Art aims to beautify the area around the former Uncle Billy’s Hilo Bay Hotel on Banyan Drive as the building nears demolition by the end of the year.
Twenty panels of a large mural recently were installed by Isemoto Contracting as part of a Hawaii County initiative to honor the Waiakea Peninsula and its rich history by making the area safer and more enjoyable for residents and visitors alike.
Spearheaded with funds made available by Councilwoman Sue Lee Loy, the Waiakea Peninsula initiative brought community members and stakeholders together for three Waiakea Peninsula Design Labs last year.
After workshops and discussions, participants recognized the importance of actively learning Hawaii’s cultural practices, engaging in volunteerism and prioritizing education about the area’s historical and cultural significance.
According to Lee Loy, the mural is a culmination of the community’s ongoing dedication to shaping the future of the Waiakea Peninsula.
“This mural brings to life the communities shared memories, vision, action to support stewardship, Hawaiian culture revitalization and community-building,” Lee Loy said. “We are hopeful this can symbolize our community … and ignite a new generation of connection and kuleana for the broader Hilo area.”
Local artist Beckie Marshall has taken artistic lead in creating the mural, which has about 40 panels that come together to form a cohesive story. Handprints from keiki attending the Island of Hawaii YMCA spring and summer camps create the foundation for each panel.
“(The handprints) represent (keiki’s) presence and their future while reminding you to consider them,” Marshall said. “What I’ve learned from working with kids for decades is that they just want you to be genuine and present in their lives. Their energy is wonderful, and I’m thankful to the Y for opening their camp, so keiki can be part of this project.”
The mural’s design delves into the Peninsula’s past as it incorporates foliage that once adorned the area and its surroundings. At the bottom of the panels, the art depicts two ti lei — one red for the past and one green for the future — to highlight the importance of blending the lessons of history with aspirations for the future.
“King Kamehameha I chose to grow kalo in the Waiakea Peninsula, because it was marshland until the breakwall was built in Hilo Bay,” Marshall said. “The wall was made for human protection, but it did change the landscape. It’s a great example of how we have to consider both past and future. It’s the only way to go about life.”
Isemoto Contracting has been putting the panels up around Uncle Billy’s while also working on the hazard abatement for the upcoming demolition of the hotel.
The demolition was set for November, but might be pushed back a couple weeks, according to Lee Loy.
For more information about the current vision for the future of Banyan Drive and the Waiakea Peninsula, the Design Lab report can be found at bit.ly/waiakeapeninsuladesignlabsreport.
Email Kelsey Walling at kwalling@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
