This is one of six public art murals that Michelle Obregon has designed and produced on the Big Island of Hawaii. Michelle is the Graphic Arts and Video Instructor at the Konawaeana High School in Kealakekua, Hawaii. All the painting was carried out by Obregon's students and other members of the local art community. "Honu" is the Hawaiian green sea turtle, a much beloved native animal. The mural is located at the Hale Halawaii Cultural Center in Kailua Kona.

BIRDS OF PARADISE
by Master Painter Michelle Obregon and Konawaeana High School Muralists
Completed in Winter, 2003
Contributed by Gerald Thurman of Tempe, Arizona

This mural is also located at the Hale Halawaii Cultural Center and features the endangered Nene and Hawaiian crows. Michelle Obregon's art classes are working on two art projects in 2008. The first exhibit is part of the "American Art Parade" which started in Chicago in 1999 with the famous "Cows on Parade." This year the collection is called "It's a Honu World" and features depictions of green sea turtles on display all over the big island. Obregon's entry is online here. (More examples of this tradition can be found on RTA here: Cowboy Boots in Wyoming & Bulldogs in Indiana.)

Obregon's class is also working a new mural at Konawaeana High School which should be completed at the end of summer. More information about the artist is online here.

Location:
Hale Halawaii Cultural Center
75-5760 Alii Drive
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740

Photographed by Gerald Thurman 7/30/08
Posted on RoadTrip America 8/08