They’re Back Home, This Time For Good

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Hiroshi Tagami and Michael Powell
carry a painting as they prepare for
the grand reopening of their
Lamaula Road gallery. Photo by
Nathalie Walker,
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Artists Hiroshi Tagami and Michael Powell have returned to Oahu, and this time it’s for good.

The men have also re-purchased their picturesque Kahaluu home at 47-754 Lamaula Road and reopened the gallery there. The community flocked to the grand opening last weekend.

On view are original oil paintings by Tagami and Powell, as well as works by several guest artists, such as Stephen Paschal, Scott Sullivan, Babs Miyano-Young, Florence Miyano, Lois Miyano Tselentis and Kenny Kicklighter, Lynn Boyer, Kelly McGuire of Island Rug Co. and Robyn Buntin’s antiques.

The pair sold the rural, lushly landscaped property a decade ago to explore life on the Big Island and Maui.“At the time Hiroshi was eager to see what the Waimea and Kohala coast on the Big Island were like,” Powell said. “We went over there (and) lived in Waimea for six years. It was beautiful.”

Their next stop was Maui, where Powell, 52, had always wanted to live.“I said I always wanted to go to Keokea. We found a neat old plantation house on 2.5 acres and started a garden full of rare plants and trees. We lived there two years, all the while coming back to Oahu to do art shows for charity.”

Upon returning to Oahu, the friends found a suitable first-floor apartment in Waikiki, yet still dreamed of returning to their former Windward home. Lo and behold, the property was for sale but, as Powell recalled, “it was so expensive.”

He also recalled once taking a photo with Hiroshi and his (Powell’s) mother at there, and then came to an important realization: They just had to get it back. “My family and Hiroshi have this long history with the property. Hiroshi or I have planted every tree, every blade of grass.”

In the pursuit of doing just that, Powell talked to one of the beneficiaries of their art shows - the development director for La Pietra,Annie Landrum. She expressed an interest in going into business with the artists.

“Annie, Hiroshi and I bought the place back. She helps with the marketing and administration,” Powell explained, “and Hiroshi and I are here all the time working on the garden.” Landrum also continues her work at La Pietra.

Powell can’t complain about his commute to work - “from my room, to the sauna, to the jacuzzi, to the painting studio” - and he doesn’t plan on moving. “We kind of made it full circle. We got to live in every place we wanted to live in Hawaii. There are interesting places to paint there (on other islands) as well.”

The Tagami and Powell Gallery Gardens are open Saturday, Sunday and Monday by appointment only between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. For more information, call 239-8146.