HPA mural artists and Estria Foundation staff
Three key stories of Waimea were revealed on Sept 28th with the unveiling of a mural, spanning the makai exterior wall of the Waimea Community Center. With ti leaf and water from nearby Kohakohau, stream in hand, Kahu Danny Akaka, assisted by wife Anna, performed the blessing, buffeted by the ubiquitous Waimea uhi wai rain.
This was followed by a chant and a gourd offering from Kumu Kuwalu Anakalea. “This gourd was grown right here at the HPA Village Campus and the water inside it is from Kohakohau, Manaua's (water spirit) river. And then you have the pa'akai (sea salt). Kane is the sun and Kanaloa the ocean water and they combine to create evaporation and the pa'akai. With this we're asking for all the stories to become firm and solid inside of us,” explained Anakalea.
The result of over a year’s collaboration between HPA high school students and Mele Murals, the flagship program of The Estria Foundation (TEF), a non-profit co-founded by mural artist Estria Miyashiro, whose vision is to work with students to foster the creation of public art that explores and perpetuates the cultural stories of Hawaii’s communities.
The process begins with the formation of a mural club, whose members are responsible for some of the funding and are integral to the process from start to finish. Guided by foundation staff and community cultural practitioners, club members go through a process of researching the history and stories, exploring and visioning and creating a template for the stories they will tell through art.
The preparation process for this mural began with a hike to the top of Pu'u Hoku'ula, where Kumu Ku'ulei Keakealani shared the stories of the three significant pu'u that keep vigil over Waimea town. The title for the mural, Pali Kapu o nā li'i o Waimea refers to the collective name of the Waimea hills and is translated as the sacred hillsides of the ali'i of Waimea.
This was followed by a chant and a gourd offering from Kumu Kuwalu Anakalea. “This gourd was grown right here at the HPA Village Campus and the water inside it is from Kohakohau, Manaua's (water spirit) river. And then you have the pa'akai (sea salt). Kane is the sun and Kanaloa the ocean water and they combine to create evaporation and the pa'akai. With this we're asking for all the stories to become firm and solid inside of us,” explained Anakalea.
The result of over a year’s collaboration between HPA high school students and Mele Murals, the flagship program of The Estria Foundation (TEF), a non-profit co-founded by mural artist Estria Miyashiro, whose vision is to work with students to foster the creation of public art that explores and perpetuates the cultural stories of Hawaii’s communities.
The process begins with the formation of a mural club, whose members are responsible for some of the funding and are integral to the process from start to finish. Guided by foundation staff and community cultural practitioners, club members go through a process of researching the history and stories, exploring and visioning and creating a template for the stories they will tell through art.
The preparation process for this mural began with a hike to the top of Pu'u Hoku'ula, where Kumu Ku'ulei Keakealani shared the stories of the three significant pu'u that keep vigil over Waimea town. The title for the mural, Pali Kapu o nā li'i o Waimea refers to the collective name of the Waimea hills and is translated as the sacred hillsides of the ali'i of Waimea.
Kumu Keakealani flanked by Katie Benioni and Katie's mom, Barbara Robertson, whose mom was the source of the stories. Photo by Nancy Erger
After the blessings there was a gathering of gratitude to acknowledge the many community contributions and to interpret the mural.
“On the first day we hiked up Hoku'ula and got to do some meditation and hear some mo'olelo (stories), which inspired our mural. I learned a lot about my place and I made a lot of deep connections through this,” reflected Michi Wong.
Those connections are reflected in the three mural sections. Kawehi Cabuzel explained the plover depicted in the left-hand panel.
“In the olden days people would go up into these mountains and “fish” for them, which is called lawaia manu. It was tradition to gather feathers for the capes of the ali'i and also the head pieces. The bird represents patience and stillness because the people had to wait patiently for the birds to come and had to sit still in the tall grass.”
The joyful face of the goddess Wao beams out from the middle section. “The face represents a Hawaiian goddess Wao, who lives among the hills. During meditation a lot of us kept seeing her face and her hair flowing into the water. She's known for being super happy and connected to the nature around her,” shared HPA student Naia Ayau.
Keakealani adds: “Her eyes are peering upward. There's a god, who becomes her husband, Makuakuamana. When I look at that I see her looking up as her husband is coming down to meet her and propose. Knowing the story and seeing the wall, here is another way the story lives on.”
“On the first day we hiked up Hoku'ula and got to do some meditation and hear some mo'olelo (stories), which inspired our mural. I learned a lot about my place and I made a lot of deep connections through this,” reflected Michi Wong.
Those connections are reflected in the three mural sections. Kawehi Cabuzel explained the plover depicted in the left-hand panel.
“In the olden days people would go up into these mountains and “fish” for them, which is called lawaia manu. It was tradition to gather feathers for the capes of the ali'i and also the head pieces. The bird represents patience and stillness because the people had to wait patiently for the birds to come and had to sit still in the tall grass.”
The joyful face of the goddess Wao beams out from the middle section. “The face represents a Hawaiian goddess Wao, who lives among the hills. During meditation a lot of us kept seeing her face and her hair flowing into the water. She's known for being super happy and connected to the nature around her,” shared HPA student Naia Ayau.
Keakealani adds: “Her eyes are peering upward. There's a god, who becomes her husband, Makuakuamana. When I look at that I see her looking up as her husband is coming down to meet her and propose. Knowing the story and seeing the wall, here is another way the story lives on.”
Kumu Kawalu with HPA mural artists
Other important stories originate with Mana'ua, a guardian spirit and shape shifter depicted in the far right-hand section.
“There’s a story of three lawaia manu who go to Anna's pond after fishing for birds. They asked her permission by putting a ti leaf in the water and if it floats, you have permission to go in, but if it doesn’t float you’re forbidden from entering. It floated and they went in, but then one of them disappeared. During meditation we kept seeing these big lizard eyes coming up out of the water,” related Natalie Klett.
The mural’s stories are now part of our visual landscape and are alive in the hearts and minds of the students who worked so hard to complete it and will continue to perpetuate the tales of Waimea. “We're getting older and you will have to mālama this place after us and pass these stories on,” concluded Miyashiro.
“There’s a story of three lawaia manu who go to Anna's pond after fishing for birds. They asked her permission by putting a ti leaf in the water and if it floats, you have permission to go in, but if it doesn’t float you’re forbidden from entering. It floated and they went in, but then one of them disappeared. During meditation we kept seeing these big lizard eyes coming up out of the water,” related Natalie Klett.
The mural’s stories are now part of our visual landscape and are alive in the hearts and minds of the students who worked so hard to complete it and will continue to perpetuate the tales of Waimea. “We're getting older and you will have to mālama this place after us and pass these stories on,” concluded Miyashiro.
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