School Boasts New Surf Mural

Hilton Alves joins Kanoelani artists as they personalize their new mural. Photo from Bryan Wyland.

Art, and the ocean, is for everyone. That was the message North Shore surf artist Hilton Alves shared with Kanoelani Elementary School last month.

Nearly 800 students, teachers and community members took part in the Surf Art Kids mural that was completed one month before Alves began his 101 Perfect Waves International Mural Project.

The first two murals of the project feature the world’s largest surf art mural at 1320 Kalani St. in Honolulu (now done), and the second will grace a wall at the Museum de Afro in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Surf Art Kids is designed to expose children to environmental awareness and foster a respect and love for the ocean through art. Kanoelani’s new wall is the 14th such mural in Hawaii.

The mural depicts a familiar ocean scene in Hawaii consisting of a colorful sunset, a perfect wave and an underwater cave scene.

Alves allowed the keiki to finish the mural by adding their own favorite sea creatures to the wall.

Principal Stacy Kunihisa praised the Brazilian-born artist’s work and his efforts to reach children.

“Our motto is, ‘We is greater than me’ and we’re just trying to combat bullying and make sure that everybody feels like it’s a place where they belong.”