On June 25, the Lahaina Arts Society (LAS) held their annual meeting and celebration at Lahaina’s Pioneer Inn. Each year, LAS honors one of their members with a Living Treasure Award to recognize that individual’s outstanding service to the organization. This year’s recipient is Maui artist George Allan, who has helped shape the society through his contributions over the past 40 years.
During the award ceremony, LAS president Michael Stark spoke very highly of Allan. “George sailed into Lahaina Harbor aboard the Carthaginian II and our little island art world was never the same,” Stark said. “We greatly appreciate his accomplishments and the connection he has maintained with us.”
As a pioneer member of LAS, the list of Allan’s achievements is quite long and includes leading the group in their prosperous attempts to convert the Old Jail at the Old Lahaina Courthouse into an art gallery and his co-creation of Art Maui in 1979. Allan still supports LAS through his membership and his donations to Lahaina Arts Association, a charity that was founded by LAS that provides Maui County youth with art education and opportunities to get creative.
Allan has received many other awards and honors such as “Hawaii’s premier oil painter.” His artwork has been displayed in various shows and galleries including the collections of the State of Hawaii, the City & County of Honolulu, the County of Maui and also in national corporate collections. He also created the 100 paintings that line the walls in the lobby of the Castle Theater of the Maui Arts & Cultural Center.
During his acceptance speech, Allan said that he is very proud of what the organization has become and acclaimed that his success as an artist is due to the tremendous support LAS has given him from the start. Other speakers went on after Allan, including Representative Angus McKelvey and Senator Roz Baker. McKelvey talked about his childhood as he grew up attending art shows under the banyan tree with his mother Joan McKelvey, another founding member of LAS.
Amy Fry, chief executive officer of LAS said, “Lahaina Arts Society is honored to have George Allan as a Living Treasure and lifetime member.”
For more information on Lahaina Arts Society, call 808-661-0111 or visit their website here.
– Ashley Probst (@ashprobsticle)
Photo courtesy of Lahaina Arts Society
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