Let me Be' Kine

Since water is the driving force in Nature, the more I get older, the more I’m wanting to be more like her, water. I ask myself, how can I be a bit more fluid, bubbly, and dynamic in ALL my creative endeavors, educational outreach projects, and basically life itself… so I become like a wave moving across and through the waters. Haven't we all wanted that feeling of excitement in our lives, ocean waves waving? Or can we humans merely enjoy land (locked) living. Yet, alas... breathing and creating on the continents can be a blessing, if we are inspired to imagine, design, and actually do art. So, this is kin to being 'like a mermaid' version of land-living, exploring and forming art creations into activism, or riding the new movement wave of ARTIVISM!

I believe, if not now, then when, and if not me, than who? Who will be the artsy mermaid on land reflecting the love of the seas? In this I commit, diving into my ripples that will hopefully transform into waves of happiness, healing, and joy for our planet, with the possibility of making a difference in human and nonhuman lives through the “art-actions” themselves.

Whether it be through taking environmental images under the seas in my mermaid tail, digging and preparing the soil and seeds for a beautiful regenerative garden to grow, or creating an educational awareness Be' Kine Care Campaign for the Hawaiian Islands and beyond, my hands just can’t stop keeping to themselves. I have to admit, this is a good problem to have.

Four years ago, after seeing so much degradation affecting the marine life in the ocean from discarded plastics and fishing gear, harmful sunscreens, run off pollutants, and cigarettes trash littering the beaches, I became frustrated and upset that nothing was being done to help our disappearing ecosystems, so I turned my pencils and scissors into a collage of sea-turtle, mermaid, and ocean cut-outs with emphasing words.

This one piece then rolled into a poster ALOHA art campaign, sharing with an array of businesses, hotels, tourists, and locals alike; eventually launching into an art contest, promotional media art shared at ocean events, followed by being a guest speaker at Rotary Clubs and local radio stations sharing educational “Dolphin Talks” to support our "aina and moana" ('land and sea' in the Hawaiian language.)

Literally taking the old-fashioned approach of “hands-on” and “word of mouth,” my life suddenly fell into the urgency of this campaign. Sleepless nights of writing letters to CEOs of corporations, celebrities, local businesses, creating school art lessons, and then finally applying for an outreach grant with Booking.com's Cares fund, so I could continue the vital importance of this artivism outreach.

I described my project with solutions so universally, all could participate. Here’s a snapshot of what I presented to the Cares fund:

My Be' Kine project for the Hawaiian Islands incorporates all 4 pillars of the Cares fund: Strengthening Local Communities, Conserving Natural Resources, Preserving and Promoting Local Culture, as well as Tourism Dispersal of Environmental Stewardship through active and easy choices for the locals and tourists enjoying the islands annually. The Hawaiian Islands are currently facing four main problems, and speedy viable solutions of sustainability is crucial, now and into the future.

#1 Protecting the fragile dying coral reefs and diminishing sea life. A solution example is: replacing products in stores with biodegradable reef-safe sunscreens, reducing beach and land trash, and placing a "level" quota on using harmful fertilizers at all resorts and golf courses.

#2 Advertise ”island sustainability" across media channels with environmental friendly products available for locals and tourists to buy (the yearly increase of tourism: 9.3 million in 2017, 4.6% increase from 2016 and climbing.)

#3 Reducing sales and consumption of single-use plastics (bottles, straws, and cups.)

#4 Instilling the "aloha" back into island living by using indigenous Hawaiian cultural practices of respecting Nature. Solutions covering short eco-videos aired on airlines, in restaurants, hotels, and schools with outreach of children + community doing environmental poster art, to then be used as "awareness signs" displayed at all public beaches and parks. Partnering with businesses and companies in supporting the various outreach measures. Ex: reducing single use plastics by replacing and using paper straws, recyclable bottles and bags; plus installing H20 filling stations at resorts, hotels, and shopping areas. Key is sourcing eco-friendly products made in Hawaii (and mainland eco-companies), offering sustainable choices for consumers. Ex: "Raw Love," reef friendly sunscreen made on Maui and "ChicoBags," all ChicoBag rePETe products contain certified Repreve fabric which are made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles.

Launching on Maui first, the Be' Kine Care Campaign will extend to the other Hawaiian Islands of Oahu, Big Island, Kauai, Lanai, and Molokai, as well as being a "model" to be shared worldwide with other tourist destinations and hotspots, especially those sharing coastal shorelines.

Booking.com asked me, “If this project becomes successful, how would it affect the tourism industry?” My reply…
This is a "win-win" model with the power of IGNITING A MOVEMENT of HOPE & HEALING as a "wave" of life, even when one is on holiday. Tourists and locals alike will be participating TOGETHER in having a happy impact on the areas they're visiting, instead of leaving more trash and ocean debris for the communities and businesses to clean-up and tend with after they're gone.

The Be' Kine Care Campaign is a restorative and preventative model offering practical tools to succeed in sustainable solutions for our ocean planet, allowing individuals and businesses the opportunities in "leaving a legacy" (giving back), social responsibility, and feeling proud to be "making a difference" for themselves, their families, and their future. With the possibility of inspiring those to continue living in their new "eco-waves" while visiting other island communities, at home, or traveling to tourist destinations across the globe. Essentially, the Be' Kine Care Campaign keeps Hawaii beautiful, as well as our lives, and those we love!

For exploration on this amazing planet, I truly believe art can move mountains, yet for this artsy mermaid, she prefers making waves of hope, healing, happiness, from the sea to thee! Oh yes, she reminded me to leave you with another wave, a joy wave of Be' Kine cut-out ARTIVISM!