Enoka Phillips

Enoka Phillips (b. 2001, Lahaina, Maui) is a Native Hawaiian feather artist whose practice bridges traditional hulu (featherwork) with contemporary innovation. Through a Hawaiian-immersion education on Maui he was captivated by the ʻahu ʻula (feather capes) and mahiole (helmets) worn by aliʻi, and sought out mentors — among them Florence “Aunty Flo” Makekau — to learn the craft.

Approach. Rooted in centuries-old custom, Phillips makes lei hulu and lei humupapa from thousands of ethically sourced feathers — pheasant, peacock, goose, seabird — that honor the cultural, spiritual, and political significance of feathers in Hawaiian tradition. He engages the inherited weight of objects: each feather carries mana connecting the natural world, the maker, and the wearer.

Selected works & exhibitions. The Piko series (2025). Solo presentations include Piko (Poʻai by Pono Potions, 2025) and Nanea i ka Hulu (Halekulani Art Gallery, 2026). He was featured in PALM magazine’s Hawaiian-heritage issue and selected for Manaola Hawaiʻi’s Hale Kua incubator.

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Halekulani: Nanea i ka Hulu
PALM / Violet feature