Day 1 | Solo Exhibit

I’ve never been one for words.

I used to write poetry when I was a teen. Whenever I couldn’t paint to get the feelings out. I was always a child with a lot of deep, chaotic emotions, and writing would scratch the itch. But it was private. I never felt succinct in my words, and once I grew up, painting took over as my creative outlet.

But at the opening reception of my current solo exhibit, I realized:
I actually do have a lot to say about my art.
It just never occurred to me that anyone would be interested; until I started having real, heartfelt conversations with people that night.

Many of them asked if I had somewhere they could hear more about these little things we were talking about; the meaning behind my pieces, the process, the emotional roots of it all.

So here I am.

Behind the Scenes

It took about six or seven car trips to get everything to the gallery. Paintings, crystals, a water fountain, boxes of brochures/cards, tools, scent diffusers, all loaded and unloaded one trip at a time via our little Altima. For the record, we can only fit about 2-3 paintings of mine at a time in this car. There are 16 at the exhibit.

Once everything was finally there, I stayed for six hours measuring the walls, hanging each painting, and setting up every little detail. Ryan stayed home to finish building my name sign, and joined me later. Together we spent the final hour hanging it, just as the sun started to go down.

This wasn’t just an exhibit to me, I wanted it to be the sensory experience I’d been building in my heart and mind for months.

A Space to Feel

My work is deeply tied to nature and emotion, so I wanted the gallery space to reflect that.

A water fountain provided gentle sound as people walked in. Some paintings were available to touch (because texture and connection are part of how I process emotion, and I wanted others to feel that too). The air carried the soft scent of plumeria, sent to me from Hawaii, a piece of my roots, my lineage, and my story.

This wasn’t a sterile, look-but-don’t-touch art show.
It was a place to ground, to feel, and to connect.

Opening Night

It was everything I hoped it would be, and more.

My sponsors, Mary’s Cheesecakes, brought the most incredible deserts. Ryan and I have been going there for seven years now, so having them there was like bringing a piece of our history into the moment.

Texture and Elements created a floral arrangement inspired by my work! Full of movement, softness, and color.
And Malie Organics provided the plumeria scent that lingered gently in the space.

What made the night unforgettable were the conversations.
People opened up to me about their own love for nature, the way they find peace in stillness, and how the work made them feel.

We didn’t just talk about art. We talked about healing. Emotion. The desire to be closer to something real and grounding.

Why This Exhibit Mattered

This wasn’t just a professional milestone, it was a personal one. I’d had a solo exhibit in Tempe, Arizona at the ASU Gammage theater years ago. But that was quite different from this. There was no meet & greet, no conversating, and no connection.

After everything I’ve been through, creating this exhibit from beginning to end was an act of trust. Trust in my process, in the healing power of nature, in the idea the Universe aligns us to our highest purpose, and in the idea that art can be more than a product, it can be a portal.

If you were there: thank you.
And if you weren’t, I hope this post helps you feel what that night was all about.

Here’s to more spaces that invite us to feel deeply, connect honestly, and honor the beauty all around us.

With love,
Addison Kanoelani