An Entryway for a Home in Paradise: Maui

Maui really is paradise and I was thrilled when I received a call from a husband and wife who were building their home there and wanted me to design, build, and carve their front entryway. The home's backyard is the beach with a beautiful ocean to swim in. It is an amazing setting. They are very interested in Hawaiian culture and customs so for the front door they wanted to depict Native Hawaiians paddling an outrigger off the coast of Maui. 

The door is made of solid African mahogany. I hand carved the Native Hawaiian men and the outrigger in heavy relief on both sides of the door, inside and out, and the mountains in light relief giving them a perspective of distance, using the same African mahogany. The glass is 1/2" thick that I made moulds for and cast in my kiln, giving heavy texture in the lower part of the door to light texture at the horizon, again to create depth. I designed the glass to mimic the shimmering ocean below and the clouds in the sky above. The door handles are formed with a recess behind the outrigger in the door frame.

I pre-hung the door with all the hardware, finished it, and made a special crate for shipping. I went to Maui to finish another job in the house and took these pictures. This entry fit the home perfectly, portraying the Native Hawaiian culture that my clients love and respect, while being a piece of art that they, and anyone who visits their home, can enjoy for many years to come.