Isabella Flores
Joseph Nāwahī, born Iosepa Kaho'oluhi Nāwahī-o-Kalani'ōpu'u in 1842, was a legislator, minister, teacher, principal, surveyor, lawyer, songwriter, and publisher. He was also the only prominent Native Hawaiian of his time to take up Western-style painting. In 2006, a couple who had purchased one of his paintings for $395 brought it to PBS's Antiques Roadshow, where it was estimated to be worth between $100,000 and $150,000. The painting, titled Painting of Hilo Bay (1888), was later officially valued at more than $450,000.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of the painting | 1888 |
| Name of the painting | Painting of Hilo Bay |
| Name of the artist | Joseph Nāwahī |
| Style of the painting | Western |
| Buyers of the painting | Bruce and Jackie Mahi Erickson |
| Purchase price | $395 |
| Antiques Roadshow's estimated price | $100,000 - $150,000 |
| Official value of the painting | $450,000 |
| Donated to | Kamehameha Schools through Ke Aliʻi Pauahi Foundation (KAPF) |
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What You'll Learn
The Ericksons bought the painting for $395
The Ericksons—Bruce and Jackie Mahi Erickson—bought the 1888 Joseph Nāwahī oil painting, "Painting of Hilo Bay", for $395 from an antique store. They were initially drawn to the piece because they thought it was a nice work of art. However, they soon realised that it was created by Nāwahī, a prominent Native Hawaiian, when they spotted another one of his paintings in a museum in Hilo.
The couple had the painting restored, as it was blackened and cracked, which cost them hundreds of dollars. They then brought the painting to the attention of a wider audience when they took it to PBS's "Antiques Roadshow". On the show, the painting was estimated to be worth between $100,000 and $150,000. However, this valuation was an informal one, done for television and not a professional assessment.
The year after its appearance on "Antiques Roadshow", the painting was officially valued at more than $450,000. This increase in value was partly due to another Nāwahī painting selling at auction for $400,000 around the same time.
The Ericksons decided to donate the painting to the Kamehameha Schools through the Ke Aliʻi Pauahi Foundation (KAPF), a support organisation for the Schools which provides scholarships and funds educational programmes for Hawaiian students. They wanted to make the painting available to Native Hawaiians and encourage interest in the life of Joseph Nāwahī.
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The painting was valued at $100,000 - $150,000 on Antiques Roadshow
Joseph Nāwahī, born Iosepa Kaho'oluhi Nāwahī-o-Kalani'ōpu'u in 1842, was a legislator and minister in the Kingdom of Hawaii, a teacher, principal, surveyor, lawyer, songwriter, and publisher. He is also the only prominent Native Hawaiian of his time to take up Western-style painting.
Bruce and Jackie Mahi Erickson bought Nāwahī's 1888 oil painting, "Painting of Hilo Bay", for $395. They recognized its value when they saw another piece by the same artist in a museum in Hilo. The painting gained national attention when Jackie brought it to PBS's "Antiques Roadshow". On the show, the painting was valued at $100,000 - $150,000. The appraiser, Alan Fausel, stated that Nāwahī was "a good artist, but not a great artist, due to the somewhat awkward and stiff portrayal of the figures". He also noted that Nāwahī was not academically trained. The Ericksons spent hundreds of dollars on restoring the painting, which was blackened and cracked when they first bought it.
The "Antiques Roadshow" estimate was an informal one done for television and not a professional assessment. The following year, the painting was officially valued at more than $450,000, three times the high-end estimate given on the show. This higher valuation was partly due to another Nāwahī painting that auctioned for $400,000 around the same time.
The Ericksons decided to donate the painting to the Kamehameha Schools through the Ke Aliʻi Pauahi Foundation (KAPF), a support organization that administers post-high scholarships and funds educational programs for Hawaiian students.
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The Ericksons wanted to donate the painting to the Native Hawaiians
Bruce and Jackie Mahi Erickson bought Joseph Nāwahī's "Painting of Hilo Bay" (1888) for $395 from an antique shop in 1984. They were unaware of its value at the time of purchase. However, they soon realised that they had a treasure on their hands when they recognised the style and signature of the artist, Joseph Nāwahī, on another piece in a Hilo museum.
Joseph Nāwahī was a prominent Native Hawaiian who was a legislator, lawyer, educator, journalist, songwriter, and publisher. He was also the only prominent Native Hawaiian of his time to take up Western-style painting.
The painting was officially gifted to the Schools in a hoʻomaikaʻi -- blessing ceremony -- held at the Kamehameha Schools Kapālama Bishop Memorial Chapel. The painting is indeed a treasure, and its discovery and sharing will encourage a new community to learn more about Nāwahī’s contributions and his great love for his people and his land.
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Joseph Nāwahī was a self-taught artist
Joseph Nāwahī, born Iosepa Kaho'oluhi Nāwahī-o-Kalani'ōpu'u, was a prominent figure in nineteenth-century Hawaii. He was a legislator, minister, teacher, principal, surveyor, lawyer, songwriter, and publisher. Nāwahī also worked closely with Queen Liliʻuokalani and remained a fierce advocate for Hawaiian independence.
Art was one of Nāwahī's many passions. He was the only prominent Native Hawaiian of his time to take up Western-style painting. Nāwahī was a self-taught artist; he may have been encouraged and influenced by Enoch Wood Perry, a well-known American painter working in Hawaiʻi during the same period. Nāwahī's artwork represented the Kingdom of Hawaii at the 1889 Universal Exhibition in Paris.
One of Nāwahī's paintings, "Painting of Hilo Bay" (1888), gained national attention when it was featured on PBS's "Antiques Roadshow." The show's appraiser, Alan Fausel, described Nāwahī as "a good artist, but not a great artist," due to the somewhat awkward and stiff portrayal of the figures." However, Fausel added that "the painting is Hawaiian gold in the art market and a national treasure." The painting was purchased by Bruce and Jackie Mahi Erickson for $395 and later officially valued at more than $450,000.
The Ericksons eventually decided to donate the painting to the Kamehameha Schools through the Ke Aliʻi Pauahi Foundation (KAPF), a support organization that administers post-high scholarships and funds educational programs for Hawaiian students. Nāwahī's artwork and legacy continue to inspire and encourage interest in his life and contributions to Hawaiian culture and history.
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The painting was valued at over $450,000 a year after the show
The Joseph Nāwahī oil painting that appeared on PBS's "Antiques Roadshow" was valued at over $450,000 a year after the show. The painting, titled "Painting of Hilo Bay" (1888), was purchased by Bruce and Jackie Mahi Erickson for $395. The couple recognised the artist's style and signature on another piece in a Hilo museum and realised the value of their purchase. On the show, the painting was estimated to be worth between $100,000 and $150,000.
The higher valuation a year after the show was due in part to another Nāwahī painting that auctioned for $400,000 around the same time. The "Antiques Roadshow" appraisal was an informal one done for television and not a professional assessment. Nāwahī was described by the appraiser on the show as a “good artist but not a great artist,” as he was not "academically trained". The Ericksons spent hundreds of dollars on restoring the painting, which was blackened and cracked when they first bought it.
Joseph Nāwahī, also known as Iosepa Kaho'oluhi Nāwahī-o-Kalani'ōpu'u, was a Native Hawaiian who lived in the nineteenth century. He was a legislator, minister, teacher, principal, surveyor, lawyer, songwriter, and publisher. He worked closely with Queen Liliʻuokalani and remained a staunch advocate for Hawaiian independence after the monarchy was overthrown. Nāwahī was the only prominent Native Hawaiian of his time to take up Western-style painting, and his artwork represented the Kingdom of Hawaii at the 1889 Universal Exhibition in Paris.
The Ericksons decided to donate the painting to the Kamehameha Schools through the Ke Aliʻi Pauahi Foundation (KAPF), a support organisation for the Schools that administers post-high scholarships and funds educational programs for Hawaiian students. They considered themselves caretakers of the painting rather than owners and wanted to make it accessible to Native Hawaiians to encourage interest in Nāwahī's life and contributions. The discovery and sharing of the painting have inspired a new community to learn more about Nāwahī's work and his beloved status among his people.
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Frequently asked questions
The painting is titled "Painting of Hilo Bay" and was created in 1888.
Bruce and Jackie Mahi Erickson bought the painting for $395.
The Ericksons decided to donate the painting to the Kamehameha Schools through the Ke Aliʻi Pauahi Foundation (KAPF).
The appraiser on Antiques Roadshow estimated the painting to be worth between $100,000 and $150,000. However, it was officially valued at more than $450,000 a year after the show.
