Namiko Chan Takahashi

Namiko Chan Takahashi (; Hawaiian: Alaka’i Kapuananiokekukui; born 1974 ) is a Singaporean contemporary artist. Specialising in realist portrait painting, Takahashi won the United Overseas Bank Painting of the Year Award in 2006 for the painting of a nude woman, Charisse. Takahashi studied at the National Junior College (1991–1992), enrolling in the Art Elective Programme.

Takahashi read law at the National University of Singapore Faculty of Law.

In New York, Takahashi studied painting under US artists such as Harvey Dinnerstein, Ronnie Landfield, Daniel Greene and Mary Beth McKenzie at the League.

With her husband, poet Aaron Lee, she co-founded the Christian contemporary a cappella group Agapella, a home-grown 14-member contemporary Christian ensemble made of young professionals.

A portrait of her friend and local singer Kit Chan was used as album cover illustration for Kit Chan's Dreamscape album.

Known as Alaka’i Kapuananiokekukui Namiko, she directs the Singapore branch of a Hawaiian Hula Dance school called Laniakea, together with her husband. She had trained in ballet, flamenco and Middle Eastern dance for many years. She teaches hula auana, hula hahiko, and hula ho'ano under the direction of Kumu Lei.

Art Charisse, a nude painting of a black woman representing "inner strength and determination of women of substance", was of Takahashi's friend and muse at the Art Students League of New York.

Major exhibitions