JESSICA KEʻALA KIM

Born and raised in Kuli‘ou‘ou, O‘ahu and a graduate of Kamehameha Schools, Jessica Ke‘ala Kim studied art at the University of Redlands in California and the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, where she received a B.A. in Art History. Her artwork has been shown in exhibitions in the continental U.S., throughout Hawai‘i, in local publications, and in private collections.

Although trained in drawing and painting, Jessica is a self-taught block print artist who carved her first wood block over 20 years ago after researching her Hawaiian genealogy. She learned about her maternal granduncle Edwin Kwan Oe Inn, a self-taught artist who made block print postcards and art. He would send them to Jessica’s mother in Hawai‘i while he was living in San Francisco. Upon seeing her granduncle's beautiful block prints, Jessica was inspired to try block printing as a new medium.

At present, Jessica is primarily a block print artist who draws inspiration from Native Hawaiian history, culture, moʻoleo, nature, animals, and ‘Olelo No‘eau (Hawaiian Proverbs). All block prints are original, hand-drawn, hand-carved, and hand-stamped by Jessica. Her block print designs can be found on apparel, accessories, and stationery.

Jessica formally started her company, Limahana, in 2015. "Limahana," in Hawaiian means, "working hands." Limahana is also a significant family name to Jessica, tracing back to one of her earliest ancestors.

Ever since carving her first block print series honoring her genealogy, Jessica seeks to honor and perpetuate the  Hawaiian culture through the art of block printing.