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Wyland finishes repainting of two whale murals

Nina Wu
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COURTESY WYLAND

Wyland stood in front of the repainting of the “New Millennium” mural at the Airport Center building.

Wyland completed the repainting of two whale murals at the Airport Center building and signed his name on them during a dedication ceremony this evening.

The large murals flank both sides of the 14-story Airport Center building at 3049 Ualena St.

On one side, he repainted “Hawaiian Humpbacks,” a pod of humpback whales swimming across an ocean with one breaching high into the air. Wyland said she’s “a ton larger” since she’s had 17 years to grow. On the other side, he repainted “New Millennium” which has whales swimming at the bottom and Diamond Head in the background. Wyland added a sun over the crater.

Wyland dedicated one side to American marine biologist and ocean activist Sylvia Earle and the other to Polynesian Voyaging Society president Nainoa Thompson.

“It’s more beautiful than the original,” Wyland told the Star-Advertiser. “Thank you to the people of Hawaii for helping me preserve one of my favorite Whaling Walls. This is also dedicated to the people who live and visit here.”

Wyland began restoration work on the two murals, which he had originally painted in 1999, starting Monday morning. He was able to complete the murals after a dispute over contract terms with the building’s owner, Hawaiian Airlines, were resolved in late August. The large, outdoor murals are among a series of 100 that he has painted all over the world in an effort to promote marine life conservation.

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