Earlier this month, the Paint Pāhoa Town project kicked off with a brand-new mural by artist Keoni Alvarez at the Pāhoa Swimming Pool. This project aims to refresh the look of businesses and buildings in Pāhoa with fresh paint and murals from local artists.

“We’re kicking off the refresh of the entire town of Pāhoa. Over the next couple of weeks, we’re going to be seeing more brightly colored paints come up throughout Pāhoa town,” said Ashley Kierkiewicz, County Council member for District 4. “We’re so excited about everyone who wanted to step up and be a part of the refresh and that actually coming to fruition.“
 
Paint Pāhoa Town is one of the Economic Resilience Capacity Area projects put on by the Revitalize Puna initiative which aims to bring the County and the community together to promote growth after the 2018 Kīlauea eruption.

“Activities like this bring the community together,” said Susie Osborne, Co-President of the Rotary Club of Pāhoa Sunset. “Rotary is all about service above self and lifting our community. So we have five Rotary Clubs, including a club from O’ahu together today with community members to do this project and kick off Paint Pāhoa Town.”

“We have to show up for our community any way they need us to,” said Catherine Rehberg, President of the Rotary Club of South Hilo. “It’s a really important beautification project that’s going to help our community take a lot of pride in the Pāhoa area so all the clubs on the east side decided to hui up together and show up and provide support.”

Keoni and his brother had painted a mural on the same wall 25 years ago, but time and weather took their toll on the art. Paint Pāhoa Town organizers chose Keoni for this specific refresh as a way to come full circle and reinvigorate the space.

“After 25 years it wasn’t as nice as when me and my brother first created it,” said Keoni. “So when the opportunity came I jumped on it and knew it was an opportunity to refreshen up the wall and also show art where we are at right now.”

“There were several artists that submitted their work and we really resonated with Keoni and felt that he depicted every line in the chant that we are trying to portray in our town for cohesion,” said Osborne.

“It was important for us to elevate the voice and the creative vision of Puna artists because they know this place, they are from here and it’s just something that’s so meaningful that they are able to infuse into the artwork,” said Kierkiewicz.

The artwork for this mural was chosen purposefully by Keoni not only to honor Hawaiian culture, but to also reflect on where Big Island is in its healing journey after the eruption.

“It shows the kalo, it shows the ocean, it shows a canoe… so it’s like a voyage. It’s where we are at right now,” said Keoni. “Right now, we are facing a difficult time. I wanted to try to get back to the basics that all of the other stuff doesn’t really matter.”

The finished mural is on display now at the Pāhoa Swimming Pool on the wall facing Pāhoa town.

Keep an eye out for murals and new coats of paint all across Pāhoa Town in the coming months as more projects get underway.

There’s still time for both businesses to sign up to get the refresh or murals, or for volunteers to be a part of the process. For more information, click here to visit our website or email aloha@revitalizepuna.org.