Ka Pae 'Āina O Hawai'i Nei

Hawaiian archipelago mosaic mural program

Cultivating awareness and knowledge of the relationships across the archipelago will help broaden our understanding of the effects of ongoing environmental changes and challenges that face us.

This community mosaic will also serve as an educational resource and a source of inspiration for all who visit Kīlauea Point NWR, one of the most visited Refuges in the System. The hope is that people will be able to garner a stronger understanding of, and therefore a stronger connection to, our pae ʻāina, which feeds and nourishes us in physical, mental, and spiritual ways.

Our Hawaiian Archipelago

“Ka Pae ʻAina O Hawaiʻi Nei”, Hawaiian Archipelago mosaic design concept is a viewpoint of the submarine topography of the island chain from Hōlanikū, (Kure Atoll) to Hawaiʻi Island and seamount Kamaʻehuakanaloa. This design features the foundational connection across the island chain from a single volcanic “hot spot” source. Kīlauea Point NWR, as the northernmost point of Kauaʻi, connects the main Hawaiian Islands to the kūpuna islands of Papahānaumokuākea.

The Mosaic mural

This 80ft x 4ft mosaic design uses an existing 100ft x 4ft cement retaining wall at Kilauea Point NWR. The mosaic will be made of multiple shaped and broken tiles, mounted on 16 foam tile boards, each  being 4ft x 5ft.  When completed, each panel will be installed to create a continuous design, depicting a unique and creative perspective of the Hawaiian Archipelago and giving the viewer a sense of the geological, environmental, physical and cultural connection.


By creating the mosaic in portions, we will be able to have workshops in multiple locations, giving us the freedom to be mobile and flexible in the creation process.

artist Apprenticeships

Mosaic apprentices/interns will learn about creative design, materials that best suit environmental conditions, creating mosaic substrates, and the flow of the creative process. Alongside these skills, this project will provide the opportunity to work with various tile tools and materials, from thinset to grouting, and experience in the large scale art installation process.

community made

In partnership with Kumu Hula Kēhaulani Kekua and other cultural practitioners,  each workshop will feature a cultural education component. These seminars will delve into the depths of the interconnectedness of our islands, through the studying and understanding of various mele and hula.


The other component of these workshops will be the actual hands-on mosaic building. Everyone is welcome to participate at any level they desire, but those who show great interest will be given the opportunity to become an apprentice of the program.

Nature's Symphony

Breathtaking colors of our planet
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Faces of Humanity

Portraits of people from around the globe
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Sands of Time

Stark beauty of desolate dunes

Beyond Boundaries

Visual odyssey across continents
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25

community workshops

300+

workshop

Participants

11 panels completed (5 more to go!)

Mahalo for your support

We are close to the finish line-- please consider becoming a sponsor or making a tax deductible donation today. Funds raised will be used to complete the mural and support an on-going educational program.