Kai’s work has since gained recognition among notable collectors, including Mike Tyson, Dionne Warwick, Jon Lovitz, Nicolas Cage, Quincy Jones, Mariah Carey, Conor McGregor, Gene Simmons, Vince Neil, Wyland, Steve Aoki, Clive Davis, Carrot Top, Ice-T & Coco, Fiji, and Al B. Sure! She was also commissioned to create artwork for Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders, as well as the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame and the award-winning Sheltair’s private jet FBO at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport.

Born Ka’iulani Wahinenoilama, which means “The royal sacred woman searching for knowledge and truth in the highest point of heaven,” Kai comes from a family deeply rooted in Oahu’s arts, police, and fire service. She embodies the Aloha Spirit, a presence that is felt in both her personality and her work.

Her artistic journey began early—by the age of two, she had started collecting handmade sketchpads, filling them with drawings of trees, flowers, and family. By four, she was writing poetry to accompany her sketches. One of her fondest memories of Hawaii is stringing fragrant plumeria leis with loved ones.

In her teenage years, Kai’s love for Hawaiian culture and music led her to become a traveling hula dancer, performing Hawaiian, Tahitian, Maori, and Samoan dances. She has always been drawn to the way music and movement transform energy.

Her career took an unexpected turn in 2014 when she and her Aunt Rox competed on Cake Boss. As a professional cake sculptor, she crafted elaborate edible art, catching Wyland’s attention. This led to her first professional gallery show at Wyland’s Laguna Beach location in 2017, launching her into the fine art world.

For Kai, beauty lies in life’s raw and imperfect moments. “Painting is a deeply spiritual and healing process for me. It’s intoxicating—time disappears, and I become completely lost in it.”

Today, her work continues to gain recognition, including a place in the Smithsonian Museum and a growing community of collectors who connect emotionally with her art. “When someone is drawn to my work so deeply that they choose to bring it into their home, it’s an exchange of energy—I am honored that they carry a piece of my heart.”

Kai Lava now calls Las Vegas home—often referred to as the ninth Hawaiian Island—where she lives with her family, continuing to create, inspire, and share her vision with the world.