Karen Valentine lives in Wai‘ohinu, on the south side of Hawai‘i Island. Coming from a family of artists, she has practiced various forms of art since a small child. Her career includes the design and publishing of magazines, including Ke Olamagazine. Currently, her passion is in ipu or gourd art, especially the native Hawaiian form of transforming a green, living gourd into a piece of art, referred to as ipu paweheor the Ni‘ihau method. Karen is also a student of other Hawaiian culture, including history, hula and ‘olelo. She is also a freelance writer and book author.
