"I will always call Molokai home. A childhood spent on a pineapple planta-tion on the west end of Molokai set me on the path to bring Hawaiian history and stories to the canvas."

"What others term Mythology, I Consider History.”

In this quote artist Philip Sabado reveals what sets him apart from the artists of our time. Through the medium of oil, these paintings are a conduit of Hawaiian history and culture. The energy Sabado brings to his art can be stated in one word... Mana. In the Hawaiian language Mana refers to strength of spirit and personal power. The images por-trayed in his paintings found their roots from a childhood spent on west Molokai on a planta-tion that was set high on a spiritual hill. He pursued a formal art education in Los Angeles and Paris, and was later selected as one top fifty top illustrators in the United States.

"On the island of Molokai there is a reverence for the old ways. We learn to walk with respect and live in 'Pono' (balance). I have learned in time to do this work I must trust my 'Na'au,' my cen-ter of being, my inherent instinct."

"My vision is to perpetuate the Hawaiian history and culture through my art. I have been recording this world since I was a boy drawing pictures of plantation life on Molokai.

My paintings weave personal expressions about nature, and its re-lation-ship with mythology and people. I find the medium of oil the best to portray the intense vibrancy of color and mystical en-ergy of the islands.

I have been told by the Kupuna's, (the elders) that when they see my work, they can feel a mythological power. We call this in the Hawaiian lan-guage 'Mana.' My paintings depict a spiri-tual time of creation when all was 'Pono, one in harmony with na-ture.

My hope is these paintings will transport you to a time before the written word, when stories were passed down through the gener-a-tions by the breath of the storyteller's. I trust through this art you will make the con-nection of all life forces that made up the ancient world and wonders of Hawaii.

Artist Highlights

• ArtWanted.com Gallery:    Fine Art
• Past Clients:    Kaiser, Hilton Hotels