To raise awareness about ocean conservation, Stephanie Hung ’21 spent two weeks painting a mural at Wet ’n’ Wild Hawaii that depicts a wondrous ocean scene with a hammerhead shark, indigenous fish, coral and the reef surrounding an islet in Kane‘ohe.
Friends and family cheered last month as she unveiled her colorful work of art, created through a partnership with her nonprofit Artists Save Waves and Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii. “I feel ecstatic,” she said. “Knowing not only that my art is on display at such a popular water park, but mainly because it sends a message to every guest who walks past it.”
The mural combines Hung’s love of art with her mission to educate others about ocean and marine life preservation. She first began using her artistic talents to make a difference by painting friends and family’s personal items – water bottles, shoes, and more – and asking them to make a donation to support oceans in exchange.
Ocean advocacy has long been her passion, after visiting Australia, where she saw the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef, and having grown up in Hong Kong, where the ocean was filled with pollution and deteriorating marine life. Last year, she started Artists Save Waves as a 501(c)(3) organization. With a business and marketing team in place, Hung formed the partnership with Sustainable Coastlines, which was co-founded by Punahou alumnus Kahi Pacarro ‘97. Together, they reached out to Wet ‘n’ Wild Hawaii, who gave Hung free rein to paint a 48-foot mural that lines the concession stand.
Looking to the future, Hung said she’s developing new partnerships to continue her work to support oceans. “I hope in five years that (Artists Save Waves) will be thriving and will be able to strongly support my goals by assisting other nonprofits, such as Sustainable Coastlines, to help the oceans and environment,” she said.