Pua Fiti | Melia (Plumeria)

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Artist Notes:

Kīlauea, Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi August 10, 2025

“Pua Fiti | Melia” (Plumeria) gouache painting was meant to share a representation of a plumeria flower as I had observed in person growing on the island of Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi. This was painted en plein air with a sketchbook.

I again painted this as a single flower with watercolor as a mini painting and later used as a reference for a dual plumeria watercolor painting with a different intent for that artwork.

- Jon Apisa

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I chose to title the artwork “Pua Fiti | Melia” (Plumeria) with the general name for plumeria in Gagana Sāmoa (Sāmoan language) and ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiʻian language).

I choose to title artwork in both languages because of my Sāmoan family heritage, also because I was raised in Hawaiʻi and lived in Hawaiʻi when I created the artwork.

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“Pua Fiti | Melia” (Plumeria) gouache painting by Jon Apisa.

This was painted with gouache on paper, 5.25" x 3.5" (13.335cm x 8.89cm).

This plumeria was painted en plein air as seen on Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi.

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“Plumeria” is:

• Pua Fiti in Sāmoa
• Melia in Hawaiʻi
• Kalosipani or pua in Tonga
• Tīpaniē in Tahiti

Plumeria flower is also known as “pua” in Sāmoa

Two is:

• Lua in Sāmoa
• ʻElua in Hawaiʻi
• Ua in Tonga
• Piti in Tahiti
• Rua Māori
• Ua in Niuē

“Flower” is:

• Fuga or Fugālāʻau in Sāmoa
• Pua in Hawaiʻi
• Matala in Tonga

Flower worn on ear or as ornament is: “sei” in Sāmoa.

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5.25" x 3.5" (13.335cm x 8.89cm)

08/08/2025

Samoan

Polynesian