PUNA STRONG

Location: 15-3038 Pahoa Village Rd, Pāhoa, HI 

In collaboration with Temple Children and Pahoa High & Intermediate School students. This is the final piece in our Activate Puna art series, made possible by Ashley Lehualani Kierkiewicz Hawai'i County Councilwoman. The concept for this piece is based on ideas from 200+ art students at PHIS, who were asked to describe what 'aloha, kōkua, ahupua'a and resilience' means to them since the 2018 eruptions, and how they see these concepts represented visually. The triangle composition represents strength, as well as Mauna Kea, which dominates our Big Island landscape. Within the triangle, two 'ōhi'a lehua grow out of shallow, rocky soil - a real image of resilience: the 'water heart' roots reference kalo, the lifeline of Kanaka Maoli. Numerous animals and plants affected by the eruptions are represented near the bottom, mauka to makai, where the students assisted in painting throughout the week.

POW! WOW! Nepal

Along with my fellow artists we painted The Koseli School in Kathmandu, transforming classrooms into an inspiring place to learn.

King William C. Lunalilo Mural

Location: 810 Pumehana St, Honolulu, HI 

The Lunalilo Elementary School Administration is keen on teaching the students about food sovereignty, local energy collection, and about how to living harmoniously with our land. My mural represents these ideals depicting a functional modern ahupua'a how to use more of our land for food production while also incorporating verticals farms and aquaponic techniques, to ultimately cut our dependence on shipped in goods (mainly produces). Hawai'i has the resources to supply his people with nearly everything we need locally. The mural gives inspiration for the next generation. By normalizing the image of these processes, they will not hesitate to institute and take farther this idea of an achievable goal of self-sustenance.

WELCOME HOKULEA

Location: 810 Pumehana St, Honolulu, HI 

The 1560 square-feet mural is located centrally in the school. It illustrates the voyaging canoe Hokule’a and her voyage around the world. Hokule’a - represents a journey, a crossing, adventure, and exploration. Crossing the ocean can be viewed as being symbolic of making the journey across life. The canoe gives inspiration for the young generation to learn and to prepare for a journey, whether it be faith, education, desire, curiosity, or the motivation for taking care of our ocean. Students helped to paint the colorful corals with their handprint after they had an interactive education program with Sustainable Coastlines Hawai’i focusing on defining marine debris, how plastic affects the environment, and why it is vital to protect our ocean and our environment.

STRONG OCEANS FOR A NEW FUTURE

Location: Volcom House North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii

Collaboration with Solomon Enos, Gavin Murai, Nanea Lum, and PangeaSeed Foundation.