Born in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1962, Patrick Ching has spent a lifetime devoted to the preservation of Hawaii's native wildlife. He grew up exploring the valleys and shorelines of Hawaii and, during a month long Hawaii Bound wilderness program for youth at risk, saw his first Hawaiian Hawk in the sky over Pololu Valley on the Big Island.

He recalls, "During that experience I decided to devote my life to educating people about Hawaii's native wildlife through my art".

Patrick volunteered for many wildlife organizations and eventually became a ranger for the US Fish and Wildlife Service at the Kilauea lighthouse on Kauai. He also lived for extended periods of time among sea turtles and monk seals on the remote North Western Hawaiian Islands.

In his quest to increase public awareness on wildlife issues, Patrick produced many award winning books, including "Sea Turtles of Hawaii" and "The Hawaiian Monk Seal".

Notable achievements include Hawaiian Telephone's phone book cover of Haley's Comet, 1986, Hawaii's first wildlife conservation stamp of Nene in Hanalei Valley, 1996, State Foundation on Culture and the Arts Murals "Moanalua Memories" in the Salt Lake Library, 1998, and Pope Elementary School tile mural "Waimanalo" in 2003, and Queen's Hospital operating rooms, 2007, and the new McDonald's restaurant at Ala Moana.

Patrick Ching has also produced numerous environmental education posters for various organizations including the Audubon Society, the State of Hawaii Division of Forestry, and The Conservation Council of Hawaii.

In 1996 Patrick opened Naturally Hawaiian Gallery and Art School in Waimanalo, and he recently opened Patrick Ching Art Gallery in Princeville Center on Kauai. Patrick now travels internationally conducting realistic nature painting workshops and seminars.

To view more of Patrick's works, visit his website: www.naturallyhawaiian.com

"My name is Heather Brown and I am an artist here on the North Shore of Oahu. I graduated from the University of Hawaii with my Bachelors in fine arts with an emphasis in painting and printmaking. Making art has always been a passion for me, while the ocean, surfing, and nature have always been my inspiration.

"With my art, I try to capture the energy, forms, and colors of whatever it is that I am painting, and abstract it to a point where it captures the essence of what makes it so beautiful.

"I am always taking in my surroundings and trying to take in the subtle elements around us and imagine how I can interpret a unique aspect of it with my paintbrush. And it is always a fascinating challenge to take such a raw and complex subject in nature and to simplify it into a two dimensional level."

To view more of Heather's works, visit her website: www.heatherbrownart.com