Ke'elikolani Middle School, Honolulu, HI
YOU CAN NAVIGATE
education Project • 2023
YOU CAN NAVIGATE
An empowering mural at Ke'elikolani Middle School in Honolulu, featuring a woman with flowing turquoise hair emerging from ocean waves alongside a whale and tropical elements. The piece delivers its message — 'You Can Navigate Any Current' — through imagery that connects Hawaiian ocean culture with personal resilience.
Gallery
Artist's Note
“Creating art for Hawaiian students meant working within a culture that has a profound, ancestral relationship with the ocean. The message 'You Can Navigate Any Current' speaks to both literal ocean knowledge and the challenges of growing up. I wanted it to feel Hawaiian, not just like a Colorado artist painting on an island.”
— Rachel Dinda
Inspiration
Hawaii's navigational heritage — the Polynesian wayfinders who crossed the Pacific by stars and currents. That same navigational spirit applies to young people finding their way through adolescence. The ocean metaphor isn't just poetic in Hawaii — it's cultural DNA.
The Process
I collaborated with teachers and students to ensure cultural authenticity and relevance. The turquoise palette references Hawaiian waters specifically — different from Colorado blue, different from Atlantic blue. The whale was included at students' request, as humpback whales hold special significance in Hawaiian culture and appear off the coast during school months.
Community Impact
The school has adopted 'Navigate Any Current' as an unofficial motto. Teachers tell me students reference the mural during challenging times, and it's become the backdrop for graduation and achievement photos. The phrase has taken on a life of its own within the school community.
Project Details
Location
Ke'elikolani Middle School, Honolulu, HI
Year
2023
Client
Ke'elikolani Middle School
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