Page 4 - MidWeek West - Aug 25 2021

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AUGUST 25, 2021
W hen we hear the term “mas- ter-planned com- munity,” we usually think of a sprawling suburban com- munity with large homes, schools and often luxurious amenities. But, there was indeed a master plan for a Hawaiian-style village (kau- hale) on Yorktown Street in Kalaeloa to offer permanent housing on a small scale to serve mostly military veter- ans in need of a home, com- plete with communal facili- ties that include bathrooms, showers, laundry, a commer- cial kitchen, a community
BY MARYANNE LONG
Muralists Brighten New Kauhale In Kalaeloa
lounge and a health clinic. Coordinating the incred- ible number of volunteers needed to plan, build and furnish the 36 tiny homes and other ancillary structures on the property is HomeAid Ha- waiʻi, a nonprofit established by the building industry to help relieve homelessness. Its executive director Nani Medeiros is working with builders, suppliers, govern- ment agencies and the com- munity to bring the project to
While much attention and detail
has gone into the interior of the structures ... thought was also given to beautifying the exterior with a large mural.
on this project helped them thrive as artists, giving them an opportunity to share ideas, utilize their individual skills sets, and inspire each other.
community service mural. It now serves as a starting point for tours of Kamaʻokū, as it illustrates the story of that place.”
fruition.
While much attention and
Taking on the communi- ty-service project of design- ing and painting the mural was an all-female business known as Painting Hawaiʻi. This enterprising team of artists came from different
As to why Tracy got in- volved in the project, she explains, “I have a soft spot for our houseless community, especially the military, and wanted to add what I could to the project by offering this
detail has gone into the inte- rior of the structures on the
Aviles and Armhold both felt that working as a team
property, thought was also given to beautifying the exte- rior with a large mural.
areas of Oʻahu to collaborate on this project. It consists of Jacqueline Tracy, its spirited leader; Nikki Aviles, who was the company’s first em- ployee; and Jennifer Arm- hold, the newest member of the crew.
Armhold adds, “I am over- whelmingly blessed to live in Hawaiʻi and to have the op- portunity to make something beautiful like this mural to help people release some of the pressure of daily life.”
Describing the mural, Tracy says, “The face is the first thing one sees when visiting Kamaʻokū. Prin- cess Hiʻiaka (Hiʻiakaikapo- liopele), the youngest sister of Pele, is adorned with the native maʻo plant and sur- rounded by pili grass, lehua and an owl (pueo) as she watches over her commu- nity with compassion and discernment. These sym- bols motivate and encour-
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