ANAHOLA — Painting ends at 4 p.m. today at the Anahola Clubhouse, said Ku‘uleialoha Punua-Johnson. “Starting at 5 p.m., we have a kids art project, dinner at 6 p.m. and the movie when the sun goes down, usually about 7,
ANAHOLA — Painting ends at 4 p.m. today at the Anahola Clubhouse, said Ku‘uleialoha Punua-Johnson.
“Starting at 5 p.m., we have a kids art project, dinner at 6 p.m. and the movie when the sun goes down, usually about 7, or 7:30 p.m.,” Punua-Johnson said.
Carla Hart, a board member of Kukulu Kumuhana O Anahola, said the movie night is a perfect opportunity for the community to come and see the progress of the Moving Mural project which launched earlier this week.
Painting on the Mural usually runs from noon until 5 p.m., Hart said. But the ending time today is pushed to 4 p.m. because of the free movie night which the foundation has been hosting on the last Sunday of each month for about three years.
“The movie night is like the old-fashioned drive-ins,” Punua-Johnson said. “People drive up in their trucks, unpack and share with other people.”
Hart said the movie night has grown to attract about 100 to 150 people on each showing.
This is part of the fabric of the foundation, an organization which was started a few years ago to help strengthen families and community in an effort to reduce the number of suicides on the island.
Working through a beach cleanup program which lasted almost a year, Manulele, describing herself as an “Anahola girl,” said the community reclaimed the popular Anahola Beach.
The Moving Mural project was born during this process, Hart giving credit to Mary Nakamura for the inspiration.
“Mary had this vision,” Hart said. “People were talking for more than 10 months and we finally got the permission from the County of Kaua‘i to start work on the mural.”
Hart said part of the condition for granting permission was organizers would keep an eye on the mural and if any graffiti took place, organizers would clean it up within a day.
Hart said the theme of the overall mural which encompasses the Anahola Clubhouse walls from ceiling to floor, is the circle of life depicting the inter-relationships between the different elements of nature, such as the rain which falls from the sky and forms the rivers leading to the sea.
The mural starts with the mountains of Kalalea located at the entrance to the clubhouse, trapping the rainclouds which form the river leading to the ocean, along the way, demonstrating the co-existence of all life forms in harmony.
“We’ve got six artists who have donated their time, supplies and expertise,” Hart said. “Additionally, more people have donated items and the Anne Knudsen Sinclair Foundation has provided the painting materials.”
Hart said starting Monday when school starts, children are invited to come and paint after school ends, the usual painting hours being from noon to 5 p.m.
Permission slips are available for parents to sign at the clubhouse when painters are working, she said.
Hart said a dedication for the mural will coincide with the foundation’s next movie night, Aug. 28, starting at 5 p.m.
Visit kkoafoundation.org for more information.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
