Carmen Gardner’s “Malama na Ohia” is a painting that reflects Malama Wao Akua’s theme.

MAKAWAO – Hui No’eau Visual Arts Center and East Maui Watershed Partnership will present the 14th annual Malama Wao Akua, a fine art exhibition that creatively merges the worlds of art and conservation with works of art that honor Maui Nui’s native plant and animal species.

Set for Sept. 14 to Nov. 9 at Hui No’eau Visual Arts Center, 2841 Baldwin Avenue, the free exhibition is sponsored in part by Aloha Recycling Inc. and the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

The Receiving Day will be Tuesday, Aug. 28, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Hui No’eau and East Maui Watershed Partnership invite Maui artists working in any medium to create work depicting only species native to Maui Nui (Maui, Lanai, Molokai, Kaho’olawe), a landscape showcasing only native Maui Nui species, or people working to protect Maui’s native species and native habitats from the mountains to the nearshore reefs.

Malama Wao Akua is a juried fine art exhibition with entry categories open to adults as well as elementary, middle and high school students residing in Maui Nui.

Prospectus and entry forms are available at www.huinoeau.com.

Artists planning to enter the exhibit are invited to attend several unique opportunities in August to learn about Maui’s native species, including hikes into The Nature Conservancy’s Waikamoi Preserve or Pohakuokala Gulch at Haleakala Ranch, a Native Plant Marine Connections and Cultural Tour with Cultural Practitioner Ko’i Lum, and tours of The Merwin Conservancy.

More information on these events and how to sign up is available at mwa-art.org/blog or by calling 573-6999.

Conservation Juror Fern Duvall works closely with conservation agencies to enhance and conserve biodiversity and preservation of the most unique and pristine lands in the state.

Prior to his current position, he was the Maui Nui non-game wildlife biologist for almost 25 years.

Duvall has worked closely with Maui’s seabirds, water birds and forest birds, and monitored native threatened and endangered plant status. He chairs the Maui Nui Invasive Species Committee.

Art juror Mina Elison is currently the curator at Kona Historical Society. With a background in anthropology, conducting oral history interviews and the visual arts, Elison aims to utilize the voices of the people – in their own words – to tell meaningful stories in exhibits she curates.

Born and raised in Kailua, Oahu, she is inspired by the land, sea and people.

Elison has worked with organizations such as the Donkey Mill Art Center, West Hawaii Community Health Center, American Indian Community House Gallery and Japan Society in New York City, as well as The Contemporary Museum, Honolulu.

She serves on the board of directors for the Association of Hawaii Archivists and Keoua Honaunau Canoe Club. She also serves as the community representative on the School Community Council of the Hawaiian language immersion school Ke Kula o ‘Ehunuikaimalino.

“Talk Story” Thursdays will take place at the center throughout the exhibition, featuring different industry leaders from the field of conservation.

Talks will take place from 5 to 6 p.m. on these dates: Sept. 20, Dr. Art Medeiros, Auwahi Forest Restoration Project; Oct. 4, Maui Nui Plant Extinction Prevention Coordinator Hank Oppenheimer; Oct. 18, Maui Nui Marine Mammal Response Coordinator Nicole Davis; and Nov. 1, Allison Borell, community outreach and education liaison for East Maui Watershed Partnership and Field Staff.