Meala Bishop Artist and Water Rights Activist

Native Stories - A podcast by Indigenous people of the world

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Meala Bishop retired as a community arts specialist role in Ko'olaupoko, O’ahu after spending 23 years in the community, teaching, not just art, but many things impressed upon living in the islands oceans, mountains, and lo'i. From Meala "Art helps create ways of knowing and understanding. It helps us express our internal mo'olelo through external expression. Visual literacy explains through creative processes our visions of how we see the world and our relationship to the environment. The artist by sharing the spiritual essences that surround our environment through visual language & symbolism celebrates their connection to life and place. Through art we can explore Hawaiian culture, history and cultural diversity - culture through art. Kaona, metaphors, 'olelo, and hōʻailona help connect us to language and culture. I feel compelled to express hope, honor the past, immerse myself in my natural surrounding and share its knowledge. My wahi pana are Waiehu, Maui, Koko Head, Kaʻalaea, Waiāhole, and Punaluʻu,Oʻahu." You can find Meala’s art at Kaiser Moanalua, The Dawson Collection, Honolulu, Disney’s Aulani Resort, South Shore Market Ward Stores, for purchase at Na Mea Hawaii, private collections and on Instagram under the hashtag #mealaaloha You can email her at maoliartinspirehawaii@gmail Recording credits Windward Community College @windwardcc Journalism Class Marielle Lewis (Editing) Sangha Webster (Recording) @thewebgem24 Noa Helela (Interviewer) @noa_isagirlsname Kimberlee Bassford (Journalism instructor) Ikaika Bishop (Podcast instructor) @ikaikaflies Mahalo Atherton and Castle Foundations @hkl_castle for the financial support