KAHEAKŪ – Visions of a Fisherman – Art Exhibition

Volcano Art Center (VAC) is proud to announce the upcoming exhibition Kaheakū: Visions of a Fisherman featuring works by Native Hawaiian artist and activist Lacyann Kaheakū Matsumoto–Lyons. The exhibition will be on view from May 17th to June 22nd, 2025, daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the VAC Gallery within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

Kaheakū: Visions of a Fisherman explores and honors the family heritage of the artist. In 1794, Kaheakū was born in Ualapuʻe, Molokaʻi. According to the Mahele records of 1853, Kaheakū affirmed his deep connection to the land by submitting a kuleana land claim for the ʻili of Kalawaha, stating: “My kupuna gave it [the land] to me. When they became infirm, the land was bequeathed to me, and I went to work as the konohiki (headman of the land division) of this land. For four years I have been going in and working on this since that time.”

His claim, along with his genealogy, was affirmed by the Land Commission, and in 1859, he was awarded Royal Patent 4731A from Kamehameha III. The land Kaheakū stewarded was home to a loko iʻa (fishpond), which provided his sustenance.

Generations later, Lacy Kaheakū Matsumoto–Lyons continues to connect with her ancestor through powerful visions. Lacy shares, “I’ve had these dreams, depicting Kaheakū as a fisherman, and I was inspired to study Hawaiian fishing practices and the body movements of throw-net fishing from stories my father once shared with me.” Through this exhibition, she shares visual interpretations of these visions with acrylic paintings and traditional fishing devices, blending historical narrative with contemporary abstraction.

Fishing was one of the most varied and vital food-procuring practices in Native Hawaiian life. ʻUpena (fishnets), crafted from strong and durable olonā fiber, played a critical role. Nets served many functions: fencing and trapping schools of fish, gilling fish so they became stuck and unable to escape, and scooping small shrimp and crabs from tidal pools and streams.

While pre-contact Hawaiians perfected these techniques, the throw net, as practiced today, was introduced to Hawaiʻi in the late 1800s by Japanese plantation workers. Despite its foreign origins, throw-net fishing has become an integral part of Hawaiian fishing culture, merging with ancestral methods. By gathering the fishing stories of locals, and their life experiences, we gain a deeper appreciation for the artistry, ingenuity, and intimate ocean knowledge embodied by the lawaiʻa (fishermen) of Hawaiʻi.

Kaheakū: Visions of a Fisherman offers an opportunity to experience the enduring importance of fishing traditions through the lens of one family’s ancestral connection to the land and ocean which sustains them.

About the artist: Lacy Kaheaku Matsumoto-Lyons was born in Honolulu, and taught both formal and informal methods of art. She has studied under Riji Sensei Carol Sakata for Ikebana, at the Linekona School of Art, and from Tom Pohaku Stone. She has combined her love for both historical references, as well as impressionist and abstract expression to create this exhibition. As she now resides on the east side of the Island of Hawai’i, she gathers inspiration from kilo (observation) and watching her environment, which is deeply rooted in ‘āina (land), and the Hawaiian culture.  

Meet the artist at the opening reception on May 17th from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., and enjoy a live painting demonstration by the artist on May 31st from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. All events are free; however, National Park entrance fees apply.

Visit Volcano Art Center between May 17th and June 22nd, 2025, and experience a journey through dream-like images of one of Hawaiʻi’s most important and continuing livelihoods. For more information call VAC Gallery at (808) 967-7565.