Macario Pascual, born November 26, 1956 immigrated to Hawaii at the age of five with his mother. They joined his father who came earlier to work for the sugar plantation. At the age of thirteen, he became the first and youngest recipient of the Lahaina Arts Society Art Scholarship. In 1974, he was awarded his first solo exhibition by the Society while still a senior in high school. From 1974 to 1979, Pascual studied art at the University of Hawaii on an art and tennis scholarship, graduating with a BFA degree in design.

Over the years, Pascual has become well known in the islands for his series of paintings of Hawaii's plantations, its workers and the surrounding landscape. His understanding and sensitivity to the media and the subject has led to solo exhibitions and important commissions, among them the State of Hawaii, Alexander and Baldwin, Inc. for their

Centennial in 1982, and recently, Ihilani Resorts and Fletcher Pacific Construction of Honolulu. On Maui, he created the painting for Tedeshi Vineyard's "Plantation Red" wine label.

His work has also been accepted in juried shows winning awards on the regional and national level. His painting, "Hana Ko IV", received the top award in the oil painting category in the prestigious National Exhibition of Contemporary Realism in Springfield, Massachusetts. In 1983 one of his original oils was one of the 68 pieces from 2600 entries selected for inclusion in the Chautaugua National Exhibition of American Art in New York. Pascual was among seventeen artists from across the country invited to participate in a group show in San Francisco, sponsored by the Art Programs Inc., The Equitable Life Assurance Society and the Southern Pacific Land Company.

He participated in an international group exhibition at the Linekona Art Center of the Honolulu Art Academy. Pascual paintings have graced the cover of several magazines and he has been recognized by print and television media for his work, including the book, "Artists of Maui", and "Spectrum" shown on Hawaii Public Television.

His paintings are in the collection of the State Foundation of Culture and the Arts and the City and County of Honolulu and in the office of Governor Ben Cayetano. Corporate and private collections include Alexander and Baldwin, Inc., Baldwin Pacific Corporation, Fletcher Pacific Construction, U. S. Senator Daniel Inouye, Ihilani Resorts, Malcolm MacNaughton (former ceo of Castle and Cooke), and many others here and abroad.

PASCUAL WINS BEST IN SHOW
Maui artist, Macario Pascual, recently won BEST IN SHOW in one of two national plein air events on the mainland- The 2013 Mendocino Open Paint Out and 2013 Sonoma Plein Air. He won the award at the Mendocino Open Paint Out that was held in Northern California September 9 - 14, 2013.

The award was worth $3000 in prizes and cash for his winning painting, an oil entitled, "In the Mood". His selection distinguished himself among the 78  artists competing from around the country in MOPO. Among those participating at this venue included several highly regarded artists like  Clark Mitchell, Michael Gibbons, Dennis Zimenski, Camille Perzewodek, and Juan Pena.

The following week at the Sonoma Plein Air, Pascual garnered a few votes for his painting, "Sonoma Valley Blues" for ARTISTS CHOICE, the top prize at this nationally juried event. The winning piece was won by Sergio Lopez, a talented young artist from Santa Rosa, who earlier also competed at the MOPO with Pascual. SPA is considered one of the toughest events to be selected for in the country and is limited to 35 artists. This was Pascual's first
entry into both the MOPO and SPA competition.

Pascual says, " The experience from this trip was everything I was hoping for. All of my goals were realized.
I painted California and it's famed coastline along Highway One, where some of the best early California works in Impressionism and Tonalism were created.

Painting conditions in Mendocino and Sonoma were of contrasts in light and color. In Mendocino, there were more greys and soft light whereas, Sonoma was filled with HiDef like clarity of light and colors. It provided painting opportunities in all kinds of weather and time from fog, rain, cloudy, hazy days to sunrises, sunsets and moonlit evenings. I got to meet and paint with some of this country's upcoming and established painters. In all, I did 20 plus paintings. Winning Best In Show was a thrill- I just wanted to have fun and do my best."

Pascual's work ethic and dedication to his art continues to payoff with positive results. Earlier in the year, Pascual works have been accepted in two national  juried shows with exhibitions in Colorado and Michigan.