Hafoka Happs

art about cultural identity

2011-11-03T14:50:00.004-06:00

I've always found it interesting that Gauguin is so despised among lovers of Western art - especially for what he did in Tahiti - and so beloved by Tahitians, and all Polynesians for that matter. I can't say I love the man but I too have always liked his paintings. I am as in love with the islands as it appears he was. Who wouldn't be? When I go home I am overwhelmed by the color and the beauty. I'm interested in the relationship between insiders and outsiders in relation to cultural identity. I wanted to play with the meaning of these paintings, because they are so political, and change the relationship of painter and subject from outsider to insider, to insider to insider. Here are 2 of a series of 4 and their originals...

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The following three pineapple paintings are a triptych. I am exploring the idea of authenticity in culture and cultural identity. I feel like there is a constant sometimes heated debate about what is authentic in Polynesian culture. And it seems like some people are insistent that there is only one "authentic". I chose the pineapple because it is such a recognizable symbol of Hawaii. But it is not native to Hawaii. And it has such an politically ugly history in Hawaii. But it is a symbol of "Aloha" today. Here are 3 different objects that can all be called "pineapple" and can be a symbol of Hawaii. One is from a farm in South America. One is from the luau section of a party store.

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This photo was the beginning of a couple of photo projects, one of which was comprised of many photographs of different people wearing this wig and costume. This was an exploration of how culture is appropriated, commercialized, and exploited. I was watching a film about Iolani Luahine when I thought I wanted to address this topic. Iolani was a hula dancer who was trained by a dancer from the royal court. She was something of a priestess of hula. Her dance was literally her religion. It took her a lifetime to master. Her teachers came from a time when there was strict protocol for dancers of hula. Not anyone could be a hula dancer. Obviously that is not the case any more. Hula no longer belongs to an exclusive group. Anyone who puts on a costume might think themselves a hula dancer. I also want to do some kind of short film where I play a dashboard hula girl. I just have to lose weight first...

This is a small portion of the finished piece..

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These are bad photographs but these are from a series I've started of tropical plants in topiary pots. They're simply about an object that is utilitarian in one cultural context and aesthetic in another.

AMALANI'S 1ST BIRTHDAY!!

2011-10-23T02:38:00.001-06:00

Amalani's birthday was so fun! Her Hafoka grandparents had been looking forward to throwing her a big party, and they did not disappoint! Her party was like a mini wedding reception - not too different from her dad's first birthday party, I've been told. Gramma Petiola made her special outfit and Grampa Filikisi made sure there was a feast there. Everyone ate until they were stuffed, and took home tons of food. Bishop Ti conducted and everyone helped set up and clean up. I was so worried Amalani would be fussy or tired, but she had a blast. She had fun playing with all the kids and eating off of everyone's plates. (I'm so glad she's social).

She was so tired from the drive up so by the time it was time to get dressed, she was totally knocked out. Gramma Tiola kept laughing that this was what all of Noke's 1st birthday pictures looked like...they couldn't get him to wake up.

This picture is crimz but it's the only one of the 3 of us...and the sign...

Halfway through, Amalani had a costume change...

Great-gramma Tofi

Grampa Seti

The last of our clean-up crew...

two peas in a pod

2011-09-29T02:39:00.004-06:00

From the moment I knew that Amalani was coming - and that she was a girl - I knew there was a pretty good chance she might look like her dad. Now, don't get me wrong, I think Inoke is a very nice looking man. But at the time, imagining his face on a little girl did have me a little concerned. Well, of course, it turned out that she does look like her daddy. I love it!

Anyway, looks aren't all they share...

They are both cougars...WOOT WOOT!

They both don't like a dirty car...

They love East High football...and Ti....

They both love to sleep...and eat...and sleep and eat...

And they both have crazy hair...but only one of them has crazy eyes...

recent paintings....

2011-09-21T12:41:00.003-06:00

I thought I'd start using this to document the progress of my work. I'm not good at keeping my ideas in one place and when I am able to find ideas that I put down I realize that I change my mind pretty frequently and am convinced of one thing one day and something totally different the next.

Here are a few paintings that are in progress that are up on my studio walls at the moment. For the time being, I am interested in identity and am addressing that through the lens of culture.

I vacillate between feeling totally immersed in the each of the diverse socio-cultural groups that I associate myself with – or feeling like I am drifting on their peripheries, looking in at something vaguely familiar, even foreign. I am passionately protective, and privately insecure about my place. I am arrogant, and humbled to be part of something so exclusive.

I deal with questions related to this dilemma daily. My art reflects that. With it, I struggle to distinguish the indistinguishable, for identity is fluid. Identity is subjective. The very term “identity” deceptively seems to describe something finite. I don’t know who the heck I am sometimes, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I'm working on a series of Gauguin paintings where I am inserting myself, a modern Polynesian person, into the scene as the main figure. I'm also working on a series of tropical plants in topiary pots. I thought the juxtaposition of something seen as wild or utilitarian in one society, and only decorative/aesthetic in another might be interesting.


18x24" Oil on canvas

18x24" Oil on canvas

24x36" Oil on canvas

24x72" Oil on canvas - 2 panels

Inoke's Birthday

2011-09-15T23:59:00.003-06:00

(Don't know how to work this well yet . . . but Tali can fix and arrange this later - haha).

I want to thank my beautiful wife and daughter for great decorations and a fun filled day for my birthday! I LOVE them both and am grateful to have spent today with them.

What I woke up to this morning!

My GIANT, Chocolate, Birthday Card

After Tucanos in Provo, Brazilian food
(Boa comida = Grande dia)

Summer 2011 part Deux

2011-07-26T01:10:00.005-06:00

MEMORIAL DAY

Inoke's brother Junior was killed a year ago this past April. As difficult as this last year has been for everyone who knew him, it has also been a year filled with love and strength. Noke and his parents are such amazing examples to me of forgiveness and faith and hope. Junior is remembered fondly and talked about often.

We joined the rest of the family on Memorial Day to remember and decorate all the family gravestones. Near Junior's grave are graves of several other members of the extended family. The cemetery was packed all day and covered with camping chairs and blankets and flowers and flags. There was laughing and reminiscing and singing. Good family day...

AT THE POOL...

Amalani LOVES the water so we spent tons of time at the pool with the cousins.

The day after Noke graduated he started working at Delta! It was perfect timing because we

had a lot of places to be this summer!

Here's Amalani getting onto her first plane on the way to Gramma Peggy's.

GRAMMA PEGGY'S HOUSE

Gramma treated the big girls to play-doh and popsicles...

And the little girls just wanted to sit, relax, and enjoy the quiet.

Thanks to Noke and Wayne and DELTA for making this trip happen. Gramma's house has always been such a treat for Mary and I and our siblings. It's so fun to watch the kids get excited about the same things we did - the pool, the huge play room, the treats in the fridge and the cereal cupboard, and the canopy bed.

SETI'S BAPTISM

In July Noke baptized his little nephew Seti.

And afterwards we went to Crazy Buffet to celebrate!

No one was telling the little boys to slow down on the crab legs...so the crab legs kept coming.

Ane and Tali and their son, baby Inga, were in town to support.

Baby Inga is 5 months younger than Amalani but the same size...or maybe even bigger.

Can't get enough of these two faces! They've both changed and grown so much this summer!

Summer At Last...

2011-05-18T16:39:00.000-06:00

Summer was worth the wait! It is so great to finally have more time to hang out with family and friends and to be outside!
Larie Manutai was in town for Alisi's graduation from law school so Mary hosted an FHE for all the Laie people in town. There are so many of us here - it's always so nice to see everyone and watch everyone's families grow!

Noke took me shopping for some summer clothes in my new size... always a frustrating, depressing experience but he's always complimentary and sweet.... and patient :)

Mone came home from his mission!

Amalani and Pesi tried to stay cool at one of Noke's last BYU rugby games...

Baby Joseph turned 2 and Joe had a big barbecue at Kiwanis park to celebrate. All the kids love being outside and getting dirty. Amalani and Tali tried to keep their hands to themselves while they waited for their food...

Amalani found a big fish...

And grew some teeth...

We went to the Bean Museum at BYU with all the Alisa cousins. There was a sign by the Zebra that said "Do Not Touch", but Amalani just couldn't help herself...

The big kids looked for prairie dogs and mice...

And tried to figure out what these sheep had on their heads...

And Maddox met a bear.

BYU went to the national championship and we were there at the Rio Tinto stadium

to cheer them on. The game was close but Cal came out on top.

Thanks for the exciting season BYU! Go Cougs!

Lose left for her mission in Argentina!

She had a big send off at the
MTC parking lot.

We went for a family hike up Y mountain....but not until after

princess Amalani looked over her kingdom of Provo...

I used to do this hike and not think much of it but I underestimated how much I've let myself get out of shape. My legs felt like they were literally going to fall off. I'm glad Noke was insisted on carrying the baby because she loved it! She sang and kicked her legs the whole time.

BYU GRADUATION

2011-04-23T00:59:00.002-06:00

Noke's done!!

I'm so proud of Noke for getting through school. He's done an amazing job with very little help from anyone else. I feel like my parents and family held my hand every step of the way when I was getting through school - financially, academically, and even socially and spiritually. I was definitely a little spoiled. But Noke is incredibly independent and self-reliant. He's blessed to have an amazing scholarship - even helped me pay off my credit card with it when we got married. Thank you Bill Gates! If all goes according to plan, I'll be done too by April at the latest and Noke can start grad school. We feel blessed to have experienced BYU together!

And so grateful to have started our family here!

One of the highlights of graduation: a lot of family was in town.

We love all our Kinikini, Zukin, Alisa, and Hafoka families!

Joe also graduated from Law School!

Way to go Joe!! So proud of him.

After the formal festivities, we went back to the Latus' to hang out with the Zukins and sit in a circle and tell each other how grateful we are for each other and how much we love each other, etc.

And the next morning we were at the Latus' again for an Easter egg hunt.

The adults really got into the egg decorating.

BYU LUAU

2011-04-01T16:57:00.000-06:00

In March we had BYU's annual Luau. Phew! I am glaaaad that is over. Last year, Noke and I agreed to help out with the Tonga section, even though we knew we'd be taking care of a new baby and that we'd both be in the middle of a difficult semester. It was a ton of work and took up lots of time that we didn't have in the first place....BUT, it was a great experience. Some highlights: we got to work with Paul and Ana Feletoa! And we got to bond kick it with some old Laie/PCC friends...so fun being on stage with them again. Even more fun being backstage with them again! Felt like old times...(sigh).

Sarah, Mary, Kaisha, Mary, Olo, Terina, Me, Tilly, Kaiini

Me, Mary, Mel, Terina, Mary, Liu, Sarah, Charlotte,
Colin, and Lala


Thank you to the Po'uha family! Esu represented on his banjo!

The girls in our community dressing room...


Tau'olunga girls with expert....ANA!


The boys and some of the band. Salt Lake made the whole show. It was live, authentic, and well done!

Tau'olunga was the bomb...all the girls looked so good up there.

Thank Goodness for Digital

2011-02-28T13:21:00.189-07:00

I always have my camera with me, because I feel like I should be documenting all of Amalani's first experiences. And I'm always a little surprised to see a roll full of close-ups of just her - lots of just her face - when it's time to empty the memory card. Oh well, what can I say? I can't get enough of her!

Welcome Back Elder Alisa/Uncle Michael!!!!

2010-12-24T03:07:00.003-07:00

My little brother Michael came home from his mission in Puerto Rico last week and today he and my parents arrived in Utah. I am SO excited to have him back! There are 10 years between me and Michael, but we've always been close. He's the kind of guy that can find common ground with anyone, and is genuinely interested in everyone - he was like that from a pretty young age. I know it made him an awesome missionary and it's one of the reasons he has so many friends and people who love and look up to him. I can't wait to see what he's going to do next! We're looking forward to see him continue in school and football - WOOHOO! - and to have him around to play little brother and uncle. Love you Michael!

After going home to Hawaii for a week, Michael, came back to Utah with mom and dad and
we were there to give him a real returned missionary airport welcome. Malia's sandwich
board sign! So cute.

Uncle Mike with the two most recent additions to the Alisa family.

Because of all the kids, it took us a little while to get into position so Michael was kind
enough to wait at the top of the escalator until we got set up. When we were ready we called
for him to come down and we all cheered.

Uncle Mike and all the nieces and nephews...when he left there was just Malia and
Kina and Maddox.

Together again...good thing we're all skinny, this couch was perfect.

2010-12-18T03:08:00.011-07:00

Amalani's First Christmas

So in love...

2010-10-28T01:16:00.004-06:00

It is so hard to believe she's only been here for 3 weeks.

We are so in love. She fills our house with the sweet smell of spit up, new-born poo and wipes. She always has to have her hands on her face and her legs crossed and bunched up underneath her. She's a very loud eater and already burps like a man. She purses her lips and furrows her brow to push out a poop. She loves a bath, and being close to another body. And much to the relief of her dad, she has an innie.

She's HERE!

2010-10-10T11:38:00.006-06:00

10/10/10. At 5:42am, weighing in at 7 lbs 2 oz, a height of 19 inches and with a ton of hair . . . baby 'Amalani Ta'aloga Hafoka was born!

So Mary threw a baby shower for us on Saturday the 9th. When I went in for my regular prenatal appointment on Tuesday I was dilated to 3 and 80% effaced so for the rest of the week, Mary was adamant that I be sure not to go into labor until after the shower. At the beginning of the shower I noticed a little extra moisture...down there. Sorry, stop reading now if that is too much info for you. By the time I got home right after the shower the little extra moisture had turned into a trickle (that I determined was not shishi..hehe) so I decided to go to the hospital just in case my water had broken. So, within half of an hour from the time we left the shower at Mary's house we were on our way to the hospital. We got there and the nurse took a look and poked the baby's head and out came the rest of the water - that the baby's head had been blocking for the last 5 hours or so I'm guessing. We went to our room and waited and waited...and waited. Then pushed and pushed...and pushed, then just before 6 on Sunday morning, about 11 hours after arriving at the hospital, Amalani was born! It was a beautiful family experience. Noke was an amazing support - so calm and comforting..and awake despite having had almost no sleep in the last couple of days. Thanks Shan, Mom and Mary for being there with us. It was so special having you there.

First family pic

The beginning of 2 full days of sleep

With Aunty Ni'i and Uncle Ti Kinikini

With Gramma Petiola and Gramma Ann

Mary and baby Tali came by. Baby Tali is just 2 months
older and already almost twice as big as Amalani...

Amalani gets her looks from her Hafoka side...she
reminds her gramma of Junior.

Cousins Kina and Malia are good helpers...

I love my Aunty Ta'aloga. She reminds me so much of my dad
and of Gramma Kuka and is kind of the matriarch of
my Toelupe/Alisa family so it's an honor to be
able to use her name for Amalani's middle name.

Baby Shower (Part 2)

2010-10-09T11:00:00.008-06:00

Thank you Stone Family!

Tonga 2010 peeps and representing Glendale: The Uluave sisters! Thanks
Tava and Lavi

Thanks Melba and Amber for the decorations! Baby Tali was mesmorized

Laie Peeps

DuITZ! So excited to have the AhMus here in Utah!

38 weeks, 2 days, 3 centimeters, 80% effaced, and counting....

2010-10-06T11:21:00.002-06:00

I haven't written anything about this pregnancy yet, and I'm running out of time. It's been so busy and fun, and not to mention an interesting way to begin a marriage and get to know my husband. We got pregnant 2 weeks after our wedding a the end of December just as my most difficult semester in school was beginning. Then we went to Tonga for 3 months. I knew we'd have lots of "getting back to our roots" experiences and that we'd meet lots of Noke's family, but I didn't anticipate our pregnancy playing much of a role in those experiences. I felt like it really shaped our experience there. Everyone took extra extra special care of me. We got plenty of interesting advice about prenatal care. And we always had a happy conversation topic. While we were in Tonga I missed a few things from home: the pile of pillows on my bed, fast food, ice (I like my drinking water freezing cold), and time/work saving modern conveniences like a washing machine and car. But, even though I missed those things, the more overwhelming feeling I had was respect and admiration for the people in Tonga, how they love each other and how they loved us so unconditionally having never met us. I was also overwhelmed by the beauty of the land and the air and the human relationships. I craved bad food all the time but had no choice but to eat fresh, organic food everyday. I'm convinced my pregnancy would have been much much less healthy if I'd had access to what I thought I wanted to eat. Thanks Tonga! After returning home I started to blow up and have peaked at 211 lbs! (My starting weight was 152). I cannot wait to hit the gym in the next couple of weeks or months. At this point, I am looking most forward to finding out whether the baby is okay. Like most moms I guess, I have imagined every possible thing that could go wrong, going wrong. I've questioned my own actions many times, wondering and worrying if I might have done something that could have hurt the baby...or if there was something I didn't do. I've prayed for a healthy baby and prayed that I'd be prepared to handle any possible problems, big or small. I've been so incredibly spoiled by my husband, I secretly am already missing being pregnant because of all the special treatment he gives me. He does more taking care of the house-dishes, cleaning, folding laundry-than I do. I get my feet tickled and my back rubbed all the time. And he tells me I'm beautiful even though I feel like a whale. I'm so grateful for him, I can't believe how lucky I am. That's all I can think of for now...can't wait to see our daughter!

Pregnant Shoot

2010-10-05T22:18:00.010-06:00

Prego pics from the lovely talented Candace Kalamafoni.

I so did not want to be in front of a camera - not to mention get dressed and leave my house.

But I'm so glad I did and that I have this last part of my pregnancy documented.

Thanks Candace!

Like our random outfits? I'm down to the last few things in my closet that actually fit...

Awesome Green Shirt Day

2010-10-01T14:09:00.008-06:00

Today me and Inoke wanted to be twins so we both wore green shirts. We were getting ready to go watch Inoke's little brother play for East High Football in Salt Lake.

Our Wedding

2009-12-30T17:55:00.011-07:00

Oquirrh Mountain Temple, 30 December 2009....THE coldest, snowiest, cloudiest day of the year! Day before and day after were sunny and green. People were snowed in the day of our wedding and mowing their lawns the day after.

All the HIZZOUSE ladies braved the storm and came up! Love you girls!

ATOP came and represented! Thanks Ailine!

Sarah, Juaul, Titi, Lani, Miki and Mary danced Mele Ohana

The March!!

Bridal Shower

2009-12-23T17:42:00.003-07:00

Thank you everyone for the presents! . . . the pink boxes especially! haha

Lovely Latu ladies at the scrapbook table

Sarah and Siona

With Lani, Mark and cute Elenoa

Love my family - Xanadu, Chantilly and Liu

I loved my shower. Thank you to everyone who helped put it together!

Bridals

2009-12-15T17:06:00.002-07:00

We went to the Provo Library....

...and Mary was there to help me get ready.

Our photographer, Maka Aulava, found the perfect spot to take the pictures...simple, clean lines and lots of natural light.

Engagements: Rina Toketa

2009-10-24T17:38:00.002-06:00

More Engagements

2009-10-24T17:33:00.016-06:00

We took our engagements with Maka this past Wednesday at
the Tahitian Noni Gardens (Thank you Le'o)! Maka brought
3 other photographers with him, including Rina Toketa.
Here are her shots, thank you Rina!

Day 1

2009-10-24T15:25:00.001-06:00

Never thought I'd be a blogger, but I'll do anything for the sake of posterity. Someone will want to know how these next few months went down at some point. We're at 67 days til the wedding. It's coming so fast I'm not sure everything will come together. We did check one more thing off of our list this week though: Engagement Pictures. Thank you Maka!