HANAU KA 'AINA, HANAU KE ALI'I, HANAU KE KANAKA

Location: Kahului, Maui, HI
Client: Maui Public Art Corps
Collaborators: Thinh Nguyen
Media write up: Click here

The title of the mural is taken from an Hawaiian proverb, which translates as "Born was the land, born were the chiefs, born were the common people."  The mural was developed through a collaborative process that included community and cultural consultants over the course of several months. Their guidance helped shape a composition that weaves together elements of land, sea and culture, honoring Kahului’s stories, native flora and fauna, and the historic Kanaha fishponds. Wave-like forms evoke interconnectedness, while references to the ‘iwa bird, ‘ama‘ama fish, and pohuehue and naupaka kahakai flowers reflect the richness of the environment. Hula hand gestures representing kuahiwi (mountain), ʻaina (land/earth), and pua (flower) float across the mural, symbolizing the ways in which people connect with place through movement, memory and tradition. Reflecting public input that called for art preserving local history and
environment, this work is a collective expression of identity that invites viewers to see themselves as part of an ongoing story rooted in place.