The Focus
The Ocean Narrative for the Ocean Decade
Artist Statement: Kai Kaulukukui
“The statement, ‘There is Only One Ocean’, is number one on the UN’s Seven Principles of Ocean Literacy list, and is a powerful reminder that we’re all connected by our seas. For me growing up in Hawaii and spending countless hours in the ocean and on the shores of two islands there was one constant: besides my colorful reef fish buddies, every beach had plastics and other trash washed ashore. I remember thinking as a young child, ‘how are there pieces of plastic with so many different types of writing pressed into them, here in Hawaii?’ Then being taught about tides and the forces at sea that can disperse the world’s garbage into the Pacific Ocean and it all made sense to me; there is in fact only one ocean and it connects us all.
We chose to focus on the saying ‘There is only one ocean’ in its literal translation by using an old school block letter graffiti typography. After spending a few days in the neighborhood and meeting local children who attend the school we were painting, we decided to translate the message into Spanish. There is a connection a person can feel when viewing art and we hope this message will reach the next generation of ocean stewards.”
— Kai Kaulukukui
Action Steps
• Bring your own! Say no to single-use plastics.
• Eat as local as possible.
• Reduce your carbon footprint and energy consumption.
• Make sustainable seafood choices. Vote for the environment and call your representatives.
• Educate yourself about what’s happening to our oceans.
Artist Statement: Taylor Reinhold
“We only have one ocean; a valuable lesson in life to learn at a young age. We are all connected through our inherent nature to learn from one another and continue traditions of storytelling through generations. The ocean played a huge part in my life since I was a child growing up on the coast of Northern California. Watching whales breach on my father’s boat in the coastal fog was truly mystical. Reflecting on those times, I remember watching the trash pile up at the beach of our local surf spot and thinking about how sad I felt. This made a huge impression on my ocean stewardship, I want to make a positive change for the oceans.
Today I try to make a positive change through art. When Kai’ili Kaulukukui and I got to East Boston, we spent time in the neighborhood learning about the culture. I heard children and families speaking Spanish to each other from all over central and South America. I could hear the echo from windows in apartments bumping cumbia and Latin bass. Influenced by this experience, we decided to translate our original sketch of 'We Only Have ONE Ocean' into Spanish to better represent the local community.
Learning about the ebb and flow of the tides and the distance these amazing marine mammals can migrate in a year made me realize the ocean is all one. The future
of our seas desperately needs all of our attention; one part of the world can help us on the other side of the planet. Everyone can unite in protecting our oceans and marine life.”
— Taylor Reinhold
