Kū‘ono Marketplace mural honors culture and placekeeping

April 8, 2021

The vibrant new mural at Kūʻono Marketplace at Kāhala celebrates the rich history of Waiʻalae, which was once abundant with freshwater springs, making it a source of life and vitality for the region’s people. Local muralists Matt Ortiz KSK’02 and wife Roxy – who collaborate under the name Wooden Wave – drew inspiration from a mo‘olelo about Kamehameha III who once stopped there and sipped some of the refreshing water. KS Director of Planning and Development Duff Janus explains his team’s conscious effort to incorporate Hawaiian history and culture into their projects. “It is our privilege to integrate legacy, culture and a Native Hawaiian identity into our commercial real estate projects in a way that perpetuates and inspires a Hawaiian worldview,” said. “Honoring these mo‘olelo are important to preserving our history and educating the community, especially our haumāna, so that these stories aren’t lost.”