Hawaiʻi ʻImi Loa – Mele Murals at UH Hilo

The second Mele Murals project at the University of Hawai’i at Hilo was unveiled at the Hale ʻIkena residence hall on July 15.

The latest Mele Mural in Hilo is the first in the state to have 11 walls incorporated into a single mural project. It was completed in eight days led by haumāna (students) of the Kupa ʻĀina Summer Bridge Program (assisting recent Hawai’i Island high school graduates entering UH Hilo this fall) with kokua from Ka Huliau (assisting students transferring from community colleges into UH Hilo), and Nā Pua Noʻeau summer programs at UH Hilo.

The Kupa ʻĀina Summer Bridge Program was created under a partnership between Kamehameha Schools’ Extension Education Services Division and the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo.

The mural content, like previous murals, was inspired by the moʻolelo and mele of Hilo. Students were taken on huakaʻi (excursions) to Waiānuenue and Peʻepeʻe to find their source of inspiration.

This UH Hilo project was sponsored by the Office of the Chancellor, the Ho‘okahua Project, Kīpuka Native Hawaiian Student Center, University Housing, and the Estria Foundation.

In March, The Estria Foundation completed its first Mele Mural at the UH Hilo at the Hale Kauanoe residence hall.  The Core Hui of students who led the first Mele Mural project also assisted with this second project.

Click here for more information on this Mele Murals project with Kamehameha Schools and the Kupa ʻĀina Summer Bridge Program.