Hon Chew Hee

Born in Maui, Hee spent his childhood in China with his mother. His father was a Hawaiian Chinese educator who taught another printmaker, John Young. Hee graduated from the California School of Fine Arts in San Francisco before returning to China as a teacher and school principal. In Honolulu he taught at the Nu-uanu YMCA with Isami Doi who introduced him to woodcarving. John Young and Hee rented a loft next door to Madge Tenant's studio on Merchant Street. During the 1940's Hee worked for the war effort as a mural painter at Pearl Harbor. Hee called himself a "coolie" artist, because " a coolie stands for blood, sweat and tears and that's the story of my life as an artist."
Cultural themes were important in his work, reflecting an interplay of East and West. His subject matter often incorporates scenes from everyday life and infused with a nostalgic sense of humor.