Marya Mann : Blog : A Love Story: Nanawale

A Love Story: Nanawale

Because of You, something magnificent became possible…

To friends, families, and volunteers of ArtWavEs,

Nanawale means “to see clearly” — and that is exactly what happened when we gathered to make art, paint, move, laugh, and listen together.

We saw love and creativity being born.

We saw love in action — in the way children, parents, and ʻohana relaxed into the joy of painting, shared purpose, and easy collaboration rooted in care, compassion, and creativity. At the ArtWavEs (AWE) painting collaboration, we witnessed a community enchanted and enriched by friendly acceptance, imagination, and hope.

What emerged was far more than art.

Amid excited eyes and happy voices, families connected through shared visions of a world that values peace and belonging. By painting Peace Flags, they imagined what brings joy and healing — and in doing so, declared a quiet ceasefire in their own hearts and homes, which is where peace begins.

We saw rainbows, whales, cosmic night skies, and luminous scenes, tender and light, appearing on the silk and vilene surfaces. Expressive, impressionistic, a bicycle, marine creatures, the Sun — all became part of the shared dreaming that happens when people create together, in ensemble, or in Olelo Hawai’i, i ka hui (ee kah HOO-ee)“in the group.” Some painted with a Monet-like Impressionism. Others tended to details. We saw words like “love” and “family” inscribed in vibrant color. By trusting the breadth of originality and shared intelligence running through the generations, new friendships formed, old bonds were renewed, and many feelings we love about life blossomed as purely as a flower…many petals, from one seed.

WHERE EVERYONE BELONGS

Most of all, we felt a Culture of Care coming alive.

With paintbrushes as magic wands, children and adults collaborated on a future we truly want to see.

Nanawale itself carries a powerful story — a community reshaped after the 2018 Kīlauea eruption, and blessed with resilience, originality, and renewal. Gathering here with the knowing that “We Are Transformers” — that we are the change we want to see — felt timely, tender, and true. And incredibly fun!

WHAT IF?

What if the antidote to eco-anxiety, future-fear, and thinking ‘everything is too much’ — is a table full of paint, shared care, and permission to create? What if, instead of asking children to be brave in a frightening world, we invite them to remake a new world through the joys of painting, drawing, and moving in tune with Nature, guided by their creative souls?

To our volunteers: Thank YOU for showing up with responsibility, kindness, and joy.

Special gratitude to Sherri White, the extraordinary organizer who led an inspired team at the Nanawale Community Association — gathering greens, preparing chile, and hosting a feast for 50 with grace and tireless care. Between her chef’s hat and angel wings, she never faltered. Thank You!

To Eriness, who arrived in the early morning hours to pack, drive from Kona to Puna, mentor children all day, and turn load-in and clean-up into its own quiet art form — Thank You!

To Cindy Avinger and Dr. Koakane Green, whose behind-the-scenes preparation of silk, vilene, art materials, and our travelling “Art Temple” was priceless — Thank You!

To the Nanawale Community Association, what a beautiful spirit you carry. Special thanks to Toddy, Jacepth, and Adam for donating their time and care to the children and families. And to Mary for the heart-warming photos! Thank You!

Volunteering with ArtWavEs is not just about helping — it is about practicing how to be a good relative, how to belong, how to attune and share energy wisely, like trees in a forest supporting one another so the whole ecosystem can thrive.

To our donors: you know who you are — you keep this work alive. ArtWavEs would not be possible without you. You matter. You rock. You love like there is not only a beautiful tomorrow — but many tomorrows – and that they will be good. Thank You!

To our parents and caregivers: Thank You for trusting the process and allowing beauty, mess, and magic to unfold.

To our young artists: your colors, courage, and creativity are gifts to this world. Keep shining your light and feeling your love!

One parent shared afterward:
“Thank you so very much for putting together this wonderful class. My daughter had a great time and made her first real friend here in Hawaiʻi… I am so grateful.”

Moments like these remind us why this work matters. As Viktor Frankl taught, when we know our why, we can endure almost any what.

Our why is clear: nurturing children’s creativity and compassion as essential rites of passage — the very energies our societies need to regenerate. Through Peace Flags and shared creation, confidence is restored, trauma is softened, belonging is renewed, and the creative spirit is re-energized.

As these garlands of peace travel outward, they invite others to look again and ask: What kind of world do we want to live in? — and then — How do I help to create it?

The call for Peace Arts events and classes is growing, and we warmly welcome new volunteers and mentors who feel drawn to serve where joy, color, and connection are most needed. Those who show up with honesty, love for children, and a willingness to learn often grow into Peace Arts Guides over time.

Cultures of Care are created from the inside out — and they grow from love stories like the one we share from Nanawale.

If you have ever felt the thrill of working toward something greater than yourself, with supportive friends, know that you are already part of this story.

With deep gratitude and aloha,
Marya
ArtWavEs Peace Arts Guide

P.S. If you would like to support ArtWavEs and help fund our upcoming Teacher Training — expanding opportunities for children to create peace through art — please visit —https://www.gofundme.com/f/bn2wcd-children-for-peace

To learn more about ArtWavEs, please visit — www.pacificartwaves.org

To volunteer or teach, please reach out here — https://www.maryamann.com/contact-us/