John Melville Kelly

Their plan was to stay a year, working for an advertising agency creating material to promote tourism.

Kate took a class in printmaking at the University of Hawaii with Huc-Mazelet Luquiens (1881–1961), and then taught John the techniques.

John’s ravishing depictions of Polynesians was, in fact, what distinguished him from other artists in Hawaii at the time.

The Kellys immediately identified with the native Hawaiians and became their champions in images and in print.

John produced etchings and aquatints, primarily of human figures, though he occasionally did landscapes as well.