RECENT MEDIA - CALLEY'S PUBLIC WORK
Art and Soul for the Earth
Big Island of Hawai'i
Aloha in action: The Rama Tree Foundation’s mission to restore the earth
When it comes to restoring ecosystems and rekindling our relationship with the natural world, The Rama Tree Foundation (TRT) is leading the charge. Founded in 2010 by conservation artist Calley O’Neill on Hawai’i Island, TRT blends the power of public art with Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) to inspire individuals and communities to reconnect with the land and act on its behalf. With its guiding principle—“Take care of the land, and it will take care of you”—the foundation seeks to awaken a global movement for environmental restoration.
Art as a catalyst for change
At the heart of TRT’s work is art that speaks to the soul and stirs action. O’Neill, selected from over 300 artists, is creating an eight-wall, football-field-length mural for the Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole. This monumental stained-glass mosaic, to be viewed by three to four million travelers annually, is more than just a visual masterpiece—it’s a cultural and ecological beacon.
The mural, rich in vibrant colors and textures, will portray Hawaiian wisdom carriers, or Kupuna, who embody the essence of Aloha and Mālama ‘Āina (love and care for the land). The anonymous nominator who submitted TRT to the local change makers series reflected on the mural’s deeply rooted messages, writing: “Our Kupuna teach us that the quality of our relationship with nature will determine the nature of our future”. By depicting how the land once flourished and how it can thrive again, TRT inspires viewers to imagine and act toward a world where restoration and abundance go hand in hand.
Guided by Kupuna wisdom
Central to TRT’s mission is its collaboration with Hawaiian Kupuna, who serve as repositories of mo’olelo (stories) and stewards of cultural and environmental knowledge. These elders have guided O’Neill in her creative process, emphasizing the importance of depicting only the beauty and abundance of Hawai’i’s land and its potential.
“Our Kupuna have asked her to depict only the beauty and abundance of how the land was, can be, and must be again,” notes the nominator. This reverence for traditional wisdom and ecological integrity is what sets TRT apart. Through its work, the foundation preserves cultural heritage while fostering a global understanding of sustainability and restoration.
A global vision with local roots
While TRT’s work is deeply rooted in Hawai’i’s ecosystems and traditions, its vision reaches far beyond the islands. The foundation’s initiative, The Restoration: A Million Actions to Restore Earth’s Ecosystems, invites people from all walks of life to participate in the restoration of forests, soil, water, agriculture, energy sources, and oceans.
“There is enough meaningful work for everyone to enjoy a good life,” says the nominator, emphasizing that restoration is both a necessity and an opportunity for unity. Through bold art installations and educational programs, TRT aims to inspire individuals and communities worldwide to take collective action, guided by the wisdom of Indigenous traditions.
Art meets ecology for a better future
O’Neill’s work as a conservation artist is not just about creating beauty—it’s about fostering a deeper connection to nature. “The wisdom of Hawai’i has profoundly transformed her life, and she is convinced that the spirit of Aloha, especially Aloha ‘Āina and Mālama ‘Āina, can save the world,” shares the nominator.
Through public art, storytelling, and collaboration with Indigenous leaders, TRT reminds us of the profound interconnectedness between humanity and the Earth. It’s an approach that doesn’t just address environmental issues but also touches hearts, sparking a collective commitment to healing our planet.
Hope through action
As The Rama Tree Foundation continues its work, it remains a shining example of how art, Indigenous wisdom, and community engagement can create meaningful change. With every mosaic tile and every story told, TRT builds a legacy of restoration and hope—one that invites us all to take part. If you want to learn more about TRT’s work and how you can get involved, visit their website here.
By listening to the wisdom of the land and those who have tended it for generations, TRT offers a vision of a thriving world where people and nature coexist in harmony. As one Kupuna’s teachings remind us, the path forward lies in honoring and caring for the land—because in doing so, it will care for us.
This article was originally published on November 27, 2024
Meet the mosaic artist behind an upcoming large-scale glass mural at Kona Airport
Hawaiʻi Public Radio | By Catherine Cruz
Published April 11, 2025 at 3:08 PM HST
If you've flown in and out of the Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport recently, you may have seen the beginning of what’s to be a very large stained glass mural.
It will consist of eight panels, two of which are expected to be installed later this year. The project has been years in the making, but it is taking shape with the help of key volunteers and kūpuna.
HPR was invited into the studio of mosaic artist Calley O'Neill on a recent trip to Waimea. We also met a couple of her volunteers who shared that this project is a true labor of love,
We talked to O’Neill, longtime volunteer Julia Fairchild, and team member Lamar Yoakum, who has the most experience working in this medium.
O’Neill shared that in the middle of this project, she is losing her lease on her home studio and will have to relocate. She will be selling some of her previous work to finance the move. For more information, click here.
This interview aired on The Conversation on April 11, 2025. The Conversation airs weekdays at 11 a.m.
Community
‘Labor of love:’ Artist enters 5th year creating stained glass mosaic mural for Kona airport
May 31, 2025 5:00 p.m.
In a studio tucked away on a quiet street in Waimea, artist Calley O’Neill is working on a 7-foot by 7-foot stained glass mosaic of native Hawaiian kukui and māmane trees.
She has completed a variety of other stained glass mosaics, including a pueo (Hawaiian owl), which was sketched out on paper and brought to life like a puzzle, one glass piece at a time.
Artist Calley O‘Neill works on a mosaic piece at her Waimea studio that will be installed as part of a large-scale mural at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport. (Tiffany DeMasters/Big Island Now)
The pueo and tree arch are just two of the elements included in a multimedia art mural that will be installed across eight 12-foot walls that span 300 feet at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport.
In 2018, the Hawai‘i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts commissioned O’Neill to create this mural with a theme of “Mālama Aina.” The Big Island artist applied for the commission and was chosen unanimously from more than 300 applicants.
This will be the O’Neill’s third state project. She also created stained glass mosaics at Pukalani Elementary School on Maui and Kipapa Elementary School on O‘ahu.
Calley O’Neill finished the stained glass mural Na Wao Ola A`o Pi`ilani (The Life Giving Forests of Maui) at Pukalani Elementary School in 2017. Maui Now file photo
Karen Ewald, executive director of the foundation, said the state has provided $512,000 for the mural.
O’Neill is seeking additional donations to bring her vision to life. She spent the first couple of years researching the project and consulting with the Native Hawaiian community. The actual art work began in 2020 and with the rising costs of materials, she said the total cost of the mural now will be $2 million, about $250,000 per wall for art that is a meticulous, slow process.
“It’s a deep mural,” O’Neill said. “It’s a labor of love.”
O’Neill said she needs to raise approximately $1.5 million to complete the project.
“We trust that when there’s more glass on the wall [at its airport location in the Transportation Security Administration’s new screening area ], that people will come forward and make bigger donations,” she said.
Naghme Najafi places freshly cut and cleaned pieces of glass into the tree arch mosaic piece for the Mālama ‘Aina mural that will be installed at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport.
(Tiffany DeMasters/Big Island Now)
The mural also is comprised of mineral paint and lava, but the mosaic pieces of art are the focal point of each panel, O’Neill said.
“Nobody does mosaic where there’s free-standing and paint around,” O’Neill said. “So it’s a highly experimental project.”
O’Neill is a self-described conservation and cultural artist who has lived on the Big Island since 1980.
Her art, which spans more than four decades, finds its expression primarily in public stained glass mosaic murals that honor the Hawaiian people and their ancestral wisdom. She also does large, provocative interspecies wildlife thangka (Tibetan Buddhist) paintings, according to O’Neill’s website.
Current work on mural panels and descriptions at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport. (Photo courtesy: Calley O’Neill website)
While the project is being overseen by the art foundation, O’Neill said it is being guided by kūpuna and Hawaiian practitioners, with each 12-by-40-foot panel depicting a different theme, starting with “aloha.” The other panels highlight the ocean, forests, living water, voyagers, horticulture/aquaculture, indigenous culture and aloha for future generations.
The mural begins with a mosaic image of Kona’s kumu and Hawaiian practitioner Kumu Keala Ching chanting. O’Neill said Ching is a beloved kupuna and recognizable in the painting by his iconic silhouette with his flowing silver hair. He represents the roots of the Hawaiian people and the Aloha spirit.
O’Neill also is encouraging the community to volunteer their time to be part of the creation. She currently has three regular volunteers helping her trace, cut and clean the stained glass pieces in her studio several days a week in Waimea. It requires precision and patience.
“Every piece should be beautiful in and of itself and fit where it belongs, so that I can do final fitting before all the pieces are in,” O’Neill said.
Naghme Najafi, who also is a stained glass artist, has been volunteering at O’Neill’s studio several hours a week for the past 15 months, cutting glass pieces on a ring saw.
“This is a monumental work and I’m excited and happy every day when I come to work,” Najafi said.
Julia Fairchild has been working with O’Neill since 2008, helping her build the artist’s online presence through websites and newsletters. She also takes the cut glass pieces and makes sure they match the pattern piece, made out of mylar. She then cleans the traced line off the glass.
“It’s a real honor and privilege and responsibility,” she said. “I make sure it’s exactly, exactly, exactly lined up.”
Julie Anne Chia has helped do finishing work on the pieces for about a year.
Naghme Najafi cuts glass on a ring saw for the Mālama ‘Aina mural’s mosaic stained glass elements. The mural will be installed at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport.
(Tiffany DeMasters/Big Island Now)
Julia Fairchild compares the cut glass with its traced piece to ensure they match and the lines are cleaned off the final product. (Tiffany DeMasters/Big Island Now)
When a friend first invited her to help on the mural, Chia recalled not having time. Once she came out to O’Neill’s studio and saw the scope of the project, she was overwhelmed by its size and community significance.
She said it is amazing to see the transition of the project going from an idea to “all just coming together.”
Background mineral painting was completed in 2022. Construction of stained glass mosaics of kupuna and clarifying elements, like the pueo, are in full swing with the help of volunteers.
All of the wall one stained glass mosaics are complete, and most of the wall two elements are complete.
O’Neill and her team worked on the painting portion of the mural during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. O’Neill said she and the volunteers were able to paint for six months full-time at the airport.
But for the past year and a half, O’Neill and the volunteers haven’t been able to work at the airport due to construction of the new TSA security area. The artist anticipates getting access to the walls in two months.
O’Neill doesn’t mind the delay getting back into the airport because the work on the mosaic pieces takes the most time.
The project was initially expected to be completed in two more years, but O’Neill thinks it likely will take until 2030.
Anyone interested in volunteering on the mural or donating to the project can reach out to O’Neill directly via email at [email protected]. She can also be reached at 808-987-7003.
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