The mural design was created by the MS students with input from teachers, students, and administrators at the preschool. Aloha, Mālama and Kuleana are the three values that are taught to the keiki, so the design includes kalo (mālama/kuleana), outlines of the children (aloha), an ulu tree to represent Ulupono (mālama/kuleana), and a rainbow, signifying aloha (according to preschoolers), as well as the mountains to remind all about our kuleana to aloha ‘āina. (Seated - Jayden Oda, Rachel Radona, Kiana Zimmermann Standing - Acacia Miner, Kira Lee and Amber Hee)

The project started with KS Middle School Boarding Administrator Hanale Vincent meeting with a small group of students regularly to keep the mural project on track. The students spent one afternoon a week visiting the preschool and getting to know the keiki by playing fun games with them. They also learned from the keiki what they wanted to see on their mural.

KS Kalihi-Palama Preschool educational coordinator Deidre Harris (standing, left) and Middle School Principal Pua Ka‘ai watch as the middle school students mix up the paint.

Vibrant greens, yellows and red hues will be used for the mural.

KS Middle School Principal Pua Ka‘ai comes from an art education background and was happy to help.

High school Art Teacher Carl Pao helped with preparing the middle school students for the challenge of planning and learning the techniques for painting a mural.

Keiki helped by lying down so outlines of their bodies could be incorporated into the mural.

The outlines were then painted in darker, creating the finished mural.