Todd “Estria” Johnson has been spray painting for over 30 years, and is recognized around the world as an urban art living legend. As a pioneer in an arts movement that is arguably more influential than the classical renaissance, he is acknowledged as a valued historian, and a community leader who has helped to awaken the social and political consciousness of graffiti writing art.

Originally from Honolulu, Estria was active in the San Francisco Bay Area in the 1980’s during the “Golden Age Of Graffiti.” His graffiti art background has led him to produce innovative projects as an educator, entrepreneur, and social activist. From the city streets, to executive suites, Estria has worked with numerous non-profit organizations (Precita Eyes Mural Arts Center in San Francisco & Eastside Arts Alliance in Oakland), as well as high profile corporations. In 2007, he co-founded the “Estria Battle,” a nationwide urban art competition that honors and advances creativity in the Hip Hop arts. In 2010, he co-founded the Estria Foundation.

‘Alohilani was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaiʻi. After graduating from Ke Kula Kaiapuni ʻo Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu, she went on to pursue higher education and later graduated from Brigham Young University Hawai’i in 2021 with a Bachelor’s in Hawaiian studies and minored in education and entrepreneurship. While at the university she also studied art, worked and became manager in a resin art studio in Honolulu under a well known artist, Sarah Caudle. She took what she learned from Sarah and followed her passion for entrepreneurship and started ‘Alohi Creations, a jewelry company. Soon after graduating, she began working for Mele Murals where she gets to pursue her passion of teaching keiki and her love of cultural art. She is devoted to the revitalization of the Hawaiian language and culture. “He ‘a’ali’i kū makani mai au; ʻaʻohe makani nāna e kūlaʻi”.

Kayla graduated from Seattle Pacific University in 2019 with a Bachelor’s degree in International Business. Since then, Kayla has gathered administrative experience by working in education. She is originally from Waimea on the Big Island of Hawaii where she participated in the first Mele Murals with her school Kanu o ka ʻĀina. From this, Kayla found a deep connection with the program and has been working with us for years in many different capacities from volunteering, to college internship, and now as an administrator assistant. Currently, Kayla plays an important role in the inner workings of the organization, and continues to develop her long lasting relationship with the program.