Kahului Mural Project Inspired by Nanifay Paglinawan & Pualani Enos
Grounded in ‘Ōlelo No‘eau: Pipili no ka pīlali i ke kumu kukui (The pīlali gun sticks to the kukui tree: Said of one who remains close to a loved one all the time, as a child may cling to the grandparent they love).
25 Kahului Beach Road
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In 2022, Nanifay Paglinawan, Women Helping Women lifetime achievement awardee + Pualani Enos recorded a talk-story as part of our Hui Mo‘olelo program partnership with Hale Hōʻikeʻike at the Bailey House/ Maui Historical Society.
In early 2024, professional artists from across the globe submitted proposals to translate this story as a work of public art. Upon selection by a community jury, artist Oscar Lett entered a period of project development to infuse her proposal in Kahului history, culture and sense of place -- ultimately resulting in a freely accessible work created through community engagement. This page serves to track the progress of this public art project, which was unveiled on April 6, 2024 at 2 PM at 25 Kahului Beach Road. >> Listen to the story that has inspired this artwork HERE >> Enjoy our 5-minute project film HERE |
From the Artist
From the darkest coals are born the brightest stones: What first struck me about Maui Public Art's opportunity is its approach, instantly immersing the artist in the core values and the oral culture of Maui. In the initial concept proposal, I used visuals I thought to be a good reflection of the people of Maui, but as the project progressed, it evolved and changed through the people I was introduced to and their stories. Aunty Nanifay's story resonated with me through its intensity - but despite its weight, I wanted the art to highlight the beauty that emanated from it; from the darkest coals are born the brightest stones.
What resonated most deeply in Nanifay's narrative for me was the way the language transcended generations, experiencing a beautiful resurgence through her daughter and granddaughter's era. The design expresses Hawaiian perseverance in keeping culture and language alive despite being endangered and persecuted for it. An elder listens carefully to a younger girl speaking to her in pure Hawaiian.
Through the project development meetings, the design progressed: After our exchange with Aunty and her family, I added the Palapalai fern - endemic to Hawaii, as it is the favorite plant of the family (and mine as well!) which also happened to be the background of Nanifay's video in our meeting. It is a reference to her and what the fern symbolizes: new life and new beginnings. Such notions seem to fit the values brought up by Sissy and Pualani during our meets. The patterns on the clothes and in the brush strokes are inspired from Pualani's shop tour and research on Hawaii patterns based on the information shared. I added the Ohia Lehua flower and some of its leaves. I used the family pictures sent by Naomi as a reference. I also added the plumeria in the hair of the younger girl, as she requested. The endeavor grew in significance as friends of Aunty Nanifay came by the site and recognized her eyes and aura in the mural.
What resonated most deeply in Nanifay's narrative for me was the way the language transcended generations, experiencing a beautiful resurgence through her daughter and granddaughter's era. The design expresses Hawaiian perseverance in keeping culture and language alive despite being endangered and persecuted for it. An elder listens carefully to a younger girl speaking to her in pure Hawaiian.
Through the project development meetings, the design progressed: After our exchange with Aunty and her family, I added the Palapalai fern - endemic to Hawaii, as it is the favorite plant of the family (and mine as well!) which also happened to be the background of Nanifay's video in our meeting. It is a reference to her and what the fern symbolizes: new life and new beginnings. Such notions seem to fit the values brought up by Sissy and Pualani during our meets. The patterns on the clothes and in the brush strokes are inspired from Pualani's shop tour and research on Hawaii patterns based on the information shared. I added the Ohia Lehua flower and some of its leaves. I used the family pictures sent by Naomi as a reference. I also added the plumeria in the hair of the younger girl, as she requested. The endeavor grew in significance as friends of Aunty Nanifay came by the site and recognized her eyes and aura in the mural.
About the Subjects: Aunty Nanifay Paglinawan is a member of the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center, Inc. (NIWRC), which is a Native-led nonprofit organization dedicated to ending violence against Native women and children. She is co-founder of Pouhana O Nā Wāhine and has been a long-time advocate in the domestic violence movement for over 40 years. She retired from Women Helping Women (WHW), a non-profit agency that provides a comprehensive continuum of services to over 600 women, men, and children each year. Aunty has extensive experience facilitating women's and men’s groups, advocating with women in the Maui Community Correctional Facility and through drug treatment services at the Malama Recovery Center, working in the TRO department, and providing crisis intervention. Aunty also taught in elementary school. She currently works part-time for the WHW Shelter providing virtual counseling sessions. Aunty currently represents the voices of families of missing and murdered Indigenous women on the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women’s Family Advisory Group.
Pualani Enos teaches at UH Mānoa Matsunaga Institute for Peace and provides consulting to Hawaiian nonprofit and small businesses leaders who have cultural and ʻaina-based social justice missions. She is also Co-Director for Native Hawaiian Philanthropy where she leads research and design, collective impact research and learning and impact networks.
Pualani Enos teaches at UH Mānoa Matsunaga Institute for Peace and provides consulting to Hawaiian nonprofit and small businesses leaders who have cultural and ʻaina-based social justice missions. She is also Co-Director for Native Hawaiian Philanthropy where she leads research and design, collective impact research and learning and impact networks.
About the Artist | oscar-lett.com
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Originally trained in Paris and now based in NYC, artist Oscar Lett developed many of her concepts at Central Saint Martins School in London. She further developed her style with teachings of Nihonga (traditional Japanese painting) while at Kyoto Seika University. In 2014, she partnered with the Saatchi Gallery for an acclaimed show published in Harper's Bazaar. Working in large-scale and always craving bigger, Oscar was honoured with a residency at NARS Foundation in NYC in 2016 where she settled. She began working as a prolific muralist, allowing her fine art and street art practices to inspire one another, completing over 100 murals across the U.S. (with clients including Netflix, JP Morgan and Chanel). With publications in Vogue UK, on the front page of USA Today-Lohud and a book highlighting her community mural with the New York Health+Hospitals, Lett also counts a BBC short documentary to her name.
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Community Consultations
Nanifay Paglinawan & Pualani Enos
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Sissy Lake-Farm
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Jim Doran
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Project Timeline
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MAHALO Nanifay Paglinawan + Pualani Enos Atherton Family Foundation County of Maui Hawai‘i Tourism Authority’s Kūkulu Ola Program Hale Hōʻikeʻike at the Bailey House / Maui Historical Society Leilehua Yuen Lokahi Pacific Matt Pierce National Endowment for the Arts Art volunteers Kathleen Storm & Jasmine Bode Jim Doran & King |
Project Site
25 Kahului Beach Rd, Kahului, HI 96732
