An accomplished artist in her own right, Kate Kelly was an invaluable force behind the enduring renown of her artist husband, John Kelly. Read the full article from Halekulani: Living, the official storytelling source for guests of Halekulani Hotel.

John embraced a cowboy spirit, and throughout his life, was often seen sporting a kerchief in tribute to his roots.

Kate Kelly often visited her friends who lived in Palolo, a valley area less than a mile from Diamond Head on Oʻahu, which was also an inspiration for John’s art.

In the 1940s, John was commissioned by the Navy to produce a poster to encourage Hawaiian men to join the war effort. The Navy rejected this version.

1926, John and Kate Kelly's etchings were exhibited for the first time at H.W. Wichman and Co. Here is a newspaper clipping and some of the works from that early time period, when the two artists were just beginning to exhibit.

John Kelly created several detailed and technically difficult Bodhisattva etchings near the end of his life, in the late 1950s. This “Asian period” is probably the least well-known of John’s work, but the results were particularly spectacular.

The Hawaiian Kahuna Lāʻau Lapaʻau known as Old Kalama has been immortalized in several photographs and etchings by John and Kate Kelly.

Kate Kelly was the first to popularize small replicas of hula dancers and lei makers, which became iconic souvenirs of Hawaii.

The lasting legacy of Kate Kelly includes several historical plaques erected around the islands.

In the 1950s, John Kelly sketched this humorous self-portrait of himself and one of his good buddies.