Kailua Village Artists

Bill Twibell has been Gyotaku fish printing for over 50 years.  During the 1970s, the Smithsonian Institute hosted an international juried Fish Print Traveling Exhibit in which Mr. Twibell's print was chosen for the poster announcing the 3-year world tour, "Pressed on Paper."  Since then, Bill's fish prints have been exhibited throughout Hawaii, in California, and Japan. 

Gyotaku fish prints are made directly from fresh specimens by pressing rice paper or textiles directly on top of oil-based inked fish or plants.  The eyes are added after printing and counting. Bill's images are lively and colorful, capturing the exquisite details of nature.  Twibell say’s “I want to capture the image as precisely and colorfully as possible.”

Bill's time in the Peace Corp, and living on Molokai, prior to moving to the relatively "urban" environs of Kona, shows in the welcome banner in front of his home and studio in Kona Palisades which reads, "The Fish Print Guy."   

Some of his most impressive prints include an adult marlin, ahi, one, mani-mahi, and the tail fluke of a sperm whale (14 feet across).  Bill is happy to make trophy prints of your largest or most memorable great catch.

More about Bill Twibell