Brandon was born and raised in Hilo, a small and quiet town on the Big Island of Hawaii.  From a young age he was exposed to the ocean by his friends and his father, who is an avid fisherman.  Fishing, spear-diving and various ocean activities were a normal part of life growing up in Hawaii.  

His passion for the ocean and art merged when he was introduced to the art form known as Gyotaku.  He saw it as the perfect way to preserve the life of the fish and ensure it’s memory would live on forever.  His minimalistic approach emphasizes “beauty in imperfection”, allowing the raw, unfiltered look of gyotaku to shine through.

The word “Makai” comes from the Hawaiian language and translates to “by the sea”.  Makai Impressions is an expression of the ocean through the lens of the Artist’s creative eye.  In each design or piece of art, he expresses his experiences growing up in Hawaii and the impact the ocean has had on his life.