WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO CREATE A
MONUMENTAL WORK OF ART?
BEHIND THE SCENES AT
THE KONA AIRPORT MĀLAMA 'ĀINA MURAL
This is a Mālama 'Āina mural, with a powerful message from
our Native Hawaiian wisdom carriers, “Take care of the land!"
In Hawai’i, 'land' means all of life.
This photo journey is being sent during COP 26, the United Nations Climate Change Summit. This is the most important meeting of world leaders in history. We dedicate this work to supreme success and global cooperation at COP26 to restore balance and health in our Biosphere, supporting a healthy future for people in harmony with nature.
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GATHERING MATERIALS,
SETTING THE STAGE
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WALL PREPARATION
After the final concrete wash/wall finish and the filling of 450' of reveals (1 ¾” architectural V-grooves), we thoroughly cleaned the walls and columns and vacuumed the sidewalk. We masked the walls' recesses, sidewalk, overflow drains, electrical boxes, outlets, security door and cameras, and louvers in preparation for priming.
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BRAINSTORM!
ADDING KUPUNA SILHOUETTES
& THE SPECIAL ELEMENTS
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It became apparent that the painted background Sky, Upper Earth, Lower Earth, Shallow Ocean, Deep Ocean, and Mauna alone would not attract enough visual interest to capture peoples' attention during our lengthy construction process.
Additionally, the lack of these elements would not have revealed the full-scale design. Through on-site contemplation, Calley realized it was essential to mask the Kupuna on the raw concrete and add Special Elements in white.
It is our hope that these elements inspire prospective donors' sponsorships.
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MASKING KUPUNA
In the months of highly complex masking, frequent torrential rains kept us on high alert. We had to repeatedly repair or replace our masking, often running to take cover and dashing to rescue our materials and equipment.
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PRIMING THE WALL
1 coat Beeck 100-Year Mineral Paint Bonding Primer
2 coats Beeck Mineral Paint Renosil
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MASKING THE SPECIAL ELEMENTS
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MEANWHILE,
BACK AT THE GLASS STUDIO
KUMU KEALA CHING & EARL REGIDOR
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AND THE DRAWING CONTINUED . . .
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We are thrilled to have our 'threads' sponsored by DEFEND HAWAI'I, a great supporter of the mural. We receive lots of positive feedback as people see our uniforms and instantly understand the spirit and purpose of the mural. |
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Contrary to the flawless outcome of the Monumask removal test, extended exposure to the elements rendered the masking materials extremely difficult to remove. We lost count of the days and weeks we spent painstakingly removing the masking to reveal the clean outlines of the Kupuna and Special Elements.
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Once we drew and masked the Special Elements, we created these Funding Legends to illustrate the estimated cost for each element and attract their special donors to stand with the Hawai'i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts in funding the full realization of Calley's vision, and the message of the Kupuna.
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TELLING THE STORY
LITERATURE, SIGNS & DOCUMENTATION
Brochures and storyboards on our 'Command Central' work station are available to passersby to share the mural’s message and invite community support. The response has been positive and enthusiastic, especially from local people, which is rewarding.
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THE THIN BLUE LINE
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
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The Thin Blue Line, which traverses the mural including the columns, is an element of connection to Water, which is life. From Astronaut Ellison Onizuka’s perspective, the living thin film in which we live (the Biosphere), looks like a Thin Blue Line. This lifeline will be composed of recycled, fired, blue glass plaques made from Moa Kitchen's donated sake bottles. The plaques will be inscribed with the words requested by each donor.
You are invited to be on the line and a part of the flow!
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The Kupuna directed that the walls be connected by the element of water. Lead painter, Noa suggested this culturally inspired graphic to make the connection on the columns. |
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PAINTING THE TREE ARCHES
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PAINTING THE AHU MO'OLELO
(CULTURAL STORYBOARDS)
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LAVA STONE AHU FRAMES &
MURAL FOUNDATION
The original plan was for a simple mineral-painted frame to surround each storyboard. After so many months on the wall, it became apparent that we needed to protect the bases of the walls from flooding during heavy rain.
Harking back to Ku'ulei Keakealani's original guidance to ground the mural with traditional low-lying stone walls, and seeing the practical benefits of protecting the mural from splashing dirt, jet tire residue, litter, scuff marks, and creepy crawlies, Calley decided to go for it!
She adjusted the budget to cover material and labor, and hired master stone cutter, Virgil Macy of West Hawai'i Concrete, to precision cut (down to the millimeter with an 8-foot diamond saw blade!) our basalt lava baseboards and frames. Noa is on track to detail cut and permanently install the lava early next year.
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MEANWHILE, BACK AT THE STUDIO
HANNAH SPRINGER AND KEKAULIKE
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We are nearing the completion of the first four stained glass mosaic portraits of Keala Ching, Earl Regidor, Hannah Springer, and her son, Kekaulike Tomich, which we will install this year.
Work on the Ocean Wall 3 with three generations of four Kupuna is going into full swing this coming week.
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AND FINALLY,
THE WALLS AS THEY APPEAR TODAY
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Thank you to photographer, Thomas Holguin. |
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THE CIRCLE WILL BE UNBROKEN
ALOHA WALL 8
We look forward to beginning work on WALL 8, as the expected completion date for the construction of the USDA Inspection Building is May 25, 2022. NAN may turn the wall over to us earlier.
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BE A PART OF THE FLOW!
TO ADD YOUR OHANA TO THE THIN BLUE LINE
OR SPONSOR A SPECIAL ELEMENT,
PLEASE CONTACT CALLEY.
(808) 987-7003
Who do you know who would love to hear about this project?
Please forward this to them!
If a picture is worth a thousand words,
you just read 176,000 words!
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OUR MAHALO TO
KOA AIRPORT MURAL OHANA
So many hands have worked on this mural, thus far, and here they are!
We acknowledge their invaluable contribution and give 1001 mahalo’s!
OUR CORE TEAM
CALLEY O’NEILL
NOA EADS
JULIA FAIRCHILD
LAMAR YOAKUM
JEREMIAH HOLQUIN
OUR OHANA
ALEX ECKHART
ANNABELLE URIBE
BEVERLY ARNTZEN
BRYAN GAZAUI
DINA ALOHA
DOMIINIC HILMAN
ELIZABETH ROSE
JEFF and JAKE CLOSS
LEE GLENNAN MOTTER
LEIANNA GAZAUI
MARC BOTTICELLI
MICHAEL HESS
THE amazing NAN TEAM
OLIVER ZEICHNER
PEACH GODDARD
RACHEL WALKER
SHELLEY REAGAN
THOMAS HOLQUIN
VIRGIL MACY, WEST HAWAI’I CONCRETE
X-PRESS REPROGRAPHICS
YASI ZEICHNER
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