Artist Statement

What an amazing experience this has been to collaborate on artwork with one of my all-time favorite superstar athletes, Kai Lenny!

I have known Kai since he was a young boy and watched him grow up to become a World Champion. He is truly an inspiration.

Suitably motivated, I joined forces with Kai. I was inspired to develop a unique concept with my surfboard art, bringing the elements of his footprints and autograph, along with my design aesthetic, to life on a gorgeous aqua blue Gun Surfboard. The blue color represents the ocean,  the green and white represent the movement in the waves of the sea. The Mālolo or “Flying Fish” is something that connects Kai to the Hawaiian waters of Maui. He often sees them, “flying” out of the water during his ocean adventures.

It has always been a dream of mine to give back, get involved,  do something impactful with my art, and this is my something.

I am incredibly grateful to be able to work with Kai and Martin (Kai's dad). It's also been a wonderful, enlightening experience to share with the PYCC facilitators. What a heartfelt, meaningful organization. So far it has been a transcendent experience. The ingredients of Kai Lenny, PYCC, and my art are combining to create something magical; much greater than the sum of the parts! Please enjoy and participate in this adventure! Buy great art, and raise money for PYCC’s mission of, “building community through our youth.”

Join our team! Can you think of a better way to be part of the solution?

-Kim McDonald

About Kai Lenny

Kai Lenny is one of the world’s most complete watermen.

He grew up on the big waves of Maui, and with supportive parents and world-class mentors, has had a meteoric rise.  He is now at the apex of the surfing world: His accomplishments are astonishing, he's won the grueling 50km Molokai-to-Oahu Paddle Board World Champion race three times (once in the unlimited, once in the stock stand-up division) and he shattered the across the channel record on his foil board. He was on the Professional Windsurfing Association World Wave Tour, has been runner-up at the Kite Surf Pro World Championships, and he’s won the SUP World Title eight times and counting. Last year he was runner up in the Big Wave World Tour. Yet through it all, he remains modest and humble. “My favorite thing in the world is riding a wave, so as long as I’m riding a wave, I’m happy.”

Learn more:  Red Bull - Kai Lenny   Paradigm Lost Movie

Sponsors

About Pa`ia Youth & Cultural Center

The Pa`ia Youth & Cultural Center is a unique organization that builds community through our youth. This is our mission. While fulfilling our mission we provide a safe place emotionally and physically for the youth of Pa`ia and surrounding communities. We offer a variety of life skills focused activities- social, educational, cultural, vocational, and recreational that the kids LOVE! What we really value are the lifelong bonds created between our members. The purpose of our mission is to connect our members in friendships and working relationships that will become the foundations for our future community.

Pa’ia Youth Council, Inc., operating the Pa’ia Youth & Cultural Center, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation funded by grants from the Maui County Department of Housing & Human Concerns, the State of Hawaii Office of Youth Services, private foundations, community donations, and fundraisers. 

Learn More: Pā`ia Youth & Cultural Center

About Kim McDonald

Kim is a celebrated Maui artist, collected worldwide. She is well-known for her fine art depicting Polynesian women, island seascapes and surf culture. In recent years, Kim created an ocean-inspired line of designer surfboards celebrating the ocean life, primal geometries, and vivid colors of the sea.

Display Options