ALL SALES ITEMS ARE FINAL SALE - NO RETURNS OR STORE CREDIT ON SALE ITEMS.

Year of the Kahuli Tee Shirt in Sand
Year of the Kahuli Tee Shirt in Sand
Year of the Kahuli Tee Shirt in Sand
  • Load image into Gallery viewer, Year of the Kahuli Tee Shirt in Sand
  • Load image into Gallery viewer, Year of the Kahuli Tee Shirt in Sand
  • Load image into Gallery viewer, Year of the Kahuli Tee Shirt in Sand

Year of the Kahuli Tee Shirt in Sand

Vendor
David Shepard
Regular price
$49.00
Sale price
$49.00
Regular price
Sold out
Unit price
per 
Shipping calculated at checkout.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

T-Shirts printed in Hawai‘i. 100% cotton. Fabric is soft, light, naturally breathable, and durable. Limited quantity print. Artwork is printed in Hawai‘i on imported T-shirts. Fabric prints hand-drawn.

*Model is wearing a size M

THE STORY BEHIND THE DESIGN

This year, Hawai’i’s Governor announced that 2023 would be the year of the kāhuli. This print was originally drawn in 2020 by artist David Shepard for aloha-shirts. Now, he has re-designed the artwork for T-shirt to commemorate this special year. The year of the kāhuli will be a year of events put on by several non-profit organizations to highlight the importance of these endanger native species of land snails. To learn more and to participate in these events, please visit this link.

The name of this print, Kaniakapūpū, means “the singing of the land shells” in Hawaiian. Featured in this print are kāhuli snails, ’ōhi’a lehua bursting into flower, and nectar feeding i’iwi birds. This print has layers of meaning, or ‘kauna’: The songs of the snails bring Hawai’i into being.

Kaniakapūpū is the name of the summer palace of Kamehameha III who said in 1843, ‘ua mau ke ea o ka ’aina i ka pono’ or ‘the life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.’ The Hawai’i state motto to this day.

“Kāhuli (tree snails) are attributed with song and are featured in oli, mele, and mo’olelo. They are considered hō’ailona (omens or signs) when encountered in the forest. Their colorful forms adorn plants and people alike, as their shells were used in lei. Unfortunately, they are under threat of extinction by the appetites of introduced invasive predators. Hawai’i’s Snail Extinction Prevention Program and their partners are rearing Kāhuli for reintroduction and are protecting their habitats.“

- David Sischo, Ph.D. Snail Extinction Prevention Program Coordinator

A portion of proceeds from this purchase will go towards the Snail Extinction Prevention Program.

- David Shepard

 

Nonohi ka lehua a’i hōpoe

A ka nui manu i ’āhui a’e

Luana pū mai e ka pololei

Ke kāhuli leo le’a i ke ahe

Aheahe ka Hali’ala i ka wao

Ho’opē onaona i ka nahele

He ’ala nō ia e ho’ohihi aku

I ku’u ’ia a pau pono ka nani

He nani ē a he nani nō

 

The full bloomed lehua are vivid in color

Where the birds congregate above

Being joined by the singing snails

Whose voice sing joyous in the breeze

The fragrance bearing breeze blows

Imbuing the forest with fragrance

It is a scent that is enthralling

That expresses all of its beauty

Beauty, such great beauty

Devin Kamealoha Forrest, Kumu Hula