Daphne Kauahi’ilani Jenkins

Daphne Kauahi’ilani Jenkins is Portland-based multidisciplinary artist, writer and home-baker who explores themes of identity and belonging as a mixed Kanaka ‘Ōiwi wahine born and raised in Hawai’i, now living in the diaspora. Through her work, she expresses her deep love and longing for her homeland of Hawai’i while granting herself permission to embrace diasporic influences and joyful play. Whether baking butter mochi, writing, or making lei, she tires to make a home away from homeland and create contexts for her own belonging. It is important to her to recognize the artistry in everyday cultural practices that affirm who she is. He Hawai’i au - I am Hawai’i. Haku au. I am a maker. Time, beauty, longing, and devotion are recurring organizing principles in her work. Her work aims to disrupt the mainstream media constructs of “Hawaii” by leveraging delight and deliciousness to add nuance, depth and complexity to understandings about Hawai’i.