about

Born in Isfahan, Iran, Melina Rajaei and her family fled their homeland when she was three years old, eventually finding a new home in Hilo, Hawaiʻi at the age of five. Deeply rooted in her Persian heritage and profoundly influenced by the warmth of the Hawaiian community that embraced her family, she creates art that bridges these two worlds. Working with pencil, acrylic paints, and digital media, her work draws inspiration from the shared themes of resilience and reverence for nature found in both Persian and Hawaiian cultures. Through her art, she honors her dual heritage—celebrating both her ancestry and the culture that welcomed her—and seeks to offer a sense of belonging, beauty, and connection to all who have ever felt displaced.