A skateboarder rumbled by as Mayor Derek Kawakami congratulated muralists Seth Womble and Sam Schryver on the completion of the Holua mural on the east-facing wall of the Pi‘ikoi Building at the Lihu‘e Civic Center Friday.
“When I see this mural and the striking imagery it represents, my spirits are immediately lifted and I can envision a brighter future here in the Lihu‘e town core — art as revitalization,” said Kawakami.
“My hope is that it will inspire others as it has inspired me. I’d like to thank Seth and Samuel, along with our forward-thinking county team, for their hard work and thoughtfulness in creating this spectacular display.”
Seth Womble and Samuel Schryver worked on the project that was funded through a quick-build grant from the state Department of Health starting Aug. 17 and completed Friday afternoon, just hours before Kawakami and his team arrived for an inspection.
“This is the first quick-build grant project to enhance public spaces in ways that will encourage physical activity,” said Lee
Steinmetz.
“The mayor credits his team for this, but he has to have some credit, too. This building had plans for businesses, but those did not happen, and when I went to speak to him about this, he replied, ‘We’re going to have a skate park (did he see me roll my eyes?).’ After thinking about it, that made a lot of sense. The mural will be a backdrop to the temporary skate park that will be installed using the quick-build funds.”
Kawakami said the mural, visible by motorists traveling on ‘Eiwa Street, is the connection to youth, adding his stories of skateboarding as a youth, and being “kicked out” by everyone, including his father; being driven from the spots in Lihu‘e that each had names like the Rainbow Curve to the underground parking areas where alcohol and cigarettes were placed in his hands.
“This mural represents moving forward while honoring the past,” Womble said. “The Hawaiian holua was an expertly crafted sled made to exact specification. These sleds were ridden by the ali‘i, down prepared slopes at speeds said to be up to 60 mph, for thousands of feet.
“I hope this mural that links the historic nature of the Lihu‘e town core, traditional Hawaiian sport, and the youthful exuberance of a skate park, creates intrigue for our community, more visits to the Kaua‘i Museum (that re-opens on Wednesday, Sept. 2), and some excitement about beautifying and activating spaces on this wonderful island. This space is now activated.”
Womble, also a key player in Nirmana and visited by artists participating in the NirManaFest, said the Holua mural is the first of many new murals that will be painted in downtown Lihu‘e this year. During the NirManaFest that will take place between Oct. 18 and 24, five new murals will be created along ‘Ewalu Street and Rice Street, representing the collaboration of 15 local artists working together in teams.
“This all started when someone said, ‘yes,’” Womble said.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
