Hanapepe mural celebrates olelo Hawaii

The mural is finally complete.

“This is a wall for the Kauai community,” said Cynthia Dazzi, manager of the Restore facility at the Kauai Habitat for Humanity, housed in the Hanapepe building that now offers a work of art facing Kaumualii Highway. “This took a long time to complete, and is a gift to the community, a gift to the people.”

The project is the final mural in a 10-mural series under Ke Kanakolu project, an innovative arts-education program created in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of Ke Kula Kaiapuni Hawaii, the Department of Education’s Hawaiian Language Immersion Program.

Under the auspices of the Kamehameha Schools Living Legacy Series, and in collaboration with the Kamehameha Schools Innovations Team, Ke Kanakolu sought participation of the 21 kula kaiapuni Hawaiian immersion schools, and kula hoamana, or charter schools, across the state in creating the 10 culturally significant art murals.

Ke Kanakolu celebrates the moolelo of Kalapana, as written by Moses Nakuina and serialized in Hawaiian language newspapers in 1902, according to a report in the March edition of Ka Waiola, or the Living Water of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Kauai Habitat for Humanity is not involved in the project, said Milani Pimental, deputy director.

“This is not our building,” she said. “We lease this place and the mural was arranged through the landowners. We just happen to be the current tenants, and did our part to help the team. We provided them with access to the bathrooms, some supplies, and help in making sure everyone was safe during the process. That is the extent of our involvement.”

John “Prime” Hina, a co-founder of 808Urban, of Oahu’s Ewa Beach, is the lead for the 10-mural series.

Originally scheduled for May, the project only recently was finished.

“We’re not done yet,” Hina said by telephone. “We’re putting together the story, and the title comes after that is completed. There are so many stories from the community, and once we pull everything together, we’ll be back to install the storyboard and information on the mural.”

Hawaiian salt derived from the salt pans at Salt Pond park is only one facet of the mural that individualizes it to Kauai, and the community that put its manao into creating the piece that celebrates the life of olelo Hawaii.

“Hands are the connectors,” Hina said. “When the hand, a carrier of energy, is put into the paint, the person’s DNA is inoculated into the paint and when the handprint is made, the manao is put into the piece.”

Hina said there is more to the mana lima which makes the piece Kauai.

“One of the definitions of Kauai is ‘abundance of food,’” he said. “Another is ‘to sit on the neck.’ This can be seen in the father and child showing the unique relationship between Kauai and Niihau. The connection is seen in the flowing lei of momi and kahelelani shells.”

Hina said they collected water from the rains in Kalaheo and Wailua as a part of the mana lima.

“We diluted the paint with this fresh water from Kauai,” Hina said. “Malia Nobrega gave us some salt, and we used that in the paint to create the blues and oranges. This mural is made of the DNA of the community and place.”

Dazzi said it was thrilling to watch the project take place — from the first handprints to its final splendor.

“I’m thrilled they even put my name on the nameplate,” Dazzi said. “It was absolutely amazing to watch and feel the history of Kauai come alive. This is so profound, and I’m blessed to come to work under it.”

Hina said once the story and explanatory material is completed, he will return to have everything installed near the mural.

“There are so many stories on Kauai,” Hina said. “I want to do more murals in other places.”