BRIDGING THE PACIFIC
TILE MURAL PROJECT, KONAWAENA HIGH SCHOOL, KEALEKEKUA, HI

After brainstorming with my students about
a design for a mural that would depict the ideas of unity and fellowship,
we decided to use the ocean as a theme to bridge the two sister islands of Hawaii and Okinawa.
The students were informed about Okinawa becoming our sister island in 1990,
and discussed  the similarities of the two islands. Like Okinawa, Hawaii
has its own language, music and customs that are separate and unique from the mainland.
Furthermore, both islands are dependent on the ocean for a source of food,  recreation
and inspiration. Okinawa and Hawaii both have beautiful coral reefs that visitors around the
world visit every year.  Both island not only depend on the ocean for their livelihood,
but have deep respect for the Pacific ocean.
      The center of the mural depicts the Great of Wave designed by Hokusai, surrounded by the
abundance of sea life it supports. Whales, dolphins, coral fish, turtles, sharks, octopus and seals can
both be found off the shores around Okinawa and Hawaii.  The circular design of the mural emphasizes
 the connection both islands have to the Pacific Ocean and to each other. The islands of Okinawa and Hawaii
will be depicted in the shells of the sea turtles, again emphasizes the island culture both areas share.
The petroglyph of the Hawaiian paddler and the word for wave in Kanji is also depicted in the upper
left hand corner of the mural.
The painting of the tiles will be open to all students at Konawaena and will be displayed permanently in
the courtyard next to the Library.  The painting will begin in April 2006, and is scheduled to be completed in July.
It is our hope that the mural will  not only celebrate our ties to our sister island Okinawa, but be.enjoyed by students,
vistors, faculty and parents for many years.

Fund raising started in April and is complete.  Students will be painting tiles in May.  This project was completed
in Decemeber 2006.

Instructor and director of the mural project: Michelle Obregon

Click the following link for more pictures

http://smilebox.com/playBlog/4e4441794e6a4d314e673d3d0d0a

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