I am a former art teacher. Over the past 30 years, I have worked alongside high school students to do installations and murals in Mānoa, Waimānalo, Waiʻanae, and Kalihi. Public art projects demand blood, sweat and tears.
Full creative freedom was granted to Hawaii Walls artists by Farrington High School three years ago.
The murals are not commissioned. Hawaii Walls artists do not receive payment. They donate their artwork and time.
I happened to be at Farrington High on Sept. 15. It was the first official day of painting of 51 new Hawaii Walls murals. Curious about the art, I walked around campus and interviewed eight muralists. They explained what they were painting about: grandparents, the struggle of Filipino immigrants, the Micronesian influence of Mau Pialug and star navigation, paddling, Kalihi pride, and Hawaiian monarchs…