Like his father before him, Keoni Durant is a lover – and a carver – of beautiful wood. His favorite subject is Ku, the native Hawaiian god of war who, Durant says, is at war only with those who interfere with love. Keoni carries on a family tradition of carving Hawaiian gods from beautiful wood, and hopes his children will continue it.

by Coco Zickos

Keoni Durant possesses the inherent ability to transform any piece of wood into an intricate sculpture representative of the Hawaiian culture. Watching him work is like stepping back into ancient times.

“It’s as if something is flowing through him that is coming directly from his ancestors,” says his partner, Heather Shadur. “He goes into what I see as a transformed state.”

Tapping into his Hawaiian ancestry to create his artwork, designed to spread the message of aloha, is an honor Durant appreciates.  Read more...