The “Breath Aloha Mural Tour” (BAMT) is a continuing statewide campaign promoting awareness about youth tobacco “vaping” use. Keep It Flowing’s founder & creative director, Kenneth “East 3” Nishimura, partners with 808 No Vape, a division of Hawaii Public Health Institute (HIPH) to facilitate (3) murals at local Hawai’i high schools during the Fall of 2018.
The 808 No Vape organization, within the Hawai’i Tobacco Prevention & Control Trust Fund organization, is proud to have sponsored large-scale youth collaborations at Baldwin High, Kealakehe High & Farrington High Schools full-colored awareness-focused murals within their campuses so far. These school murals are included in the first part of the mural tour, set to complete an additional 3 murals by early 2019. Organizers focus on awareness & prevention to combat the vape industry marketing & promote healthier choices for the youth & adults (both users & those considering due to peer pressure). Ultimately, they hope to reverse the disturbingly soaring trend of vape use in the Hawaiian Islands.
All murals so far have been in partnership with 808 Not Vape. Mahalo to Jessica Yamauchi, Executive Director of Hawai’i Public Health Institute, for approving this project, Scott Stensrud, Statewide Youth Coordinator for the referral from HPPUD & Kevin Ramierez, Youth ESD Prevention Project Coordinator, for all your hands’ on assistance! This project couldn’t have been successful without you!
Starting October 30th, Keep It Flowing collaborated to produce the first mural at Baldwin High School in Maui. Collaborators include students: the talented artistic contributors & the equally talented Hawaiian Club with Kumu Hulali Silva, as well as faculty & staff: thank you Diane Omura, Health & Peer Educator, Principal Katherine Kilborn & Les Vida, Head Custodian who helped organize this project.
Thank you to all the people that came together to make this beautiful display of art happen! We are proud to be able to maintain legacy relationships & partnerships in order to mitigate costs & delays in all aspects of these projects. We believe this is essential to providing the best possible outcome for everyone involved & to facilitate powerful opportunities to bridge the youth with education & resources of support, for a better, healthier (tobacco-free) tomorrow.
Mayor Alan Arakawa blessed Keep It Flowing with a signed Proclamation at the unveiling of the Baldwin High School No Vape mural, hosted by Kevin Ramierez who shared a vaping-prevention presentation. Thank you so much!
On November 5th, our creative director was off to start the next mural on Hawai’i Island with Kealakehe High School. This painting collaboration could not have happened without the pre- & post-blessing of the project by Kumu Keala Ching & her 6-year old niece, the students that all contributed their art, efforts & time, volunteer Scotty Tanihuchi; thank you for ALL your help, Principal Glenn Gray & long-time friend of Keep It Flowing, Joe Baxter.
Mayor Harry Kim blessed Keep It Flowing & Joe Baxtor with a signed Proclamation at the unveiling of the Kealakehe High School No Vape mural, hosted by Kevin Ramierez who shared a vaping-prevention presentation. Council Vice-Chair of Hawai’i County Council District 8, Karen Eoff & Council Member Maile “Medeiros” David from District 6 were also at the award & unveiling ceremony on November 16th.
The final 3rd mural of the first stint of this 808 No Vape mural tour began on November 21, at Farrington High School on O’ahu. This active collaboration between faculty & students was inspirational! Mahalo to Principal Al Carganilla, Vice Principal Lisa Joy Andres, who co-organized & painted, Jarius Peralta, National Honor Society President, Graphic Art Teacher Christine Ho, who helped design this mural, all the students & other staff!
On Monday the unveiling was coupled with a vaping prevention presentation by Kevin Ramierez. The mural blessing by Kumu ‘iliahi Doo & his Hawaiian studies class was much appreciated; thank you! Mahalo to Representative Dennis Arakaki for presenting the Certificate of Appreciation & also to Lisa Joy Andres for the mural footage.
Keep If Flowing is proud to have been awarded two Proclamations by mayors of Hawai’i & a Governor’s Certificate of Recognition of our community collaborations & service so far. Thank you so very much to all the sponsors, supporters, volunteers, students, staff… We couldn’t do it without you!
Thank again sponsors & supporters: Hawai’i Public Health Institute, 808 No Vape, Baldwin High School, Kealakehe High School, Farrington High School, Hawaiian Graphics, Montana Cans, Sherwin Williams, Lilikoi Ladies, Manini Holdings, Grand Wailea, Hilton Waikaloa, Akamai Art Supply, Kona Seaside, Kellee Kubota, Joe Baxter, Mattson Davis, Scotty Taniguchi, Kumu Hulali Silva, Kumu Keala Ching, Kumu ‘iliahi Doo & all participating students!
