LOCAL ARTISTS
An Illustrator and concept designer from Hawaii, he has been working in the tabletop and video game industries for over 20 years, helping companies and individuals express themselves and their stories. Born and raised on Maui, his experience ranges from smaller, more intimate indie endeavors to projects from global entertainment leaders, working for clients such as Stone Blade Entertainment, White Wolf Publishing, and Warner Bros. Interactive. As a life-long fan of comics and games himself, he is currently working on his own fantasy comic and card game aside from doing concept design work for a new, upcoming video game studio.
Aaron Nakahara
Bailey Onaga is an artist born, raised, and based in Wailuku, Maui. Her aesthetic is a homage to her native Hawaiian heritage and 6 years of living in Fukuoka, Japan. B. Miyo is a mix of her first initial, as well as her middle name "Miyoko," comically shortened to what sounds like ビミョウ or mediocre in Japanese. She has experience painting murals with Precita Eyes Muralists in San Francisco, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelors of Fine Arts and Japanese Studies. She has also collaborated on installations with her teacher, Philip Sabado. Her art has been exhibited in Hawai’i, Indonesia, and Japan.
B. Miyo
Lily Acain was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, has been in the film industry for over 40 years, started as an actress, and now a film producer. She was inspired to create Naupaka in 2018, and is also in the process of developing a feature film for Naupaka.
Lily Acain
A comic illustrator/ artist based on Oahu, Anh Vu has worked on numerous indie titles like Good Boy, NightWolf, Pitch Black Soul, and Yi Soon Shin. Anh is also widely known for her customized Funko Remarks. Currently she’s working on publishing her first creator-owned comic which is expected to debut in the first quarter of 2024
Anh Vu
Aloha my name is Benjamen Christ. Growing up in the country, with no TV for entertainment, I fell in love with comics at an early age. This is where I learned to read and draw. I would like to take my love of comics/movies and my passion for drawing/painting to share something exciting and beautiful with you all! Mahalo
Benjamin Christ
Jillian Ikehara is an AAPI illustrator from Maui, Hawai’i, with a BFA in Illustration from California College of the Arts in San Francisco. She is passionate about visual storytelling, conceptual, and design work, especially those inspired by her Hawaiian culture, and her experiences growing up in Hawai’i. With bold line-art, bright colors, and dynamic compositions, her work aims to not only express her own creative fantastical ideas, but to present natural and authentic stories about the Hawaiian Islands, its history, its culture, and its people, old and new.
Jillian Ikehara
Originally from Lana’i City, Jimmy “Sparrow” Ishizaki is a local artist, now based in Oahu.
Following a passion for creating art led to a background in 2D film animation, freelance graphic design, and eventually creating a brand for himself, selling his own original artwork. Jimmy’s work is influenced by his favorite anime, comic, and pop culture staples, and often blends it with our own local Hawai’i culture.
In addition to selling and creating art, his work can also be spotted on the product packaging for another local company, Snack Addicted, where he works as a graphic designer.
Jimmy Sparrow
Kanila Tripp is an educator and freelance illustrator. His comics work includes working as a coloring manager for D.C. Comics and as a senior colorist at Hi-Fi Design. Titles he has worked on include Superman, Wonder Woman, and Teen Titans Go! for D.C.; X-Men Unlimited, Ultimate Adventures and Marvel Knights 2099 for Marvel; and Invincible and I Hate Gallant Girl for Image Comics.
Kanila Tripp
Jon Coburn artist name Poremunk. Painting and drawing are my passions. Painting everything from canvas to tile to toys to shoes and skate decks. Inspired from just about anything I've read or watched, comics, science fiction, amine, movies, graffiti and everyday life. Living on Maui last 11 years, from California, loving the island its people and culture.
Poremunk
Kipaku Kai is the brainchild of Gabriel Peckham from 1982, when he was just 12 years old. He shared his idea with Rusty Baily, a comic book artist, who started drawing characters to fit the concept in 2014. Teaming with friend Ransom Edison, avid diver and comic book reader, they started developing the comic. Rusty aspires to be as dude as possible, originally from Charlotte NC, he now enjoys taking his dog to the beaches and mountains of Hawaii. He loves to draw and also enjoys comics, swinging from vines, movies, snorkeling, paddle boarding, disc golf, eating Peanut Butter Captn Crunch with Yoo-Hoo, and of course The Simpsons.
Open for commissions.
Rusty Baily
Empower'd is a grassroots youth network for LGBT+ teens and young adults across Maui Nui. We host bimonthly social events where youth can socialize and build important life skills, as well as an online community platform to hang out in and find support.
All art sold at our booth (chainmaille, crochet, buttons, and even more fun crafts!) were made by the young folks in our program. 50% of your purchase goes directly to the artist, the other 50% (and all donations) fund our programs and services that we provide the community! https://linktr.ee/empowerdmaui // @EmpowerdMaui on Instagram
Empower'd Maui Youth Network
Todd Bernardy graduated from the University of New Mexico in 2006, where he studied Fine art and literature. He is the creator of Mohawk Thunder, Disco Thunder Groove Bone, and Hard Candy Aftermath. He most recently completed his longest running comic, Kukui Project. He lives in Haiku, Hawaii, with his wife and daughter.
Todd Bernardy
Born and raised on Maui, Swan Kahookele aka Warchief is an artist who grew up with a deep love for comics and cartoons. As Swan grew up, comic Titles like Marvel’s Ghost Rider, DC’s The Demon & Albatross Funnybooks, The Goon along with Slimer from the Ghostbusters Franchise are just some of the many characters that have inspired Swan to become an artist. Swan is also a former member of the Maui Comics & Collectibles crew in 2019 Swan left Maui Comics to pursue a career in art establishing his own comic brand “Uhane Comics”. Swan chose the Hawaiian word “Uhane '' due to how the word connects with his interests with the horror genre for it means ghost and spirit but even more so because it’s also the Hawaiian word for Soul, which is something Swan always puts into his artwork. Swan is currently working on a children’s horror project Tales From the Kitchen and has a few other projects that he is working on such as Adventures in Bento City and coloring books that illustrate Hawaii’s sea life. Aside from art, Swan is also a game master in the Maui D&D community and has found a way to weave his art into his games, creating maps and other character art for his campaigns. Swan is the current record holder for being GM for the largest D&D game played at Maui Comics which was a total of thirty-two players. Swan has also done maps for other GM’s outside of Hawaii and no matter if it’s at a con, comic shop or at the beach wherever Swan goes he is always being creative and honing his craft.
Swan Kahookele
Mainland born, island living cartoonist and comics enthusiast. I love making comics as much as I love reading comics which is to say a whole lot! My comics tend to lean on the silly side of monsters and mad science with a dash of eldritch horror and pulp adventure.
Drew Gutierrez
Terra Sanae was born and raised in Maui, Hawaii and throughout her life, Terra was always around some form of art, from drawing, painting, crafting, photography, cake making, jewelry making and more. She has dabbled in different styles of art and different types of mediums, but recently has found her passion in the combination of realism, Japanese influenced art, and Hawaiian inspired art. She loves to combine different objects/subjects into one which lead to the name of her t-shirt line Hanbun Hanbun, which in English translates to 50/50. Terra keeps herself busy still with doing all different styles of art like, digital art, Gyotaku (Japanese Fish prints) and paintings along with different crafts like jewelry making. You can find all her different styles of art, apparel and earrings on her website artbyterrasanae.com .
Art by Terra Sanae
Nao is a Japanese Freelance Artist who works consist of traditional and digital Illustrations as well sculpting. She worked for publishing companies such as Kodansha, Shogakukan, Shueisha, etc. creating variety of illustrations and sculptures for various magazines. A few years ago she moved to Hawaii and has actively been going to events to revive and spread the stories of her Sadness Rabbits.
Nao
Conny Jolitz is a relative newcomer to the indie comic scene but brings two decades of graphic design experience and a lifelong love of fantasy, comics, 90s Euro graphic novels and horror fiction to the table. Born and raised in Berlin, Germany, she made her Indie-Comic debut with her first pinups & covers published this year for Silent Mayhem (Hellbringers & Jengharr & Shredd}, Shaun Barbour’s Belial #3, Michael McGarvey’s Hexing #4, and worked as cover colorist for White Ash #2. She is an established graphic designer living in Hawaii, with a work portfolio including Harley-Davidson, Hello Kitty, Duke’s, Hawaii Public Radio, Hawaiian Style, Local Motion, T&C Hawaii and In4mation, Get Nutz, Pipedreams Surf Co.
Website https://www.eventeny.com/company/?c=15745
FB: Conny Jolitz
IG: cjinksart
Conny Jolitz
God designed Wayne to be passionate about seeking a pure heart, finding freedom and seeing God Himself! He seeks God's presence, hoping to see that place of intimacy & rest expand outward … first into his favorite pastimes (his wife and three kids) and then beyond. He loves creating with his kids, playing “fenkshormers”(Transformers in 4-year-old’s English) with his sons, being his older son's biggest soccer fan, and being the same for his daughter's hula. He sees God propelling his creativity and experience as an artist in entertainment (animation, film, comics, visual effects, video games, etc…) into God's wild, unstoppable march into the nations!
Recently he’s been developing visuals with Nova McBee for film adaptations and graphic novel adaptations of her “Calculated” novel series. He’s also looking forward to seeing the TV Series adaptation of Gene Luen Yang’s “American Born Chinese” graphic novel, and his own collaborative artwork contributions to the series!
Wayne Lo
Born and raised in Hawaii, Lahela Schoessler spent her childhood drawing and exploring the ocean and forests. At the age of eleven, her grandfather took the family to Disneyworld and during this trip Lahela discovered the beauty of animation. It was there that she realized what she wanted to be when she grew up. She graduated from Ringling College of Art + Design and realized that as an animator, she really didn’t have to grow up.
Lahela got her break in the animation industry at Laika House. In addition to game cinematics, she worked on projects with Mini Wheats, Honey Nut Cheerios and M&Ms. Lahela then made her way back to the place that started it all. During her almost 10 years at Disney, she collaborated on Disney’s Epic Mickey franchise and was able to fulfill another childhood dream of working with Marvel characters on Marvel’s Avenger’s Alliance 2. Most recently, Lahela helped to realize a brand new IP, Final Strike Games’ Rocket Arena. As the lead animator of this project, Lahela had the opportunity to be involved in character creation from the ground up and every one of those characters hold a special place in her heart. She is currently working at Probably Monsters on an unannounced project.
When she is not bringing things to life and playing digital puppet master, Lahela is trying her best to survive parenthood. (It isn’t easy being the mother of The Dark Lord.) In the evenings she is usually painting and working on her graphic novel project set in Hawaii.
Helabella (Lahela Schoessler)
Using his love for comic book and manga art to create his own style of art, Art Wong is a Hong Kong born and Hawaii raised artist from the Windward Side of Oahu.
As a public school teacher, Art teaches his students to tell their own stories through the art they create. In 2018 Art published his first comic book “The Keepers” and in the past few years during the pandemic he has picked up acrylic painting as one of his new favorite mediums of art.
Instagram: kazeman84
Art Wong
Hi, I'm Yuma! A freelance artist that specializes in character art, best known for my tiktok and social media posts!
Yumafuki
Sam Campos was born and raised in Hawaii and is of Hawaiian, Chinese, Filipino and Caucasian descent. He conceptualized Pineapple Man in 1984 and featured him in comic books ten years later. When Sam started self-publishing, he didn't own a computer or have access to things like a graphics tablet or Photoshop. But despite a slipper strap budget and high printing costs, his series garnered attention and a loyal fanbase developed.
Sam went on to teach graphic and sequential art for the University of Hawaii. He's also worked in television and film, doing fight choreography, costume & weapons design and storyboards. After working in Hollywood for a time, Sam returned home to develop Dragonfly, a supernatural martial arts series which takes place in Hawaii.
Eventually, Sam found a way to balance and merge his projects, and decided it was time to resume telling Pineapple Man's story, taking it back to the beginning with Pineapple Man: Old School Lockup. New stories will be coming out as well as a trade paperback of collected works.
Sam Campos
Jon J. Murakami is a freelance cartoonist born and raised in Hawai‘i best known for his line of “Local Kine” greeting cards, which depict humorous occasions & holidays in Hawai‘i. His regular comic strips include “Calabash” with the Honolulu Star-Advertiser and “Generation Gap” with the Hawaii Herald. Additionally, Jon illustrated several Hawaiian children’s picture and board books, including “Geckos Slide & Peek,” and self-publishes comic books entitled “Gordon Rider,” “The Ara-Rangers,” and “Adventures with Zori.”
Jon J. Murakami
My name is Pancho Abalos. I’m an independent freelance artist and designer from Hawai'i. I am self taught as an artist, painter, digital artist and graphic designer. And though I’ve been an artist for over 15 years, my thirst to learn, grow and create continues to this day. My style is very raw, street and edgy and my library consists of a mixture of self conceived pieces as well as fan art. All of my work has a very urban flare, lending to its relatability and appeal to many different audiences. I’ve also expanded upon my craft to add digital works to my original, paint based media. Though I do have art that are inspired by different artists, none of my pieces are ever deficient of the aforementioned elements that make them uniquely identifiable as done by me. Over my career as an artist, I’ve had the honor to work with companies such as Scion Hawaii, Marriott Ko O'lina Beach Club, Comic Asylum Palm Desert, and Absolute Comics Group to name a few. I’ve been commissioned with doing a spectrum of creations from graphic designs to hand drawn art work and beyond.
Pancho Abalos
Kris Lohman is a Hawaii artist best known for his work on Au’Makua Guardians of Hawaii, which he has worked on since the first issue. Kris also has a creator-owned book, Dwarfstar Chronicles, and has contributed to Sistah Shark, Anuenue Warriors, and the upcoming Pele series from Mana Comics.
Kris Lohman
My name is Chris Ventura or CeeVee for short 😁. I’m an Artist/Designer operating out of Aiea, Hawaii. My art reflects my immense love for the Tokusatsu genre which includes Super Sentai (adapted in the west as “Power Rangers”) and Kamen Rider. I’ve grown up on anime and comics as well, with an affinity for Dragonball and Naruto. I’ve done work with a handful of Power Ranger actors and travel across the country to vend at various conventions.
CeeVee
Spactana aka Shunobi is a ninja artist that specializes in character design and animation. His style is influenced by reading cartoons like Charlie Brown, Calvin & Hobbs and watching cartoon shows like Cartoon Network growing up. After having lived in the mainland for several years, he realized home is where the heart is and moved back to Hawaii. His artistic ideas are inspired by his love for Marvel, Anime, video games, pop culture, with a touch of the local culture. Don't be intimidated by his presence, this ninja seeks to spread joy and laughter through his art.
Spactana
Aloha my name is 'momichu' and im a fulltime digital chibi artist from the island of Oahu. Most of my inspiration comes from pokemon, anime, and cute creatures. I love to inspire my community with the process of creating my works through livestream. You can catch me live on twitch, where I draw all my commissions like emotes, pngtubers, and chibis.
Momichu
Originally from Maui, Hawaii, Joshua is a writer for Masters of the Universe and Heavy Metal Illustrated. He has also scribed for Mattel, Cartoon Network’s Ben 10, Tor.com and Humanoids Entertainment.
He has written for major theatrical and TV ad campaigns, including: Deadpool 2, Steven Spielberg’s The Post, The Predator and Umbrella Academy. Joshua began his career at Marvel Entertainment and has also worked for The Walt Disney Company, Fox Television and is currently at Netflix.
Joshua Sky
Born and raised on Oahu, Hawaii. Creator, writer, penciller, inker of Native Sons and The Ibalon Epic: The Retelling of Baltog. He has FINALLY been talked into finishing issue 2 of Native Sons and will be debuting a "preview" ashcan, an MCC exclusive. Please come by and say "Howzit".
Mark Gould
Maui based artist, Courtney Holland, is a hapa girl born in southern California and raised in Hawaii. Courtney works in a pop surrealism style creating digital illustrations inspired by childhood memories and local cultural influences. When Courtney is not busy creating, she is most likely found making coffee at Wailuku Coffee Company or eating ramen.
The Lucky Holland
DJ Keawekane is a Hawaii based author, artist and head pastor of Ke Ola Mau Loa Church in Waimea Hawaii. He runs @firstwatchstudios a small press that publishes any and all comics that DJ feels passionate about and currently he is really feeling the sword and sorcery fantasy genre, but also has some sci-fi comics coming out later. DJ has done art for Spy6teen, Island Tales Comics, and Mana Comics where he was the main artist for the famous Kamehameha graphic novel. That is where he got his first taste for crowdfunding launches, and his own personal Kickstarter Exillion: Creed of the Knightenhawke was a great success! Stay tuned for future launches! You can follow him across social media @djkeawekane or @firstwatchstudios at IG, FB, and Twitter
DJ Keawekane
A century after the GREAT DEMISE, which saw the removal of 99% of human life on Earth, Temeo is chosen by her grandfather, the Daimyo Tengoku Ieyasu (The Lord of Heaven and Earth) to avenge the EXILES' great crime: abandoning humanity in a time of crisis, and refusing to share the fruits of the new worlds they have discovered. Now in the 23rd Century A.D. in Central Asia, Temeo must learn how to defeat her enemy and do what is necessary to save her people-even if that means facing down her own family. At a time when the Moon moves backwards in the sky, the stakes are nothing less than the end of the world as we know it.
Ocean Black is created by Crowstorm Studios LLC, under the direction of E.J. Wedge, the show's writer, producer, and composer. It is animated by Dida Karisma and the Team at Creanimation Studio. The voice of the lead character, Temeo, is Patty Lee.
Patty Lee is an actress, model, radio d.j., on-camera and live host. She has been seen in films like Lifetime's "Deadly Yoga Retreat" t.v. shows like Magnum P.I., and in commercials for Lexus, Samsung, Spectrum and First Hawaiian Bank. She is Poni of the Children's threesome, The Peek-a-Bows and can be heard on the radio as the midday host for 99.9 KISS FM.
Ocean Black (the animated television series)
Chase Tokutaro is a local writer, cartoonist and illustrator from Kula, Maui who is currently working on his first ever graphic novel. Links: https://www.instagram.com/chasetokutaroart , chasetokutaroart@gmail.com
Chase Tokutaro
Reid (aka Hoʻomaka) is from Oʻahu. Graduated from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa with a degree in Art (graphic design).
His heavy influence by both western comics and anime/manga is present in his art. He does both traditional and digital art. Currently he is starting work on his own comic. He has done commissions for companies and people like EVO and Vampybitme. If you want to see samples of his art go to his Instagram listed below.
Reid also streams online on Twitch multiple times a week under the name Hoomaka. People on Twitch think he looks like Maui...go figure huh? Lol It's probably because of the hair...who knows? Links: Twitch.tv/hoomaka , Instagram: @hoomaka78
Reid Kishimoto
Michael Cannon is a retired Navy Illustrator-Draftsman Chief and is now a visual-information specialist. He cofounded the local art group; Comic Jam Hawaii in 2011.When he’s not chasinging feral chickens out of his yard, Michael spends his off time drawing goofy art and illustrations for himself and hopefully for a bit of profit. You can find him on social media as @artildawn. https://linktr.ee/artildawn
Artildawn
Stacey Hayashi is an author and award winning filmmaker known for her work with and expertise on Japanese American WWII veterans.
Her historically accurate manga Journey of Heroes: The Story of the 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team, which she wrote and published in 2012, is internationally acclaimed, garnering media attention in the US, Japan, Italy and France. She also wrote and produced the award winning and internationally acclaimed 2018 film, GO FOR BROKE: AN ORIGIN STORY, a feature length narrative film outlining the origins of the 100th Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and Mililtary Intelligence Service here in Hawaii.
Additionally, she produced two films (short narrative and documentary) about Herb Yanamura, Military Intelligence Service linguist, and the Battle of Okinawa – THE HERBERT YANAMURA STORY and THE SURRENDER CALL.
Stacey is an expert on the 100th, 442nd, and MIS veterans, and has been a featured speaker and guest at numerous events, film screenings, book signings, and venues, both domestically and internationally.
Stacey Hayashi
Francine Walraven is the lady face of the three headed raven that is Walraven Art Stuff. Along with her life partner Jonny and their offspring Lionel, they create original art, fan art and other demented works including Francine's self-published Madame Walraven's Erotic Coloring Book. Their passion project Cringe Cinema Club is a pop-up movie party with screenings of cult and underground cringe worthy films. Check them out for info on future showings. @Francine.walraven.art @cringecinemaclub
Francine Walraven
Hi! I’m Gothgyaru, a Filipino-queer artist. I love drawing anything cute, creepy, or colorful <3 I mostly draw internet nostalgia and Asian pop culture, as well as fanart.
Gothgyaru
My name is Tyler Jellum. I'm a local Maui woodworker that uses many different species of wood. I use the natural colors of the wood to create pictures. Most of my woodworking is hand cut on a scroll saw. Some of my creations consist of cutting boards, coasters, kids toys, magnets, decor, and art inspired by comics, video games, anime, and Maui. Check out my work on Instagram @JellumWoodworks.
Tyler Jellum
A four-year student at both Maui Community College and The Art Institute of Seattle, Carl is a freelance comic book editor with a background in comic book art, writing, and lettering.
In addition to the Maui Strong anthology, Carl has edited numerous independent titles, including PROJECT: Angel and G.O.A.L., the latter of which will be used by the United Nations as an advocacy tool against human trafficking.
Carl Shinayama
Noted for the amount of detail Mog Park can include in her work, weaving elements and symbols, into the story fabric it is no wonder she was picked up and worked on HBO’s Game of Thrones for most of the serial run.
Completing many covers for the independent market, Mog has also provided covers to local publishers Mana Comics and First Watch Studios. She is the regular penciller for Snow Paw and Ruxy Vampire, and the regular cover artist for Ninjawitch and Spectress & Sabanion.
Mog is a featured artist on Artist Alley Shopping Network on Facebook, is co-host with her husband Mel on Sketch Up w/ Mog & Mel on the The_Exp erience YouTube channel, and enjoys traveling across the country making guest appearances at many comic cons meeting all the nerdy fans out there.
Look for her latest cover work for Ninjawitch online at Kickstarter @ tinyurl.com/mogparkninjawitch
Find her in artist alley taking commissions, displaying original works, prints, comics,etc. Her signatures are free and will gladly do art reviews, time permitting. Find her on FB @Art de Mog Park.
She currently resides in the Inland Empire of California.