Lahaina was born in the Philippines, but in the year 2000 at age 5, she migrated with her family to New Zealand, rewriting the direction of their lives. 

 

All of her formal education came out of New Zealand, and as a mixed cultured person, she learnt to be observant, understanding the causes and effect of conflict often experienced in our lives.

 

She grew up with artists, her father a traditional animator and layout artist, and also a painter and teacher. She often was encouraged to be creative which helped her solidify her identity and kept closely knit to creativity.

 

At university she pursued Fashion and gained her qualification in AUT, with qualifications in Garment Technology and Pattern Drafting, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Fashion Design. But her learning journey continues as in 2022 during the pandemic years she began her first collection of works in acrylic paints, naming it ‘Dismal Days’ a self-reflection on humour found in the mundane and sad times.

 

Though she is a self-taught painter and illustrator, in many ways the people who raised her trained her to become the best that she can achieve within any skill she acquires. She pushes herself to look deeper without fearing the shame of failure. It is reflected in her profession as a dressmaker and pattern designer. And therefore bleeds into the variation of mediums and disciplines she pursues

 

Her objective is to journal personal expressions through art, by the use of visual mediums and other mediums of art such as poetry and also garment making. These technical skills and design studies has contributed to the perspective of her creative processes, human behaviour relating to self-expression, and a deep appreciation to the techinical side that marries with passion for art. Now she dedicates herself part time as a visual artist in her home studio in Pukekohe, New Zealand.

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