In February 2023, Kapolei High School welcomed Keep It Flowing, E Ola Pono Ma Kapolei staff and teachers, Hawaii Public Health Institute staff, Hawaii Partnership to Prevent Underage Drinking staff and volunteers, as well as a variety of students and volunteers to their campus to create a collaborative mural with the students. This youth and community collaborative mural was focused on key words of inspiration that the students of Kapolei High School contributed including: Caring, Dignity and Integrity. Principal Shinkawa shared that “the mural is a perfect expression of our school values. As the mural was finished last week, we already have staff and students taking pictures in awe, admiring the mural.”
Students from the school were involved in the design concepts for this mural, displayed in bright colors on benches lining the front of the West Oahu campus. Ken Nishimura, founder of Keep It Flowing, lead the students, staff and volunteers to create a successful display of art encouraging positive lifestyle choices, good mental health and teamwork that will transcend student populations for years to come.
Special mahalo to Kapolei High School Principal Wesley Shinkawa, students and staff, E Ola Pono Ma Kapolei’s Michelle Park and Lolita Takeda and staff and volunteers, Hawaii Public Health Institute’s Kevin Ramirez and volunteers, Hawaii Partnership to Prevent Underage Drinking volunteers, Nikki Mitsuyasu and Sherwin Williams, EWALution’s Shalei Aoki and volunteers, all the amazing teachers and volunteers that supported this project including Valerie Mariano and Angela Kaiwikuamoohooihou from the Office of the Attorney General, Lisa Baier from Proud to Be Pono and Greg Tjapkis from a Coalition for a Drug Free Hawaii, Kalaeoa’s Kahu “Uncle” Shad and Keep It Flowing up and coming young artist Riley K.
We sincerely enjoyed working with this team of amazing volunteers that brought this project to life quickly and efficiently! We could not have pulled it off without every single one of you…!
Mahalo, Keep It Flowing Team