Watters, a native Hawaiian, was raised in a home where artists were celebrated and conversations about creativity were commonplace. He developed an early love for art. Though his family appreciated artists, serious collecting didn’t begin until the 1970s, when he started building his own collection from the ground up.

With no formal guidebooks or digital resources, his education came the old-fashioned way: through countless hours spent at Iolani Palace, the Bishop Museum, and the Honolulu Academy of Arts. In a time when few were discussing the significance of Hawai‘i’s local artists and cultural artifacts, he immersed himself in research, exploration, and admiration — quietly uncovering stories, techniques, and traditions that many had overlooked.

Over the decades, his collection grew alongside his knowledge. Each piece acquired was not just a work of art but a thread in the rich cultural fabric of Hawai‘i — a legacy he has preserved and shared through Gallery Hawaiiana. What began as a personal pursuit has become a lifelong mission: to honor, elevate, and protect the history and beauty of Hawaiian art and its creators.