Pua Fiti | Melia (Plumeria)

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Jon Apisa. Pua Fiti | Melia (Plumeria). 2025. watercolor on paper, 5.5" x 3.75" (13.97cm x 9.525cm).

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Artist Notes:

Kīlauea, Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi August 10, 2025

“Pua Fiti | Melia” (Plumeria) watercolor painting was meant to share a representation of a plumeria flower as I had observed in person growing on the island of Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi.

I had first painted a single plumeria flower en plein air with gouache as a sketchbook 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) watercolor painting by Jon Apisa.

This was painted with watercolor on paper, 5.5" x 3.75" (13.97cm x 9.525cm).

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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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Pua Fiti | Melia (Plumeria) watercolor sketchbook painting by Jon Apisa 08/09/2025

Artist Statement  |  Art For Sale

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Pasefika Polynesian Dictionary
https://pasefika.com/dictionary

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