FINE ART PHOTOGRAPH OF THE WEEK: BALI HAI, KAUAI

©Kelly Fitzgerald.  Bali Hai, Kauai
Silver Gelatin Archival Fiber Base Print
11" H x 14" W
Limited Edition of 50
$750 Unframed.

Bali Hai, also known as the Makana Mountain, is a part of a National Tropical Botanical Garden at the beginning of the Na Pali Coast on the north shore of Kauai. The Hawaiian name for this pyramid-shaped mountain peak is Makana or Mount Makana, which means a reward or “gift from heaven” in the Hawaiian language. The movie South Pacific released in 1960 featured this mountain as a forbidden but exotic island called Bali Hai. From then onwards, the name “Bali Hai” has stuck and most people forgot its original name.  Bali Hai is the north shore's canvas for the last sunset in the United States each evening.

Professional matting and framing is available for an additional charge.

Makana Mountain is the place where the renowned ceremony related to fire-throwing “ohai” took place in ancient Hawaii. This was a special ceremony performed to celebrate special occasions like students’ graduations or a high chief’s visit. The skilled fire throwers used to climb the peak of the mountain, which had dry, light logs of hau (Hibiscus tiliaceus) and papala (Charpentiera spp.).

At night time, the logs were set on fire and hurled into the ocean. The ridge lifts, which were created by the tradewinds that hit the Makana cliff, were successful in keeping the firebands aloft, rising to one mile (1.6 km) out on the sea. As a result, the night sky was illuminated with fiery torches and sparks that traced long arc lights.

A fine art photographic print by Kelly Fitzgerald
will beautify your home or enhance your place of business.

This work was created by using an old manual SLR film camera and Kodak Professional High-Speed HIE Black-and-White Infrared Negative Film.  Sadly, the film is no longer being manufactured.  The fiber base print is printed in the traditional darkroom by a master printer with an enlarger, conventional chemistry and trays.  Made by hand, the old fashioned way.  This piece is part of an award-winning series called "A New Discovery".

If you are interested in purchasing an original fine art print, please contact Kelly Fitzgerald at KelFitzPhoto@gmail.com or call (760) 670-6616.  A range of print sizes are available.  For more information, please visit the print information page on her website.  

A percentage of sales from this print will be donated to a Hawaii non-profit conservation organization.  

Mahalo nui loa.

To learn more about this award-winning body of work, please click here.
To learn more about Kodak HIE black-and-white infrared film, please click here.