Downtown Hilo mural highlights mobility, agriculture

A colorful new mural is being painted onto the wall of a downtown Hilo business.

Big Island Toyota has partnered with Temple Children and is sponsoring a mural that will decorate the wall behind the Hilo Farmers Market on Mamo Street.

Hilo artist Kristie Kosmides designed the mural and has a team of people helping her paint the 130-foot by 30-foot wall, weather permitting.

The mural will tell a story of mobility and its role in preserving the Big Island’s past, present and future as a sustainable and resilient agricultural community.

“Agriculture has always been an essential part of the Big Island,” Kosmides said. “The mural will represent the many farms near Waimea and how local food from those farms travels all the way down to Hilo.”

The mural is being painted on the side of a building owned by Reuben Villanueva and Hank Correa, who were happy to support the project.

“I personally think it’s a great addition to downtown,” Villanueva said. “I like that it’s going make Hilo just a bit more colorful.”

The mural is projected to be completed by the third or fourth week of this month, according to Casey Nishimura with Big Island Toyota.