Kahilu Theater
Waiamea, HI
Mele Murals launched the first mural in its series in 2014 with the lead school of Kanu o ka ‘Āina Learning Ohana in Waimea. Students from kindergarten through high school, public and private schools, participated in the creation and painting of the murals.
O‘ahu based lead artists, Estria Miyashiro and John Prime Hina, guided the students through the process. The youth were involved in every step of the mural-making process, from securing a wall, collaborating with musicians, building the theme with community leaders and cultural practitioners on how mele relates to place, design relevance and creative creation.
The haumāna learned the mo‘olelo (stories) of their community and were able to translate that knowledge into visual art through the process of meditation. “Na Pu‘u Kaulana o Waimea,” talks about all the pu‘u (hill) in Waimea, how it acts as a water catchment system, and how it provides for us. This mele was written by Aunty Emalani Case, who is from Waimea. Her purpose was to bring attention to the way we need to preserve our ‘āina and the pu‘u that sustains us with water. Without that, we wouldn’t even be here and we wouldn’t have a community.
“Hole Waimea” is a very well-known oli for our community. It talks about the Kīpu‘upu‘u, a very thick, stinging rain, which comes down at a slant angle. That rain is what replenishes our ‘āina, our community. Kīpu‘upu‘u is also the name for a group of warriors who lived in Waimea and Kohala during the reign of Kamehameha I. “Mālana” is a mele that calls all the districts together in unity. We wanted to make sure that we included everybody from our home—not only from our island, but everyone from all the other islands so that we can all come together as one.
The entire Mele Murals process was documented through photography, film, social media, and published materials. Partners involved with this project included ʻŌiwi TV and award winning documentarian Tad Nakamura. The Mele Murals Documentary film was created from this first Mele Murals project and can now be seen on Al Jazeera network. A trailer of the Mele Murals Documentary film can be seen here.
Viewer can find this mural below…
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Location
Kahilu Theater, Waimea, Hawai‘i
Date Completed
March 9, 2014
Schools Served
Kanu o ka ‘Āina Learning ‘Ohana, Waimea Elementary, Waimea Middle School, Parker School, Hawaii Pacific Academy, Pūnana Leo O Waimea
Lead Artists
Estria Miyashiro, John Prime Hina, Kanoa Castro
Cultural Practitioners, Kūpuna, Community Orgs
Kumu Pua Case, Kumu Emma Case, Kalani Flores, Diana Larose, Kumu Pomai Bertelmann, Kealiʻi Bertelmann, Chadd Paishon, Kuʻulei Keakealani and Kumu Kanoa Castro
Cultural Resources
Hawai‘i State Legislature Grant in Aid, Montana Cans and Art Alternatives
Community Partners
Kahilu Theatre, Pacific Islanders in Communication, Kamuela Ace Hardware and Crafts, na ʻohana and the community of Waimea
We Need Your Help
Your tax deductible Annual Membership provides much needed support for arts education in Hawaiʻi.
Help purchasing much needed supplies for our wall murals.
Assist in funding cultural advisers for our youth workshops.
Help stage events surrounding our public mural unveilings.
We Need Your Help
Your tax deductible Annual Membership provides much needed support for arts education in Hawaiʻi.
Help purchasing much needed supplies for our wall murals.
Assist in funding cultural advisers for our youth workshops.
Help stage events surrounding our public mural unveilings.