Kaleo Akana
a papaya farm on the Big Island, Hawai'i
Kaleo Akana lives on a papaya farm in Pāhoa, Hawai'i, where he manages his daily routine of maintaining septic systems and delivering papayas to the local co-op. His narrow closet is filled with the shoes of deceased relatives, serving as a poignant family ledger. Despite his practical workload, Kaleo's mind often drifts to darker moments, like the haunting sound of shoes on hospital floors, evoking memories that keep him grounded yet restless.
About
Obsession
The sound of shoes on hospital floors
Voice
Wet soil under bare feet
Artistic Medium
Light-sensitive papaya leaf prints
Technique
Presses and exposes to light
Influences
Hawaiian family ties; midnight emergencies; papaya farm
Materials
Old shoes, papaya leaves, coconut oil
Scale
Each piece the size of a shoebox
Selected 1 time · Last: April 30, 2026
