Page 4 - MidWeek Windward - May 4, 2022

4 MAY 4, 2022
New Mural By Resident Highlights Kailua’s Cultural Heritage
Designed by Kailua art- ist Sara Saffery, a colorful new mural now enhances the Hekili Street façade of the newly renovated Hawaiian Island Creations building in Kailua.
generations of kama‘āina. The majestic Ko‘olau mountains, the Kawainui wetlands, a kalo lo‘i, the Mokulua islets, and a moʻo wāhine are among the his- torical depictions of life that celebrate the Windward
(Above) A vibrant new mural is located at the Hekili Street façade of the Hawaiian Island Creations building in Kailua. (Inset) Kailua artist Sara Saffery designed the artwork that highlights many aspects of the community’s distinguished history. PHOTOSCOURTESYALEXANDER&BALDWIN
was an opportunity to create For additional informa- a platform for a local artist tion about A&B, visit al- to give voice to Kailua’s rich exanderbaldwin.com and history and vibrant cultural for more about Kailua, see
storytelling.”
community, A&B officials explain.
today,” states Hawaiian Is- land Creations co-founder Stephen Tsukayama. “This mural is a tribute to Kai- lua’s rich past and bright future. It’s an honor for HIC to share this new artwork’s significance with the local community.”
The concept for the mu- ral originated through her Native Hawaiian heritage, along with her family’s work with the ‘āina and cultural restoration of Kawainui fish- pond, Saffery shares.
The multi-million-dollar refresh includes a complete overhaul of the building’s exterior, eco-infrastructure enhancements and new land- scaping.
“A&B is committed to en- hancing local communities by providing public spaces to celebrate local voices,” states Francisco Gutierrez, senior vice president of de- velopment at A&B. “The renovation of the HIC site
The mural is the final component of the HIC build- ing renovation completed by A&B in late 2021.
kailuatownhi.com.
She adds that re-reading traditional songs and stories about Kailua renewed her connection to her roots and where she grew up.
“In 1971, my brother Jim- my and I started HIC in Kai- lua, and this community has supported us as we evolved into the company we are
“A mural allows an art- ist to share their vision and convey a personal message,” states Saffery. “Being from Kailua, I realized the kulea- na of this mural and wanted to paint a picture that honors its history, culture and peo- ple — especially those from the Native Hawaiian com- munity. Art is a great medi- um to convey how special Kailua is.”
Renowned POW! WOW! muralist Kamea Hadar in- stalled the vibrant artwork.
Alexander & Baldwin commissioned the mural in collaboration with HIC, in conjunction with the re- tailer’s 50th year in Kailua. This work is designed to highlight the area’s rich cul- tural heritage and abundant natural resources sustaining
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