The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (HDOT) and Maui Economic Opportunity’s (MEO) Youth Services program dedicated two murals along Kūʻihēlani Highway in Kahului on August 27. The event included participation from county and state officials, with speeches by Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen Jr., HDOT Deputy Director of Highways Robin Shishido, State Senator Troy Hashimoto, and MEO leaders.
These murals are part of an ongoing effort by HDOT to enhance public spaces along its travel corridors through partnerships with local artists and community organizations. The department supplies materials and support, while community partners contribute creative direction.
The first mural, titled “Moʻolelo o Maui,” was completed in January by artists Matt Agcolicol and Bailey Onaga. It depicts Haleakalā and the demigod Maui harnessing the sun. A second mural, “Oneloa & Keone’ō’io,” was painted on July 31 by Agcolicol, Onaga, and students from MEO’s Youth Services program. This piece features a wave motif symbolizing connection across the island, as well as Pu’u Ola’i cinder cone and maiapilo blossoms.
Students involved in the project learned about public art before contributing their own artwork to help inspire the final design. Both murals are located adjacent to the Kahului Park & Ride at the intersection of Puʻunēnē Avenue and Kūʻihēlani Highway.
Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen Jr. commented on the collaborative nature of the project: “This mural is a beautiful tribute to what makes Maui unique: our connection to the ocean, our grounding in the land, and the kuleana we share in caring for both. It shows what we can accomplish when government, nonprofits, artists, and our youth come together, creating something greater than any one of us could have done alone.”
HDOT has indicated plans to partner with more community members for additional murals around Maui, including Lahaina. Interested parties are encouraged to contact HDOT Highways Acting Maui District Engineer Ty Fukuroku for further information.
HDOT Director Ed Sniffen stated: “HDOT is proud to showcase our gifted local artists and especially our youth with these two murals featuring Maui’s natural beauty. We want our travel corridors, such as this one along Kūʻihēlani Highway to be more than just asphalt and signs, but a visual reminder of how lucky we are to live in Hawai‘i. The partnerships developed through the murals connect government with community and give residents a feeling of ownership in the infrastructure they use for their daily commute.”
Photos from the event show participants blessing one of the new murals painted by local artists alongside students from MEO’s Youth Services program.
