Pua | Kiele (Gardenia)

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Artist Notes:

Kīlauea, Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi September 27, 2025

“Pua | Kiele” (Gardenia) was based on a Gardenia flower I observed in person growing on the island of Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi.

I also later used graphite pencils to draw this flower in another work of art.

Because of the pedal count and shape, and the fact that I do not know how to identify specific species of gardenia, I could not positively identify the flower as the popular “Tiare” Gardenia taitensis.

- Jon Apisa

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I chose to title the artwork “Pua | Kiele” (Gardenia) with the general name for Gardenia 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 | Kiele” (Gardenia) watercolor painting by Jon Apisa.

This was painted with watercolor on paper, 7" x 5" (17.78cm x 12.7cm).

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• Pua in Sāmoa
• Kiele, Nāʻū, Nānū in Hawaiʻi
• Siale in Tonga
• Tiare in Tahiti

Gardenia taitensis is:

• Pua Sāmoa in Sāmoa
• Tiare Tahiti or Tiare in Tahiti

Gardenia brighamii is:

• Nāʻū or Nānū in Hawaiʻi

“Flower” is:

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

Plumeria flower is also known as “pua” in Sāmoa

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

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7" x 5" (17.78cm x 12.7cm)

09/27/2025

Samoan

Polynesian