The Hawai`i Watercolor Society was founded by noted Hawai`i artist Hon Chew Hee. Hee was born in Kahalui on Maui in 1906 but was raised in China. He learned Chinese brush painting there then returned to the U.S. to study at the San Francisco Art Institute where he won top academic honors. He later gained additional training in New York at the Art Students League and Columbia University, and in Paris in the 1940s with Fernand Leger and Andre L'Hote.
After teaching in China, Hee returned to Hawai`i in 1935 where he worked as an artist and teacher. Over the course of his career, he exhibited his paintings nationally and internationally including at the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. and the National Academy of Design in New York, and the Galerie Ariel in Paris. The Honolulu Academy of Arts holds works by Hee in its permanent collection. A versatile painter and printmaker, in 1962 Hee founded the Hawai`i Watercolor and Serigraphy Society. He was honored as Artist of the Year by the Hawai`i State Legislature in 1986. In 1987, the Society dedicated its 25th Silver Jubilee Exhibition to him. Hee died in 1993.
Today Hee's legacy is carried on by the Hon Chew Hee Estate Foundation which continues to fund our biannual Best in Show awards. We are grateful to them for their continuing support.
In 1991, in recognition of their dedication to our organization, HWS gave Honorary Life Membership status to Karin Latham and Jeanne Robertson. In 2004, in recognition of their long service as Workshop Chairs, HWS gave Honorary Life Membership status to Helen Iaea and Rita Gustie.
Hawai'i Watercolor Society Presidents
- 1962 Hon Chew Hee
- 1963 Carolyn S. Burr
- 1964 Beth Watkins
- 1965 Hon Chew Hee / Ida Tollinger
- 1966 Rosalie Prussing
- 1967 Dodie Warren
- 1968 Dodie Warren
- 1969 San Askins
- 1970 Matt Cabot
- 1971 Matt Cabot
- 1972 Hon Chew Hee
- 1973 Johnny Shek
- 1974 Roger Lee
- 1975 Nancy Fritschel
- 1976 Bonnie Ozaki
- 1977 Phil Frye
- 1978 John Earl
- 1979 Jeanne Robertson
- 1980 Marian Spinn
- 1981 Roy Hewetson
- 1982 Olga Fincher
- 1983 Barrie Hunt
- 1984 Ruth Laird Pistor
- 1985 Ann Beeson
- 1986 Richard Melcher
- 1987 Michael Pearson
- 1988 Ken Shutt
- 1989 Gay Jefferson
- 1990 Cindy Miller / Anthony Mendivil
- 1991 Sally Simmer
- 1992 Dossie Renton
- 1993 Helen Iaea
- 1994 Gig Greenwood
- 1995 Gig Greenwood
- 1996 Kathleen Russu
- 1997 Gig Greenwood
- 1998 Roger Whitlock
- 1999 Mary Ann Daley
- 2000 Janell Nishida
- 2001 Pamela Landrum
- 2002 Frances Hill
- 2003 Arlene Woo
- 2004 Steve Bettman
- 2005 Jerry Mayfield
- 2006 Jerry Mayfield
- 2007 Linda Bachrach
- 2008 Linda Bachrach
- 2009 Frances Hill
- 2010 Tamara Moan
- 2011 Tamara Moan