Our November 16, 2023 event features a talk story with Cultural Muralists & Educators John ʻPrime Hina of 808Urban and DearLoveStory with Mauiʻs Noble Richardson of E.H.A.: Endemic Hawaiian Artists.
John Hina is a world renowned native Hawaiian street artist with over 1000 murals worldwide. After surviving a tough Oahu neighborhood and almost losing his life to gang violence, he turned his life around. In 2007 he founded Hawaiiʻs first graffiti based art organization Urban 808 focused on using art to mentor at-risk youth away from drug abuse, gang affiliation and violence. Through the years he has collected traditional Hawaiian stories from generational families and recently he began a new journey with DearLoveStory, sharing his passion for visual creativity with Hawaiian storytelling. His hope is to share and preserve valuable cultural stories for future ancestors.
Noble Richardson carries the fingerprint of who he is in his artwork through the strengths of his Maui community where he was born and raised, and raises his own family. He created E.H.A. Murals to amplify and aid the need for sourcing local Hawaii artists to be a creative source for Mauiʻs cultural connection to the community and its economic growth. E.H.A. Murals has nearly a decade of public art relationships, including youth and volunteer mentorships. Noble is also an art instructor for many local programs and schools, including Hui Malama camps, summer intensives at UH Maui, after school programs at Liliuokalani Trust and maintaining Wailuku Elementaryʻs art program school-wide. His work is heavily influenced by Hawaiian values and culture.
Akakū Upstairs is a public engagement event to “Elevate Community & Conversation“.