The “Breath Aloha Mural Tour” (BAMT) is a continuing statewide campaign promoting awareness about youth tobacco “vaping” use. Keep It Flowing’s founder and 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 Spring of 2019.
The 808 No Vape organization, within the Hawai’i Tobacco Prevention & Control Trust Fund organization, is proud to have already sponsored large-scale youth collaborations at Baldwin High, Kealakehe High and Farrington High Schools in Fall 2018. This year, they united again to bring full-colored awareness-focused murals within the campuses of Nanakuli Intermediate and High School, Kapa’a High School and Hilo High School for the Spring 2019 Tour. These school murals are included in the second part of the mural tour, set to complete an additional 3 murals by late 2019. Organizers focus on awareness and prevention to combat the vape industry marketing and promote healthier choices for the youth and adults (both users and 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 and Kevin Ramirez, Youth ESD Prevention Project Coordinator, for all your efforts. We also appreciate our legacy sponsors: Olena Hue with Lilikoi Ladies, Kaua’i Marriott Resorts, Sherwin Williams and Hawaiian Graphics.
Starting in February 2019, Keep It Flowing collaborated to produce the mural at Nānākuli Intermediate and High School. Thank you to all our collaborators! Principal Darin Pilialoha, Lorna Mandac, Randal Shiroma, Uncle Bobby, Kellee Kubota and even Andria Tupola contributed to this amazing project. We would like to say “Thank You” to all the people that came together to make this art installment with the youth come together! We are proud to be able to maintain legacy relationships and partnerships in order to mitigate costs and 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 and resources of support, for a better, healthier (tobacco-free) tomorrow.
Immediately after the Nānākuli collaboration was complete, our Creative Director flew to Kapa’a, Kaua’i, where he was joined by Director of Development, Laycie “Love” Williams and lead artist Trysen “TKay2” Kaneshige. Our team was excited to work with up and coming young artist: Victoria Aiu, as well as KONG Radio’s Chantal and the newly elected Mayor Derek Kawakami himself! Adding to the talent, Nicole Kealoha of Diverse Arts lead students on a 2-wall collaboration at Kapa’a High School.
This second mural in the Breath Aloha Spring 2019 was a special project in Keep It Flowing portfolio, as we witnessed an inspirational fresh local talent work together to create a masterpiece of ocean-themed anti-vaping awareness. Young Kaua’i artist Victoria Aiu made her debut and did not cease to impress. Nicole and Chantal facilitated youth coaching in a fun fashion that the Keep It Flowing team might have to plan for more of! Mayor Kawakami enjoyed spray-painting in between meetings and blessed locally-born and raised: Tkay2 with a signed Proclamation from County of Kaua’i! Our creative director proudly received the Proclamation on behalf of the Keep It Flowing team.
Special mahalo to our legacy sponsor: Kaua’i Marriott Resort at Kalapaki and Chuck Brady in Human Resources, Nicole “Nikki” Kealoha from Diverse Arts 501(c)3, Garden Isle Newspaper, KONG Radio (THANK YOU CHANTAL!), Principal Hamada, Craig Kaneshige, Nancy Borilez and Kapa’a High School staff and students. We loved the affirmations!
The final 3rd mural of the Spring 2019 808 No Vape Mural Tour began the day of the Kapa’a High School mural unveiling, so our creative director flew quickly over to Hilo High School to begin preparations.
Hilo High School’s mural design was a fusing of (2) of (4) Breath Aloha designs to create a unique rendition. Surprisingly, it was the youth of the school that requested local Ti / Ki leaves and Lehua O’hia flowers to be painted in the foreground. This full-color piece was a showcase that the keiki and faculty alike were proud to be a part of! The Big Island of Hawai’i shared their new talent with young artists: Danielle Ann Burnside and Benjamin Casperson. We enjoyed working with our Future leaders!
Special MAHALO to everyone that assisted during the cold and wet weather for this mural collaboration! We appreciate Principal Robert Dircks and Vice Principal Jason Trimble for all your contributions. Thank you to Grand Naniloa Hilo & Director of Sales and Marketing: Shannon Seider, Kona Town Brand’s Kamuela Plunkett and Akamai Art Supplies in Kona for your sponsorship! We also appreciate Jason Frasco for presenting as a youth speaker at Hilo High School.
Thank again sponsors and supporters: Hawai’i Public Health Institute, 808 No Vape, Nanakuli Intermediate and High School, Kapa’a High School, Hilo High School, Hawaiian Graphics, Montana Cans, Sherwin Williams, Lilikoi Ladies, Akamai Art Supply and all participating volunteers, sponsors, organizers, staff, community and always: STUDENTS!
