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Surf Art Kids Paints Kahuku Community
March 30, 2009
PRESS RELEASE

On March 28th, Surf Art Kids Hawaii Tour 2009, kicked of its first event called "Count Down to Earth Day" at Kahuku Community Center on the north shore of Oahu in partnership with Kahuku Village Association. Marine artist, and Surf Art Kids founder, Hilton Alves hoped to spread the message of environmental protection and usher in Earth Hour, also on the 28th, and Earth Day in April with this event. Hilton also announced that his Earth Day murals this year will be at Laie Elementary School. He plans on completing two murals for the school over a three-day period culminating on April 22nd.

"Countdown to Earth Day" included several activities throughout the day, starting with a beach clean up at Kahuku Beach. The 30 participants collected an estimated 1,200 pounds of trash in 2 hours. Most of the trash consisted of plastics from all over the world that float the pacific to this beach in vast amounts.

Following the beach clean up, Hilton began work on a mural he donated to the Kahuku Community Center. The artist's first mural of the year is featured on a 7 x 16 foot wall and depicts the old Kahuku Sugar Mill from the vantage point of the marine environment off of Kahuku Beach.

Representatives from Representative Michael Magaoay and Councilman Donovan DelaCruz's offices were on hand to thank the artist for his service to the community and present him with a certificate of appreciation. After painting the mural for 5 hours straight, the artist explained, "This painting is a tribute to the community, its history and the ocean."

A highlight of the event was a lecture by diver and environmental advocate Ricardo Taveira of Deep Ecology about sustainability, plastics in the ocean and how we can help save the environment. The 34 Surf Art Kids volunteers helped to conduct other activities including keiki face painting by Connie, keiki coloring station, two keiki murals initiated by the artist and painted by 25 children, live music with the band North Wind, a dance performance by U Dance Crew and ocean education by Beach Environmental Awareness Campaign Hawai'i.

Event coordinators also succeeded in collecting 60 pounds of non-perishable food that was donated to Hopeful Hearts & Giving Hands food bank. The community participants also won door prizes donated by Hilton Alves and event sponsors Go Nuts Hawaii, Da Hui, Giovanni's Shrimp Truck, Deep Ecology, Pizza Hut Hawaii, Taco Bell, Laie Chop Suey, Everyday Balloons and Gifts, and Beach Environmental Awareness Campaign Hawaii.
For more information about, "Surf Art Kids Paints Kahuku Community" please visit www.hiltonsurfart.com.br, www.surfartkidstour.blogspot.com or email nrtshrlv@gmail.com.