I am fourth generation kama'aina or a "child of the land (of Hawaii)."  I grew up on the beaches of Nanakuli and Waianae on Oahu, and graduated from Pearl City High School. Then life took me to Wellesley College and Tufts University in Massachusetts in pursuit of a career in veterinary medicine. After twenty years on the east coast, it was time to return to the land of my birth, which landed myself, one dog, 5 birds, and two tortoises in Kailua Kona in 2004. 

I dabbled in origami as a child, but it never really held my interest. I’ve folded several thousand cranes for friends and family over the years. In Japanese culture, the crane or tsuru is a symbol of luck and longevity, and a thousand and one origami cranes is very traditional gift for weddings and anniversaries. It kept my fingers busy.

Around 2016, I decided I wanted an origami representation of my happy-go-lucky corgi dog. I wanted an origami dog with the correct anatomy and proportions, and one that could assume different poses. And I wanted one that showed her character and personality. Much as I searched, I could not find instructions for the particular origami dog in my mind. There began my transition from following instructions to origami design and sculpting. I chose the name Origami Dog because that is where it all began for me -- with an origami dog. 

Designing origami uses a completely different part of the brain compared to following origami instruction. Folding origami with several hundred steps requires being a really attentive follower. Designing origami involves analyzing what each fold contributes to the structure and aesthetics of the final piece and creating something completely new and different.

Many of my subjects are animal forms — some real, some mythical, some fantastical. My style tends towards happy and whimsical. I aim to create more than just representational objects but pieces with enough character and personality to tell a story and engage an audience.

You can read more about my origami art, materials, dyes, design, sculpting, the business of art, and my mission to show people that origami can be a medium for fine art in the Origami Dog Blog. 

I'm kind of on again, off again on Instagram @origamidoghawaii. I am an introvert and just the idea of hundreds or thousands of followers intimidates me, but when I think of it, it is an easy way to share some of my newest stuff and get feedback.