Crowd favorite picked for Malama Wao Akua

The Hui No’eau Visual Arts Center has announced the winner of the People’s Choice Award in this year’s Malama Wao Akua exhibit.
Maui artist Wendy Romanchak was recognized for her piece titled ” ‘Ohelo” in the exhibit that concluded Nov. 10 at the Makawao arts center.
“I love that the Malama Wao Akua show has a twofold purpose — to promote the arts and to promote conservation. It is my favorite show to enter on Maui,” Romanchak said. “I chose to paint ‘ohelo after becoming enamored by the red glow on the new leaves while walking into the crater. It is a vigorous plant that persists in harsh conditions and it also feeds the nene.”
Malama Wao Akua is an exhibition presented in collaboration between the Hui and the East Maui Watershed Partnership that merges the worlds of art and conservation with works of art that honor Maui Nui’s native plant and animal species. This year’s jurors were Pat Bily and Melissa Chimera.