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Marques Hanalei Marzan

He // Him // His

Fiber Arts Knowledge Bearer

Honolulu, Hawaii

A man with brown skin and black goatee poses wearing a black, long-sleeved collared shirt with a net woven from natural fibers draped over his left shoulder and a carved pendant hanging from his neck. Behind him is a large bush with elongated green leaves.

Photo by Anne Lipscomb.

Marques Hanalei Marzan is a Hawaiian interdisciplinary artist raised in Kaneohe, Hawaii. Marzan enjoys combining his passion for the fiber arts with customary storytelling, movement, and sound to imbue layered contexts of cultural grounding into his work. His fiber arts skill in particular is acknowledged throughout Hawaii and the Pacific where he regularly serves as a mentor and advocate, promoting sustainable gathering practices, perpetuating Hawaiian fiber techniques, and imparting indigenous values within his community and the general public. He trained under many esteemed Hawaiian master weavers, including Julia Minerva Kaawa and Esther Kakalia Westmoreland. He continues to broaden his understanding of indigenous Oceanic perspectives through active cultural exchange. Through these interactions, he strengthens his commitment to his culture and champions the ideals of continuity and innovation. He champions the spread of indigenous frameworks and methodologies and advocates for the recognition and legitimization of indigenous voices. He shares his passion for the fiber arts through public presentations and engagements and continues to encourage and incite new conversations. Marzan bridges the innovations of the past with those of the present, and, through his work and community outreach, he speaks to the vitality and dynamism of living culture.

Donor -This award was generously supported by the USA Board of Trustees.

This artist page was last updated on: 08.26.2024

Photo of a woman standing on rocks by the waterfront wearing a netted flowing dress, a heavy cord belt, and holding a plaited fan in her outstretched hand.

Naʻau (Seat of Emotion)by Marques Hanalei Marzan. Processed pig intestines and natural fibers.

Photo by Koji Hirano.

Photo of a woman standing on rocks by the waterfront wearing a white-and-blue foot-length dress. A white woven garment hangs from her neck and descends just past her knees, showing the dyed fabric underneath. Delicate loops of wire form a cloud around her head which she holds up with her hands.

Kōkō (Net) series by Marques Hanalei Marzan. Indigo-dyed shibori dress, knotted cord overskirt, knotted necklace, and openwork wire headpiece.

Photo by Koji Hirano.

A skirt tightly woven at the top and bottom, with looser loops resembling netting in the middle. It hangs from a white wall, with the ties dangling down each side.

Pā‘ū ‘aha (Cord skirt) by Marques Hanalei Marzan. Coconut rope.

Photo courtesy of the artist.