Official artist of the US Olympic Team and long time ocean advocate Robert Wyland, known around the world as simply “Wyland” was in the Territory this week, where he unveiled his newest creation—a majestic sealife mural— at the Tauese P.F. Sunia Ocean Center in Utulei on Wednesday.

The mural combines breathtaking underwater images and sea life from Aunu’u, Swains Island, Ta’u-Manu’a, and Fagatele Bay—all of which are part of the National Marine Sanctuaries of American Samoa. Wyland said the mural depicts the beauty of the Samoan Island and the message behind it is— “Protect what we have because they are treasures!”

He referred to the arrival of the Hokule’a and the timing of his mural and said, “I have never seen a more creative way to bridge the world of art and conservation. The goal is to protect and preserve and we need to remember that we are all connected: the reefs, ocean and us.”

Present at the dedication ceremony were Lt. Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga, leader of the World Wide Voyage Nainoa Thompson, Dr. Gregory S. Stone of Conservation International, founder of the Blue Planet Foundation Henk Rogers, Swains Island Rep. Su’a Alexander Eli Jennings, local mariner Capt. Wallace Thompson, crew members of the Hokule’a and Hikianalia, local artist Regina Meredith, and 85 students and teachers from Pacific Horizons, South Pacific Academy, Samoa Baptist Academy, and Faasao High School.

A total of six large canvases were lined up under tents in front of the Ocean Center where the kids - with Wyland’s help - painted pictures of their favorite sea creature. At the end of the program, numbers were drawn to determine which of the paintings would be going to which school for keepsake and display.

“This is to further inspire the school population to care for and respect our ocean in American Samoa,” said Gene Brighouse, Superintendent for the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa.

Local artist Regina Meredith and her students from the American Samoa Community College assisted with the project and received special recognition during the ceremony. With all the artists and ocean advocates in the territory this month, Brighouse said, “This is a really cool week of ‘ocean attention’.”

The kids really enjoyed themselves. In addition to painting, they also had a chance to showcase their dance skills and participate in a Q&A session with Brighouse.

The opening prayer was offered by Rev. Tini Filisi of the Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa in Gataivai.

It took Wyland six hours to complete the mural. Those who participate in the weekly Tae-Bo classes at the Ocean Center said that Wyland started painting a little before the class started and, stroking his brush to the beat of the Tae-Bo music, most of the mural was completed after an hour.

Wyland says his work is for the kids, “to teach them to be world changers.”

He said his whole reason for returning to the territory after six years was because his friend Nainoa Thompson had asked him to. With Wyland bringing the artwork, Nainoa and the Hokule’a bringing the World Wide Voyage, and local youngsters bringing their eagerness to learn—August has definitely been all about ‘bridging’ the different things that are needed in order to promote ocean conservation efforts and the spirit of sharing.

(Wyland was in the territory in 2008, just before the Festival of Pacific Arts. At that time he   painted the mural currently on the east facing wall of the A.P. Lutali Executive Office Building in Utulei, a project that took five days to complete).

He said American Samoans are true, gifted artists and reflected back to the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China where he, with the help of youngsters from 212 countries—American Samoa included—painted a nearly mile long marine themed mural with the Samoans ousting the competition and winning the top honor for their portion of the mural.

Samoa News caught up with local artist Regina Meredith who assisted in coordinating the Wyland project. Meredith said her role in the project was more from the educational side and it was an honor and privilege to be able to work alongside Wyland, whom she worked with before.

Meredith, along with Nainoa Thompson, had the privilege of signing their names on the completed mural, under Wyland’s name.

“We have been so blessed this week with the presence of all these ocean experts and environmentalists and it truly does promote our conservation efforts, as well as stress the importance of the ocean as what makes us thrive as people on earth,” said Brighouse.

She said she spoke to Nainoa two years ago and asked him to come “be a voice.” In addition, they also reached out to other ‘big names’ to help in carrying out this ‘mission’.

She said Henk Rogers, an ‘influential’ figure in climate change, was called in to share his efforts in reducing fossil fuel dependence. According to Brighouse, Rogers used his house as a model, taking it completely off the grid and “that’s the goal for the islands.”

Wyland dedicated the mural to “the champion of the ocean, my friend” Nainoa Thompson and the crew of the Hokule’a. After a little convincing, a modest Nainoa offered remarks and said the mural couldn’t be dedicated to him without recognizing the Hokule’a teachers.

He said the Hokule’a has been sailing the world for 39 years, encompassing 47,000 miles around the earth, and they have the ‘greatest teachers’. According to Nainoa, their goal is to look for that one island “Malama Honua” which really isn’t an island but a place for the kids.

“We want to bring kids from different backgrounds to look for this island, to let them know that there is hope and light for our planet, which is strained and in distress.”

Nainoa went on to talk about some of his mentors and teachers and said that it is through their work and vision that “we are here today”.

Wyland posed a challenge to everyone who was there that day: “You can make a difference. As a community, we should always try to work towards leaving something positive behind.”

Wyland, 58, has painted 100 murals over the past 27 years. He and Dr. Stone will be on board the Hokule’a voyage for the leg of the journey from here to Apia, Samoa. The Hokule’a will depart the territory today and will arrive again in Pago Pago later this month on Sept. 25 before heading out to Tonga and New Zealand.