Mele Murals 3rd Hilo project on HPM Building Supply wall – Photo by Kahena Productions
The Mele Murals, public art movement that perpetuates mo‘olelo and traditional mele, travels back to Hilo for another youth empowerment, cultural preservation, and community-building project in time for Merrie Monarch. Students from Ka Haka ‘Ula o Ke‘elikōlani collaborate to create a large-scale, outdoor mural that focuses on the Hawaiian lyrics (mele), mo’olelo aina (stories of place), cultural and historical heritage of Hilo.
The Estria Foundation is honored to announce the collaboration of this Mele Mural with students (haumāna) from the University of Hawaii at Hilo Hawaiian Studies Program. The Hawaiian Studies Program is one of the most innovative programs of its kind, offering a Hawaiian-based cultural continuum that perpetuates the Hawaiian culture within a Hawaiian language context.
For our friends and ohana on Oahu, we are also getting ready to launch two projects for Mele Murals in Apelila (April):
- Castle High Schoolʻs Pookela Academy – April 5th – May 6th in Kaneohe
- Blanche Pope Elementary and the Pahinui ʻOhana – April 4th – April 22nd in Waimanalo
Again, we could not do our work without you and the support from our community. To continue educating youth and sharing the stories of Mele Murals, we ask that you share this link to Donate.
Mahalo nui loa,
Estria Miyashiro
Founder / Executive Director