David Maes Gallegos was born in Colorado. His family is Native American and has been for generations, in all its branches, direct and collateral. As long as he can remember he loved to draw.

In 1976, David received his Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree "With Distinction" winning two full tuition portfolio scholarships from California College of Arts and Crafts in 1976. In 1979, David then received his Master of Arts degree from San Francisco State University, with painters Robert Bechtel and Richard McLean.

David Maes Gallegos Artwork has been featured in Architectural Digest, Artweek, The Encyclopedia of Living Artists, Art in America, among many News periodicals, from San Francisco to New York to Hawaii. He currently teaches and practices his Art in Kailua Kona, Hawaii where he is also known as "Kawika" or David in Hawaiian.