Public Enemy once stated It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back, a politically-charged, anti-government declaration, as well as the title of their 1988 magnum opus. Although the album's political views were based on activism and social change, revolving directly around the ideals of Louis Farrakhan, this candid statement still applies in present times. To put it in a local metaphor, Hawaii could be considered a nation, a sovereign nation if you will, depending on who you're speaking to. The wrong doing of "our government" has led to tense and edgy feelings; a sense of resentment left us with strong-willed activists, willing to fight for our rights. As an individual, each one of us who make up this nation of millions is comparable to a grain of sand. Each grain is completely unique from the next; having it's own personality, look, feel, color (skin), size and history. Now if you fuse millions of grains of sand together, you get a much more dense, powerful and compact end product. It's as simple as "strength in numbers," which in turn yields strength of character, will, determination, resolve and tenacity. If we continue to apply this in an assertive, but positive manner, we just might be able to rise above this undesired and illicit fascist dictatorship. It's just a matter of collaborating our ideals and continuing to vigorously take action, as well as educating the youth.
The design of this shirt was laborious because of the time and effort it took, as well as the technique used (stippling). Stippling is basically a drawing or painting comprised of "numerous small dots or specks." Rest assured, all that were involved experienced an acute case of carpal tunnel syndrome. Whatever it takes to get the job done! Each stippled dot represents the aforementioned grains of sand, each representing the population of Hawai'i-nei, while the art featured on this are all direct associations with everything Hawai'i: mountain ranges, rainbows, lush greenery, immaculate white (and black) sand beaches, etc. The back features a tonal crown in clear gel. Alongside is a custom New York Mets caked in purple with a black brim and top button and white eyelets and Mets logo.
