The Makakilo Elementary Mural Collaboration Project themed “Dream Believe Achieve,” based on the school’s motto, was co-organized by The Department of the Attorney General’s Office, Makakilo Elementary Administration, E Ola Pono Ma Kapolei & Keep It Flowing’s (KIF) Team. The goal was to develop a large-scale collaborative mural with the youth to facilitate awareness on drug prevention & encourage positive life choices. The mural serves as a beautification & public art piece to inspire & rejuvenate the area of District (1) on the island of O’ahu. The project started in the fall of 2017 with visits to Makakilo Elementary to develop the mural theme, review possible locations & structure a curriculum to educate the 3rd graders with support from Honolulu Police Department. Principal Dennis Fujimori suggested incorporating the school’s motto of “Believe Dream Achieve” as the primary focus of the mural, to which the KIF Team wholeheartedly accepted, then suggested pairing that theme with the natural setting that was inspired by the neighboring coastline & mountain range prior to human development of the area.
Prior to the painting of the 12 feet high, 50 feet wide mural, the entire 3rd grade student body attended an HPD & Department of the Attorney General presentation on drug-prevention, underage drinking & how to make healthy life choices. KIF team engaged with the youth during the meeting to announce our plans of painting a mural at their school and announced that they would all be participating. The youth were very excited!
This entire project’s infrastructure required months of planning & long-hours on site to provide this great community building opportunity & to produce such a large-scale awareness mural totaling over 7200 square feet. The Keep It Flowing team could not have accomplished this goal without the numerous volunteers that helped paint for hours each day, provide food & drinks, as well as moral support!
All students pledged to make the right decisions & remain drug-free! The Keep It Flowing team provided a worksheet to each student requesting that they come up with a word of affirmation to be written into the naupaka leaves lining the bottom & right sides of the mural. Not only did all of them generate their own creative inspirational words & quotes, we counted six different languages & an additional 55+ contributions from faculty, other students, collaborators & family!
During the painting sessions, the students went two at a time to paint their words, guided by Adults Friends for Youth. The students standing by “talked story” in a “campfire” circle with Valerie Mariano from the Department of the Attorney General, Principal Fujimori, high school students from the Adult Friends for Youth Program & other faculty to discuss issues they are individually facing & how to best navigate difficult situations like bullying, saying “no” to drugs & how tobacco & vaping use can be avoided.
Because students were encouraged to contribute to the mural by adding their own personal quotes & expressing their individual voice, we witnessed a strong sense of pride & ownership in this campus & community beautification project, especially after completion & at the unveiling ceremony. It was what happened behind the scenes where we all truly realized the importance of ensuring such opportunities are available to our keiki.
On March 12, 2018 this large-scale picturesque mural collaboration was unveiled to an amazing crowd of almost 700 students, educators, community supporters, special guests & organizers! The artwork was welcomed with a traditional Hawaiian blessing Mele written & performed by Makua Anna & conch shell blowing by Makakilo Elementary’s own former Hawaiian musician: James. Speeches by Makakilo Elementary’s Principal: Todd Fujimoto, the Department of the Attorney General’s Valerie Mariano & Keep It Flowing’s Director of Development: Laycie “Love” Williams encouraged students & supporters to be proud of the project & their community as well as reminded everyone of how positive choices that start at home, with family & school; can really make a difference. The entire student body of Makakilo Elementary pledged to remain drug-free!
Many of the students & supporters suggested that while the visual effect of the mural is powerful, reading the individual quotes & notes from students & staff are what’s making a lasting impact. A special MAHALO goes to: Valerie Mariano; the Department of the Attorney General, Principal Todd Fujimoto, Makakilo Administration & Staff, Michelle Park & the entire E Ola Pono Ma Kapolei crew, all the amazing volunteers that dedicated those long hours to painting, taping & managing all aspects of the project, including EWAlution, former Miss Diamond Head Letty Fierro & Jen from the Department of the Attorney General’s Office & their families, the Adult Friends for Youth staff & students, Officer Sumner & the rest of the Honolulu Police Department, Weed & Seed Hawaii, Makua Anna, Olena Hue, Akira Wood, Alia Murray, Kellee Kubota, Clark Cuadro, Kapolei Realty, Simply Elegant Hawaii, Hampton Inn Kapolei, Hawaiian Graphics, EmbroidMe Hawaii, Sherwin Williams Hawaii, Montana Cans & last but certainly not least; all the KEIKI that participated & shared their voice!
http://www.hawaiimomblog.com/2018/03/community-mural-project-launches-in.html
