Seagull School Mural- A labor of Love and Laughs

The meeting was set by Chuck Larson “I’ll be at your house at 4pm”.

I had been warned about Larson’s negotiating tactics but I was ready. So, at five to four I walked out onto the reef in front my house and began fishing. On my second cast I hooked up a fish. As I was fighting it on my spinning reel, I saw Chuck approaching in his Kayak. I landed the fish (weke) about the same time Chuck landed his kayak.

Chuck brought refreshments and we discusses the Mural project for Seagull School.


“We’re dedicating a new building and I want you to do a magical mural. Kinda tropical and fun with lots of animals. This is the first thing I want the kids to see when they enter the building.”


There really was no negotiating. My strategy was I just said “Yes, anything you want”. And the Seagull school mural project was under way.


To complete the project by the time of the dedication of the new building I recruited my long time friend and fellow artist Jeff Pagay. In Moanalua high school Jeff and I wrote and drew the popular book “How Fo’ Surf”. They made us scrub it off the desks. Today it has sold out several printings and it’s second edition “How Fo’ Surf Bettah” is in production. Jeff and I are the only two people of our class to become professional artists.


Painting the Seagull School mural was a comic reunion. Jeff and I always are so in tuned with each other. In high School I taught Jeff how to use an airbrush. Then he blew past me with to become one of the top artists in the field of murals and banners. Jeff’s experience was super welcome as we worked fast and furious to procure the mural.


The magical place of Jungle Book meets Danger Island came to life with the help of several volunteers: John Garrette, Colleen, Ken Oku, John from Buzz’s, and Chasen Story. My friend and distributor Derek Scott had a burning desire to Sweep the huge parking lot so he helped in that way.


The new building and mural were dedicated on January 29 with Mihana Souza leading the music with Chuck and I taking turns on washtub base. The keiki of Seagull School danced the hula with Shalei Bagood. There was a bunch of other important people there as well. We all had a good time trying to find all the frogs the artists hid in the painting.