker, who began Parker Ranch in Waimea on the Big Island of Hawaii. John Palmer Parker married Kamehameha’s great-grandaughter, Keli‘ikipikānekaolohka, they are the great-great grandparents of Brook Parker.
Parkerʻs admiration and love of his Hawaiian heritage is constantly being reaffirmed by his faith. Being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) has aided him to be able paint the portraits of his ancestors through feelings and impressions, despite not having any pictures from those times to use a reference. It is that faith, that guides and motivates him in his pursuit of telling the stories of his ancestors.
“When I go talk to different age groups, I make sure to let them know that it’s all important, no matter what your ancestry is,” said Parker, “to learn about your ancestors, and accentuate all the positive things they did, and to harness your own talent, is the message that I try to share.”
Even though Parker has only been painitng for approximately three years he and his business manager and wife of 22 years, Dreena, have been busy taking his work to events such as the Made in Hawaii festival on O‘ahu, the Maui Arts festival in Kapalua, and the Merrie Monarch festival on the Big Island of Hawaii.
“The Merrie Monarch is a big one for us because it is invitation only,” said Parker, “the waiting list for vendors is five to seven years.”
With a sharp eye and a profound heart, Parker has been able to take the people and things that are sacred to him and share them with the world. His specialty of course is the kū or the masculine paitings of warriors in battle scnes and kings, but presently Parker has been trying to balance that kū with the hina or the feminine.
“Unless you have a man cave, the ladies are not going to buy that type of art,” Parker admitted, refering to his more masculine paintings, “so I’ve been trying to do more of the hina type work, but I struggle with that sometimes, I have five brothers,” he added.
The struggle is not definitive, as Parker, who works from his home in Kalihi, has pictures of his female children adorning the walls of his home, and he painted most of them. In addition, Parker recently had a piece of art become part of the luxiorious Disney Aulani Resort, a picture depicting ahupua‘a ,or a division of the islands, with King Kakuhihewa and his ‘ohana. The colors are vibrant and inviting and a perfect compliment to the other local Hawaiian artists who contributed to the extensive art collection at the resort.
“I’ve always been fasinated by Hawaiian history,” said Parker.
Brook Parker, although a stern faced man on the outside, is a soft kind hearted family man on the inside. A fact that is evident not only in the way he lives his life, with his wife Dreena and their five children, but also by the way he honors those who have gone before him.
For more information about Brook's work visit www.hawaiianatart.com or email hawaiianatart@gmail.com.
© 2012. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
As a small child growing up in Kāne‘ohe, Parker started to draw, the way he saw his father, David Parker, draw. His father was an artist and helped foster young Brook’s interest in the history of his ancestors many of who are Hawaiian ali‘i or Hawaiian royalty.
“His interests became my interests,” said Parker of his father, “I learned to draw by watching him, but Hawaiian style, you just watch.”
For years Parker would continue to draw, with only instinct and a few art classes during his years in public school. Having only used colored pencils or pen and ink, that is how he would continue to draw for 20 years.
“I never really had formal training,” admitted Parker, “It’s one of those talents that God blesses you with.”
Finally, in 2009, Parker realized he wasn’t getting any younger, and decided he needed to paint. He didn’t just paint anything; he began painting his Hawaiian ancestors. One of the first paintings he ever did was of the twins Kame‘eiamoku and Kamanawa royal counselors and uncles to King Kamehameha I. They are most recognized throughout the state of Hawaii as being the men on the royal coat of arms, which is an emblem that Parker started painting also. The twins are also Parker’s great uncles, and he named his two youngest children, twins, after them.
“For me to be able to tell the stories of my ancestors through the paintings I do, I always remember that it is never about me, it’s their stories,” said Parker, “their stories inspire me.”
Telling these stories has become a full-time responsibility for Parker, who is a direct descendant of John Palmer Parker, who began Parker Ranch in Waimea on the Big Island of Hawaii. John Palmer Parker married Kamehameha’s great-grandaughter, Keli‘ikipikānekaolohka, they are the great-great grandparents of Brook Parker.
Parkerʻs admiration and love of his Hawaiian heritage is constantly being reaffirmed by his faith. Being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) has aided him to be able paint the portraits of his ancestors through feelings and impressions, despite not having any pictures from those times to use a reference. It is that faith, that guides and motivates him in his pursuit of telling the stories of his ancestors.
“When I go talk to different age groups, I make sure to let them know that it’s all important, no matter what your ancestry is,” said Parker, “to learn about your ancestors, and accentuate all the positive things they did, and to harness your own talent, is the message that I try to share.”
Even though Parker has only been painitng for approximately three years he and his business manager and wife of 22 years, Dreena, have been busy taking his work to events such as the Made in Hawaii festival on O‘ahu, the Maui Arts festival in Kapalua, and the Merrie Monarch festival on the Big Island of Hawaii.
“The Merrie Monarch is a big one for us because it is invitation only,” said Parker, “the waiting list for vendors is five to seven years.”
With a sharp eye and a profound heart, Parker has been able to take the people and things that are sacred to him and share them with the world. His specialty of course is the kū or the masculine paitings of warriors in battle scnes and kings, but presently Parker has been trying to balance that kū with the hina or the feminine.
“Unless you have a man cave, the ladies are not going to buy that type of art,” Parker admitted, refering to his more masculine paintings, “so I’ve been trying to do more of the hina type work, but I struggle with that sometimes, I have five brothers,” he added.
The struggle is not definitive, as Parker, who works from his home in Kalihi, has pictures of his female children adorning the walls of his home, and he painted most of them. In addition, Parker recently had a piece of art become part of the luxiorious Disney Aulani Resort, a picture depicting ahupua‘a ,or a division of the islands, with King Kakuhihewa and his ‘ohana. The colors are vibrant and inviting and a perfect compliment to the other local Hawaiian artists who contributed to the extensive art collection at the resort.
“I’ve always been fasinated by Hawaiian history,” said Parker.
Brook Parker, although a stern faced man on the outside, is a soft kind hearted family man on the inside. A fact that is evident not only in the way he lives his life, with his wife Dreena and their five children, but also by the way he honors those who have gone before him.
For more information about Brook's work visit www.hawaiianatart.com or email hawaiianatart@gmail.com.
© 2012. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
