Kai Lava is a Smithsonian-featured artist whose deeply emotional, spiritual works have captivated collectors around the world. Born Ka’iulani Wahinenoilama—translated as “The royal sacred woman searching for knowledge and truth in the highest point of heaven”—Kai carries the cultural legacy of her Hawaiian heritage with pride. Named after Princess Ka’iulani and related to legendary Hawaiian musician Don Ho, Kai’s roots run deep in the arts and aloha spirit. Art has always been part of Kai’s world. As a child, she filled handmade sketchbooks with drawings and poetry, stringing plumeria leis and expressing herself through early creativity. Her passion for music and movement led her to become a traveling hula dancer, performing Hawaiian, Tahitian, Maori, and Samoan dances—experiences that still influence her work today.Kai’s journey to the art world began in an unexpected place: cake. As a professional cake sculptor, she appeared on the TLC show Cake Boss, where her elaborate edible creations caught the attention of famed sea life artist Wyland. He recognized her talent and encouraged her to pursue a professional painting career. In 2017, Kai debuted her fine art at Wyland’s Laguna Beach gallery—and she hasn’t looked back since. Driven not by trends but by feeling, Kai describes her creative process as visceral:"Art does not come to me as a thought; I feel it as an uncontrollable pounding in my heart. I create for no other reason than to experience bliss." Her work blends raw emotion, spiritual depth, and a celebration of imperfection. For Kai, painting is a sacred act:"It’s healing and intoxicating—I lose all sense of time. My art is meant to be felt by those who long for true connection."Kai’s rise as a painter has attracted an impressive list of collectors, including Mike Tyson, Mariah Carey, Conor McGregor, Quincy Jones, Nicholas Cage, Dionne Warwick, Steve Aoki, Gene Simmons, and many more. She has been commissioned for high-profile projects including Allegiant Stadium (home of the Las Vegas Raiders), the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame, and Sheltair’s award-winning private jet terminal at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport. Today, Kai continues to build an international following while staying grounded in her heritage and heart. She lives with her family in Las Vegas—affectionately known to many as the “ninth Hawaiian Island”—and remains a vibrant force in the art world, sharing her soul with every brushstroke.