KVIBE’s New Mural: Honoring Our Ancestors

To celebrate KVIBE’s milestone anniversary of 20 years, a new mural is now on display outside of the warehouse on Kamehameha IV Road, and this one is extra special. Honing in on the message of “honoring our ancestors”, the mural is a testament to all those who have gone through the KVIBE program over the years.  

Los Angeles-based artist Alfonso Garcia was the mastermind behind the mural. As he’s been connected to KVIBE for the past five years, staff thought he’d be the perfect fit for the project and reached out to him. “We also wanted to showcase a different type of art this time,” said KVIBE Coordinator Savelio “Nuki” Makasini. “We knew Alfonso specialized in spray paint murals and thought that would be a cool addition to our space.”  

The design features “Kalihi Valley” in bold lettering in the center. On the right, there is a portrait of Joseph Kahahawai Jr., which represents our ancestors and remembering their stories. He has become a big part of KVIBE’s foundation, as one of the story stops during the annual Ahupuaʻa Ride is visiting his gravesite at Puea Cemetery. In an Instagram post, Alfonso says, “this was my fourth portrait of him. His story is tragic but important, and I believe more people—especially outside Hawaii—should know his name and what he stood for.” The background is a Hawaiian landscape, featuring the ocean, mountains, and plants. It was important to KVIBE to include the ocean and waʻa in the mural because it shows their connection to their ancestors, as they often refer to bikes as “urban waʻa”, used to explore and build their community. The mountains represent their relationship with Hoʻoulu ʻĀina. Alfonso also chose to do the majority of the art in grayscale to give it a historical feel.  

In an Instagram post, Alfonso says, “the mural is more than paint – it's a tribute to Kalihi’s roots, a reminder of resilience, and a gift to the next generation.” KVIBE hopes the new artwork will remind all who see it to continue to honor and remember those who came before us and pass their stories to those who come after. “We wouldn’t have reached this 20-year mark without our ancestors,” said Nuki. “It was only right to honor them this year with this new mural.”