CARTWRIGHT PARK
Project Backboard & Court Mural
Cartwright Project Backboard took note from the non-profit Project Backboard, whose mission much like ours is to renovate public basketball courts and install large scale works of art on the surface in order to strengthen communities, improve park safety, encourage multi-generational play, and inspire people to think more critically and creatively about their environment.
Additional projects performed in 2021 include infield improvements (weeding, grading, laying new cinder), new bases, installing new benches (with local Eagle Scouts), and a design for a basketball court and backboard mural with Project Backboard. Part of MKH’s initiative is to engage the community with community events and in April MKH hosted a Home Run Derby for youth baseball teams on the weekend of Cartwright’s birthday.
Moʻolelo: The Kāhuli & Kōlea
Historically, the Hawaiian Islands are known to have abundant amounts of endemic species, which are only found in this island chain. Hawaiʻi is one of the most isolated places on Earth. The land accommodates a variety of birds, bees, plants, fish, and even snails. One of these species are tree snails or kāhuli. They are also known poetically as pūpū kanioe, which translates to “shell that sounds long” or the “singing shell.” Tree snails are an essential part of Hawaiʻi’s ecology. Many of Hawaiʻi’s endemic species are starting to appear on the endangered species list, and the pūpū kanioe particularly are among the species highest at risk. While they graze on the fungi off the surface of ʻōhiʻa lehua leaves, and the lush forests of Hawaiʻi provide homes for the kāhuli. This relationship is symbiotic, meaning the trees provide for the snails, and the snails provide for the trees. Kāhuli tree snails are endemic to Hawaii and are found only on the island of O‘ahu. Native trees and shrubs are the best habitat for kāhuli tree snails. All of the 42 kāhuli species in the genus Achatinella are either federally listed as endangered or extinct. Hawaiians have been aware of this important relationship, and they wrote many songs about these snails, especially how these snails would sing. The singing is only a myth, but kāhuli tree snails have been the inspiration for traditional Hawaiian chants. One chant called “Kāhuli Aku” is about the snails calling to kolea (golden plovers) to bring them water from the morning dew collevting on the ʻākōlea fern. Kāhuli Aku has been set to music and is a popular children’s song. The moral of this famous story is in times of need we come together to help each other out.
Mele: Kāhuli Aku
Kāhuli Aku is about snails calling out to golden plovers to bring them water. This mele was put to music by Winona Beamer and has become a popular children’s song:
Kāhuli aku,
Kāhuli mai,
Kāhuli lei ula
Lei ʻākōlea .
Kōlea, kōlea,
Kiʻi ka wai
Wai ʻākōlea ,
Wai ʻākōlea .
Landshells far,
Landshells near,
Red landshell lei,
ʻĀkōlea fern lei.
Plover bird, Plover bird,
Fetch the dew,
Dew from the ʻākōlea ferns,
Dew from the ʻākōlea ferns.
Collaboration Artist: BONHUI UY
Bonhui Uy (pronounced "we"), renowned architectural designer, artist and illustrator. Since 1978, he has owned his own firm, as well as performed architectural illustration and consultation work for some of the world's most distinguished architects. His exploration of fine arts while working as a designer led him to create thousands of 2D and 3D pieces of work. When one sees his artworks, they would appreciate the colors, the shapes, and the patterns of each work.
LOCATION
Makiki, Honolulu, Oʻahu
PROJECT TEAM
WCIT | Wilson Okamoto | WKM
HonBlue
YEAR
2022