A blessing was held Tuesday for the newly finished mural by artist Fathima Mohiuddin on the exterior of the former Sears at Queen Ka‘ahumanu Center. The mural was inspired by the theme of “warrior women.” MATT PIERCE photos

The Maui News

A new mural that reflects the artistic interpretation of a recorded talk-story session between Kekoa Enomoto of ‘Ahahui Ka’ahumanu and Queen Ka’ahumanu Center’s General Manager Kauwela Bisquera was blessed and displayed Tuesday at the former Sears location at the mall in Kahului. 

Painted by Fathima Mohiuddin, the mural is a project of the nonprofit Maui Public Art Corps. 

“Maui’s tradition for generations, Queen Ka’ahumanu Center’s collaboration with Maui Art Corps culminates the Center’s 50th anniversary celebrations in 2022,” Bisquera said in a news release Wednesday. “We are thrilled to pay homage to our Center’s namesake through public art and further a community mo’olelo informed process rooted in place.” 

“Warrior women” was the theme Mohiuddin started with, having listened to the conversation between Enomoto and Bisquera. 

“There was a warm softness in their voices accompanied by a striking sense of sturdiness,” Mohiuddin said. “Nohe (U’u-Hodgins) spoke of women as carriers of the emotional work of society when we chatted about her upbringing in Kahului, her children and her recent venture into politics.”

Over a six-week design period and consultations, Mohiuddin heard stories of “journey, of nurturing, of fortitude, of community” as well as “of people coming together to celebrate history, heritage and cultures that came from abroad.”

The artist was inspired by the speakers’ dialogue that included a deep love for their home in Hawaii, a love for aloha and kindness, as well as giving and sharing. 

“I placed the naupaka front and center as I thought to myself ‘this is where love lives,'” Mohiuddin said of the mural. 

Bisquera participated in Maui Public Art Corps’ “Hui Mo’olelo” workshop series with Kumu Leilehua Yuen in April. In June, she was paired with Enomoto, who’s also the chairwoman of the Pa’upena Community Development Corporation, for a recorded talk-story session. 

After two rounds of applications proposing how to interpret this story in mural form, artist Mohiuddin was selected by a community panel. Mohiuddin, who goes by @fatspatrol on social media, is an Indian, United Arab Emirates-born-and-raised, Canadian immigrant artist.

“Mahalo nui for the tremendous privilege of including me in this remarkable project,” Enomoto said. “I am truly honored. The mural is stunning; I am thrilled to see and feel its imagery, colors and spirit. Mahalo for the hugest holiday gift imaginable.”

The work was created in partnership with the Small Town Big Art initiative — a collaboration of Maui County and Hale Ho’ike’ike at the Bailey House/Maui Historical Society — and sponsored by Queen Ka’ahumanu Center, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Atherton Family Foundation, Fred Baldwin Memorial Foundation and Imua Family Services.

To listen to the recorded story, visit mauipublicart.org/fathima.