The Projector: The Sublime and the Swept

Members of President Obama’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders visited the Ho’oulu ‘Aina Nature Park in Kalihi Valley on Wednesday. The park sits on more than 100 acres of land that was spared from development.

Commission members and others hold hands as they introduce themselves. The nature park is run by Kokua Kalihi Valley, a non-profit health organization that recognizes that the land is an integral part of community health.

Nature park caretaker Casey Jackson talks about the important cultural meanings of place and connections to ancestors. Jackson also asks each of the visitors to share information about ancestors of their own.

One of the visitors to Ho’oulu ‘Aina Nature Park goes barefoot in muddy grass.

The tour includes this farming area where baby kale sprouts. The land was originally cleared of invasive bamboo by a group of Chuukese women.

A ceremony unfolds Monday at Cathedral Catholic Academy on Nuuanu Avenue. Its students partnered with others from the Pacific Buddhist Academy and the Mele Murals program to design and paint a mural.

The two schools worked together to bridge faith barriers and create a mural that integrates faith, Hawaiian culture, music, language, art, history and traditions.

Students from the two schools enjoy the Monday ceremony celebrating the completion of the mural at Cathedral Catholic Academy.

A city maintenance crew sorts through trash and the possessions of the homeless near Keawe and Ilalo streets Monday during another sweep of a Kakaako homeless encampment. On Tuesday, a federal judge rejected a request for a temporary restraining order to stop the sweeps.

A woman pushes away a cart loaded with belongings as the crew begins its work Monday in Kakaako.

A single tent was set back up along Ilalo Street after the sweep, but it remains to be seen how long it will be allowed to remain.