Jordyn Hiʻilani Mantz is a c/o 2018 Kamehameha Schools alumni from Keaʻau, Hawaiʻi. She attended three colleges on the mainland on a basketball scholarship, graduating in 2022 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a minor in Marketing.Growing up hapa-haole, Jordyn often felt disconnected from her Hawaiian identity and distanced herself from her culture. It wasn’t until her time on the mainland, when she was asked, “You’re Hawaiian, what do you do as one?” that she realized she didn’t have an answer. That moment became a turning point that inspired her to reconnect with her heritage through her own passions and creative voice.In the 2020 pandemic, she began exploring Hawaiian mythology and weaving it into her work, blending traditional stories with influences from pop culture and anime. Through her art, Jordyn aims to offer a fresh perspective within the Big Island art scene that resonates with younger generations while honoring cultural roots.