Giving Back
Art is more than a career to me, it is who I am and I am someone who believes in giving back to our community, serving our 'aina, and sharing the beauty and healing of art to connect with as many people as I can. Here are some of the community projects I have been a part of.
Hawaiian Goddess Hi'iakaikapopele Mural for Home Aid Hawai'i
This mural is a depiction of Hawaiian Goddess Hi'akaikapopele, surrounded by pili grass, Lehua, and an owl. The Mo'olelo from this area told of Hi'aka journeying through Oahu encountering strangers and extending her kindness to them. The native Hawaiians offered up what they could to her, not knowing who she was or expecting anything in return. Due to harsh, dry conditions, often all they had to give to Hi'aka was the Pili grass and Lehua which thrive in those conditions. This project by Home Aid Hawai'i, who aims to end houselessness for veterans and civilians in Kalaeloa.
The Empress Mural
The Empress Mural has been featured in Kaimuki since the year 2000. The mural is of a female dragon with hand painted tiles to show that she is guarding her castle, a symbol of protection over Kaimuki. Many members of the community grew up with this mural, resonate with this mural, and were really hurt, some even crying when they saw their favorite mural had been vandalized and graffitied over.
Malama Pu'uloa
Malama Pu`uloa is the primary program of Hui o Ho`ohonua.
Hui o Ho`ohonua (HOH) is a 501 (c)3 non-profit created by members of the `Ewa community. They are best described as a community stewardship networking organization.
Since 2016, they have been engaging community members and school groups to participate in service learning work days at Pouhala Marsh, Lehua cpmmunity park, and at Kapapapuhi Point Park. Through the Mālama Pu`uloa program, they have engaged over 6000 volunteers and brought almost $2 million dollars of funding for their work. They are empowering and connecting groups of all ages in our community to create positive change - seeking to cultivate a strong sense of stewardship, pride and kuleana.
