Oceans of Reflection

Community Mural Project

What is a Community Mural? | Our Inspiration | Our Advisors

The Community Mural Project, rooted in the ʻUlu Disaster Response Series (‘Ulu DRS), recognizes that disasters are not limited to external events like typhoons or pandemics, but also include internal disruptions to one’s body and spirit. For Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, including Micronesians in Hawai‘i, these disruptions often stem from the loss of land connection and cultural practices, compounded by discrimination and prejudice. This void can drive a need for connection, sometimes leading to substance use as a coping mechanism. 

“Oceans of Reflection” harnesses the power of art as a public health tool to empower communities to see themselves as an integral part of Hawai‘i’s history, culture, and greatness. Historically, Hawaii and Micronesia have been culturally connected long before Hawaii became a state, sharing a deep bond across the same ocean. By convening Micronesian community elders and Micronesian artists for culturally-centered storytelling and mural creation, the project bridges the stories of Micronesia and Hawai‘i, showcasing the shared resilience and strength of Moanauiākea (Oceania). This mural not only fosters a sense of belonging and unity among Micronesians but also allows the people of Hawai‘i to recognize their cultural parallels. Through this visual narrative, we aim to process feelings of unsafety, foster connections, and avert substance misuse by drawing on the inherent energies of our shared oceanic heritage.

What is a Community Mural?

CHARACTERISTICS
A community mural is more than just a painting; it is a collaborative project that embodies the collective stories, experiences, and aspirations of the community. It involves gathering community feedback, engaging with multiple stakeholders, and running educational arts activities with elders and youth alike. The process, which is thoroughly documented, transforms individual and collective trauma into a vision of resilience and healing. This high-impact community engagement project focuses on health equity, mental health, and social determinants of health.

PURPOSE OF TRAVELING WITH A COMMUNITY MURAL
Traveling with a community mural serves to extend its impact beyond the initial creation site, allowing diverse communities to engage with and reflect on its messages. By moving the mural to different locations, it fosters dialogue and understanding across various groups, highlighting shared cultural narratives and health challenges. This mobility ensures that the mural’s themes of resilience and healing reach a broader audience, reinforcing the notion that the mural is a small part of a larger Community Mural Project. The project’s scope goes beyond painting, integrating public health initiatives and social determinants of health.

OUTCOMES OF TRAVELING WITH A COMMUNITY MURAL 
The outcomes of traveling with a community mural include enhanced community cohesion and increased awareness of health equity issues. As the mural moves, it facilitates community engagement, allowing individuals to process grief and trauma collectively. This process promotes mental, physical, and behavioral health, as community members see their struggles and resilience reflected in the artwork. Additionally, the traveling mural fosters cultural exchange, helping both Micronesians and Hawaiians recognize their shared heritage and reinforcing their connections. Ultimately, it serves as a conduit for healing and resilience, embodying the mission and vision of the Māpuna lab.

What is a Community Mural?

CHARACTERISTICS
A community mural is more than just a painting; it is a collaborative project that embodies the collective stories, experiences, and aspirations of the community. It involves gathering community feedback, engaging with multiple stakeholders, and running educational arts activities with elders and youth alike. The process, which is thoroughly documented, transforms individual and collective trauma into a vision of resilience and healing. This high-impact community engagement project focuses on health equity, mental health, and social determinants of health.

PURPOSE OF TRAVELING WITH A COMMUNITY MURAL
Traveling with a community mural serves to extend its impact beyond the initial creation site, allowing diverse communities to engage with and reflect on its messages. By moving the mural to different locations, it fosters dialogue and understanding across various groups, highlighting shared cultural narratives and health challenges. This mobility ensures that the mural’s themes of resilience and healing reach a broader audience, reinforcing the notion that the mural is a small part of a larger Community Mural Project. The project’s scope goes beyond painting, integrating public health initiatives and social determinants of health.

OUTCOMES OF TRAVELING WITH A COMMUNITY MURAL 
The outcomes of traveling with a community mural include enhanced community cohesion and increased awareness of health equity issues. As the mural moves, it facilitates community engagement, allowing individuals to process grief and trauma collectively. This process promotes mental, physical, and behavioral health, as community members see their struggles and resilience reflected in the artwork. Additionally, the traveling mural fosters cultural exchange, helping both Micronesians and Hawaiians recognize their shared heritage and reinforcing their connections. Ultimately, it serves as a conduit for healing and resilience, embodying the mission and vision of the Māpuna lab.

What is a Community Mural?

CHARACTERISTICS

A community mural is more than just a painting; it is a collaborative project that embodies the collective stories, experiences, and aspirations of the community. It involves gathering community feedback, engaging with multiple stakeholders, and running educational arts activities with elders and youth alike. The process, which is thoroughly documented, transforms individual and collective trauma into a vision of resilience and healing. This high-impact community engagement project focuses on health equity, mental health, and social determinants of health.

PURPOSE OF TRAVELING WITH A COMMUNITY MURAL

Traveling with a community mural serves to extend its impact beyond the initial creation site, allowing diverse communities to engage with and reflect on its messages. By moving the mural to different locations, it fosters dialogue and understanding across various groups, highlighting shared cultural narratives and health challenges. This mobility ensures that the mural’s themes of resilience and healing reach a broader audience, reinforcing the notion that the mural is a small part of a larger Community Mural Project. The project’s scope goes beyond painting, integrating public health initiatives and social determinants of health.

OUTCOMES OF TRAVELING WITH A COMMUNITY MURAL

The outcomes of traveling with a community mural include enhanced community cohesion and increased awareness of health equity issues. As the mural moves, it facilitates community engagement, allowing individuals to process grief and trauma collectively. This process promotes mental, physical, and behavioral health, as community members see their struggles and resilience reflected in the artwork. Additionally, the traveling mural fosters cultural exchange, helping both Micronesians and Hawaiians recognize their shared heritage and reinforcing their connections. Ultimately, it serves as a conduit for healing and resilience, embodying the mission and vision of the Māpuna lab. various groups, highlighting shared cultural narratives and health challenges. This mobility ensures that the mural’s themes of resilience and healing reach a broader audience, reinforcing the notion that the mural is a small part of a larger Community Mural Project. The project’s scope goes beyond painting, integrating public health initiatives and social determinants of health.

Our Inspiration

On Sep 8, 2013: Five days in August at Camp Mokuleʻia, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi. Six artists, several alakaʻi, family and kokua, gather for a spiritual ceremony in Art. A healing ceremony. A celebration of culture, heritage and our future. Who are we? We are Hawaiian. We are alive. And we are still here.

Kuʻu ʻĀina Aloha Mural Project (2013)

“Beloved Land, Beloved Country”

The “Oceans of Reflection” process draws profound inspiration from the mural “Kuʻu ʻĀina Aloha: Beloved Land, Beloved Country,” completed in 2013. Central to this project is the cultural safety fostered by engaging with the life force within humanitarian relationships to imagery, prayer, and each other. Artist and aunty Meleanna Meyer highlights a particular kiʻi – a picture or retrieval device – from the mural, illustrating the spiritual tools needed to prepare for natural disasters. Meleanna Meyer’s role in facilitating “Oceans of Reflection” is vital, as she brings these concepts to life, accompanied by pule (prayer), linking participants to the necessary spiritual tools for healing. The Māpuna Lab expresses deep gratitude to Meleanna Meyer, Al Lagunero, Harinani Orme, Kahi Ching, Carl F.K. Pao, and Solomon Enos for their contributions to the medicine of this work, which continues to guide and inspire the new mural project.he medicine of this work.

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Our Inspiration

On Sep 8, 2013: Five days in August at Camp Mokuleʻia, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi. Six artists, several alakaʻi, family and kokua, gather for a spiritual ceremony in Art. A healing ceremony. A celebration of culture, heritage and our future. Who are we? We are Hawaiian. We are alive. And we are still here.

Kuʻu ʻĀina Aloha Mural Project (2013)

“Beloved Land, Beloved Country”

The “Oceans of Reflection” process draws profound inspiration from the mural “Kuʻu ʻĀina Aloha: Beloved Land, Beloved Country,” completed in 2013. Central to this project is the cultural safety fostered by engaging with the life force within humanitarian relationships to imagery, prayer, and each other. Artist and aunty Meleanna Meyer highlights a particular kiʻi – a picture or retrieval device – from the mural, illustrating the spiritual tools needed to prepare for natural disasters. Meleanna Meyer’s role in facilitating “Oceans of Reflection” is vital, as she brings these concepts to life, accompanied by pule (prayer), linking participants to the necessary spiritual tools for healing. The Māpuna Lab expresses deep gratitude to Meleanna Meyer, Al Lagunero, Harinani Orme, Kahi Ching, Carl F.K. Pao, and Solomon Enos for their contributions to the medicine of this work, which continues to guide and inspire the new mural project.he medicine of this work.

View Article
View Mural Key
Learn More

Our Advisors

Innocenta (Mama Inno) Sound-Kikku

Innocenta Sound-Kikku is a dedicated advocate for the Micronesian community in Hawai‘i, bringing her extensive experience in community engagement and public health to the advisory board. Her work focuses on addressing health disparities and promoting cultural understanding through initiatives that empower and uplift Micronesian voices.

Photo credit: the Māpuna Lab

Meleanna Meyers

Meleanna Meyer is a renowned Native Hawaiian artist and cultural practitioner whose mural “Kuʻu ʻĀina Aloha: Beloved Land, Beloved Country” inspired the Community Mural Project. With a deep commitment to cultural storytelling and community healing, Meleanna’s mentorship and artistic vision guide the project’s emphasis on resilience and health equity.

Paul (Tamana Polly) Otoko

Paul Otoko is a respected Chuukese-Nukuoran pastor and community leader with a strong background in cultural preservation and advocacy. His efforts in promoting the well-being and cultural identity of the Micronesian community in Hawai‘i are invaluable to the mural project, ensuring that it resonates deeply with its intended audience.

Photo credit: Kuʻulei Kanahele

Kuʻulei Kanahele

Ku‘ulei Kanahele, a kanaka maoli practitioner and culture bearer from the ʻili ʻāina of Panaewa on the island of Hawaiʻi, brings her knowledge of traditional practices and community health to the advisory board. Her work in integrating cultural values with public health initiatives helps shape the mural project’s focus on healing and resilience, reinforcing connections between the Native Hawaiian and Micronesian communities.

Our Advisors

Photo credit: the Māpuna Lab

Innocenta (Mama Inno) Sound-Kikku

Innocenta Sound-Kikku is a dedicated advocate for the Micronesian community in Hawai‘i, bringing her extensive experience in community engagement and public health to the advisory board. Her work focuses on addressing health disparities and promoting cultural understanding through initiatives that empower and uplift Micronesian voices.

Meleanna Meyers

Meleanna Meyer is a renowned Native Hawaiian artist and cultural practitioner whose mural “Kuʻu ʻĀina Aloha: Beloved Land, Beloved Country” inspired the Community Mural Project. With a deep commitment to cultural storytelling and community healing, Meleanna’s mentorship and artistic vision guide the project’s emphasis on resilience and health equity.

Photo credit: Kuʻulei Kanahele

Paul (Tamana Polly) Otoko

Paul Otoko is a respected Chuukese-Nukuoran pastor and community leader with a strong background in cultural preservation and advocacy. His efforts in promoting the well-being and cultural identity of the Micronesian community in Hawai‘i are invaluable to the mural project, ensuring that it resonates deeply with its intended audience.

Kuʻulei Kanahele

Ku‘ulei Kanahele, a kanaka maoli practitioner and culture bearer from the ʻili ʻāina of Panaewa on the island of Hawaiʻi, brings her knowledge of traditional practices and community health to the advisory board. Her work in integrating cultural values with public health initiatives helps shape the mural project’s focus on healing and resilience, reinforcing connections between the Native Hawaiian and Micronesian communities.

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Kākuhihewa

(c. 1540-1634)

Kākuhihewa is the 15th aliʻi ‘aimoku (ruling chief) of O‘ahu famously named in the mele “Kaulana Nā Pua.” Kākuhihewa was a kind and friendly chief who was born in Kūkaniloko and raised in the ‘Ewa moku. His primary endeavor was farming, and it is said that his abundant harvests on O‘ahu could be smelled from Kaua‘i.

Today, there is a state office building named after him in Kapolei.

Reference: https://westoahu.hawaii.edu/library/2021/09/14/hawaiianhistorymonth-kakuhihewa/

Image: “He ohu no ka poe aloha aina” (Kaulana Nā Pua) by Miss Kekoaohiwaikalani in Ka Leo o ka Lahui, 24 Feb 1893