In direct contrast to the western "law of the land", the Hawaiian culture refers to Kanawai or the law of water. The volcanic mountains thrusting into the moist tropical air provide the cooling effect which produces condensation and precipitation which nurtures this island paradise. The water flowing from the mountains provided the irrigation for the water crop of taro, which everyman grew to feed his family.

Today Oahu, is faced with a very finite resource. Part and parcel of dealing with this......is defining the limits of the resource and planning for the future. Within twenty years, using the latest modern scientific quantification techniques Oahu will be at the limits of it's sustainable water supply. In some ways I feel that a balance needs to be struck between the actions of the historical Hawaiian approach and the contemporary scientific approach. A unified analysis of liquid phenomenon, or Kanawai, is intended to present two systems of thinking about and perceiving water......it illustrates concepts and phenomenon which inform the "meaning" of water on Oahu. Visually the installation breaks down into four elements

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