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.

Although I had previously painted this flower with watercolor, I wanted to try again using grpahite pencils to work withthe sharp edges of the pedals and the value with the depths of the leaves in the composition.

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) drawing by Jon Apisa.

This was drawn with graphite on paper, 7.75 x 5" (19.685cm 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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7.75 x 5" (19.685cm x 12.7cm)

09/28/2025

Samoan

Polynesian