Artist Tai Lake

Tai Lake's lifelong dedication to the study of woodworking and design began in his family's construction business and was refined through study at Buckminster Fullers' design department at Southern Illinois University. Tai came to the Big Island of Hawaii in 1980 as an architectural woodworker after an apprenticeship that took him all across the US. These "journeyman" travels allowed him to work on a wide variety of challenging projects with master craftsmen, architects, and artists.

Tai designs and builds fine Koa wood furniture from the Koa forest project he manages in Kailua-Kona. He is president of the Big Island Woodworkers Guild and lives in Holualoa. Tai's work has received numerous awards, and images of his work have been published nationally.

Each year Tai Lake crafts up to 70 pieces, about half commissioned. His rocking chairs, which have long, gracefully recurved bottoms, have become his signature pieces. "All the lines in my pieces harmonize," he explains. "The components are balanced, and everything is proportional and scaled."