Description
Opihi is the Hawaiian word for limpet. Limpets are symbols of persistence, stability, and safety. They can be found around the planet, but the three species of Hawaiian limpet are endemic, meaning they’re found nowhere but Hawaii.
The opihi are very strong and can be found tenaciously clinging to rocks on the shore. The intense opihi-rock connection is also equated with the bond between mother and child, which sheds light on why opihi are in such demand at a baby luau, the celebration of a child’s first birthday. These little delicacies, shaped like little mountains, can be eaten raw and prove to be a delicious appetizer/pupu with a bit of tabasco or a dash of sea salt. Although I’ve never eaten one, I’ve seen them clinging to rocks and I’ve collected the shells that wash ashore. No two are the same, much like our fingerprint.
This watercolor and walnut ink painting is my way of paying homage to these little gastropods that make me smile when I see them because they represent strength, resilience, and the connection to the ocean.