ST*BA ARTWORK
Scroll down to view all ST*BA artwork, sorted from most to least recent. Each section includes a link to a unique project page. View a MAP of all artwork.
Makai to Mauka at the Wells Park Temporary Parking Lot
April 2021
Jaclynn Sabado-Eitel
Put-In-Cup installation art on Wells Street, Wailuku
Inspired by ʻōlelo noʻeau: Ka i'a mili i ka poho o ka lima (the fish fondled by the palm of the hand)
Visit the project page at smalltownbig.org/sabadoeitel
Photos above by Sean Hower
Jaclynn Sabado-Eitel
Put-In-Cup installation art on Wells Street, Wailuku
Inspired by ʻōlelo noʻeau: Ka i'a mili i ka poho o ka lima (the fish fondled by the palm of the hand)
Visit the project page at smalltownbig.org/sabadoeitel
Photos above by Sean Hower
Hoʻomau at the Victim Witness Building/
Maui County Children’s Peace Center
Hoʻomau (March 15 - April 1, 2021)
Kirk & Karla Kurokawa
Mural at the Victim Witness Building/ Maui County Children’s Peace Center located at 2103 Wells Street, Wailuku
Inspired by ʻōlelo noʻeau: He lei poina 'ole ke keiki (A lei never forgotten is the beloved child)
Inspired by 300 sketches created in February 2020 by the sixth grade class of Iao Intermediate School and by conversations with those working to develop the Maui County Children’s Peace Center, which will include various agencies and help children who are victims of abuse, Kirk's piece was unveiled with a blessing led by Uncle Bill Garcia in acknowledgement of April's Child Abuse Prevention Month. Many of our Native Hawaiian species, such as the kiwikiu and the 'Ōhi'a plant need our help, compassion and support to continue to thrive. The intent is for this imagery to portray a feeling of hope and nurturing for keiki and others in need of assistance.
To read the artist's statement and learn more about this collaboration, visit smalltownbig.org/kurokawa.
Kirk & Karla Kurokawa
Mural at the Victim Witness Building/ Maui County Children’s Peace Center located at 2103 Wells Street, Wailuku
Inspired by ʻōlelo noʻeau: He lei poina 'ole ke keiki (A lei never forgotten is the beloved child)
Inspired by 300 sketches created in February 2020 by the sixth grade class of Iao Intermediate School and by conversations with those working to develop the Maui County Children’s Peace Center, which will include various agencies and help children who are victims of abuse, Kirk's piece was unveiled with a blessing led by Uncle Bill Garcia in acknowledgement of April's Child Abuse Prevention Month. Many of our Native Hawaiian species, such as the kiwikiu and the 'Ōhi'a plant need our help, compassion and support to continue to thrive. The intent is for this imagery to portray a feeling of hope and nurturing for keiki and others in need of assistance.
To read the artist's statement and learn more about this collaboration, visit smalltownbig.org/kurokawa.
Legacy at First Hawaiian Bank Wailuku Branch
Legacy (February - March 2021) oil on canvas
Avi Molinas
Temporary Installation of supersized replicas at 27 N Market St, Wailuku (First Hawaiian Bank Wailuku Branch)
Created by Maui-based artist Avi Molinas, large-scale replicas of three oil painted portraits depicting Wailuku icons Hōkūlani Holt, Judge Noa (Auwae) Kepoikai and Rose (Daniels) Kepoikai will be on view at First Hawaiian Bank, Wailuku Branch through March 2021.
Molinas' original intent was to install the work at Hale Hōʻikeʻike at the Bailey House Museum, where visitors and community members could spend time with the paintings and "learn more about the everyday lives of the people who are indigenous to this land," according to the artist, who continues, "I am interested in this opportunity because I value the Hawaiian culture and want to help perpetuate the history and stories of the people of Hawaiʻi." However, as with the most recent SMALL TOWN * BIG ART features, the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a shift in how the work would engage the public. The team opted to supersize the paintings, find a local partner to display them towards the streets of Wailuku, and create a short film to get the momentum flowing for conversation and continual exchange. Please CLICK HERE to learn more about the work and to share your own mana'o on legacy.
Avi Molinas
Temporary Installation of supersized replicas at 27 N Market St, Wailuku (First Hawaiian Bank Wailuku Branch)
Created by Maui-based artist Avi Molinas, large-scale replicas of three oil painted portraits depicting Wailuku icons Hōkūlani Holt, Judge Noa (Auwae) Kepoikai and Rose (Daniels) Kepoikai will be on view at First Hawaiian Bank, Wailuku Branch through March 2021.
Molinas' original intent was to install the work at Hale Hōʻikeʻike at the Bailey House Museum, where visitors and community members could spend time with the paintings and "learn more about the everyday lives of the people who are indigenous to this land," according to the artist, who continues, "I am interested in this opportunity because I value the Hawaiian culture and want to help perpetuate the history and stories of the people of Hawaiʻi." However, as with the most recent SMALL TOWN * BIG ART features, the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a shift in how the work would engage the public. The team opted to supersize the paintings, find a local partner to display them towards the streets of Wailuku, and create a short film to get the momentum flowing for conversation and continual exchange. Please CLICK HERE to learn more about the work and to share your own mana'o on legacy.
ʻAlalā Renaissance at the Main Street Promenade
ʻAlalā Renaissance (November 2020)
Michael Takemoto
Temporary Installation at the Main Street Promenade, Wailuku. PHOTOS: Sean Hower
Inspired by ʻōlelo noʻeau: Hoʻolaukanaka i ka leo o nā manu (the voices of birds give the place a feeling of being inhabited)
Initially planned for March 2020, Takemoto’s pre-COVID-19 “A Murder of ʻAlalā" installation was to be an open invitation to the community to create black charcoal silhouettes throughout the town from a collection of ʻalalā stencils created by the artist. As the artwork naturally faded with the elements, his aim was to bring awareness to the plight of the ʻalalā, or endangered Hawaiian crow, as their numbers have been decimated through the loss of their natural habitation and the incursion of non-native species. Reimagined for a post-COVID community, the artist’s ʻAlalā Renaissance brought pre-registered, socially-distanced artists together to insert hundreds of brightly colored chalk ʻalalā silhouettes throughout town in an expression of hope, rebirth and healing. LEARN MORE.
Michael Takemoto
Temporary Installation at the Main Street Promenade, Wailuku. PHOTOS: Sean Hower
Inspired by ʻōlelo noʻeau: Hoʻolaukanaka i ka leo o nā manu (the voices of birds give the place a feeling of being inhabited)
Initially planned for March 2020, Takemoto’s pre-COVID-19 “A Murder of ʻAlalā" installation was to be an open invitation to the community to create black charcoal silhouettes throughout the town from a collection of ʻalalā stencils created by the artist. As the artwork naturally faded with the elements, his aim was to bring awareness to the plight of the ʻalalā, or endangered Hawaiian crow, as their numbers have been decimated through the loss of their natural habitation and the incursion of non-native species. Reimagined for a post-COVID community, the artist’s ʻAlalā Renaissance brought pre-registered, socially-distanced artists together to insert hundreds of brightly colored chalk ʻalalā silhouettes throughout town in an expression of hope, rebirth and healing. LEARN MORE.
Ma kāhi o ka hana he ola malaila (where work is, there is life)
at 2050 Main Street, Wailuku
Ma kāhi o ka hana he ola malaila (where work is, there is life) | (October 2020)
Eric Okdeh
Mural located at the Main Street Promenade/ 2050 Main Street in Wailuku.
Inspired by ʻōlelo noʻeau: Ma kāhi o ka hana he ola malaila (where work is, there is life)
About the Piece: Created in collaboration with the Wailuku community, composition elements include visions of past and present Wailuku arts memories and influences, displayed on a billowing purple kimono being created by a teacher and her student from the 1911 Kanda Home in Wailuku, which was a boarding school for "unfortunate Japanese girls." Images include the St. Anthony Boys' School Band of the 1950s with conductor Walter Garcia; Aunty Emma Sharpe, who taught hula classes in Wailuku; Hawaiian Music Icon Willie K; the Philippine tinikling dance - done between bayuhan, wooden pestles used to pound husks off of rice grain; Maui Chamber Orchestra; Maui Academy of Performing Arts and more, with art forms based in Japanese, Portuguese, Filipino and Hawaiian cultures. Together, the piece speaks to Wailuku as the hub of migration and multiculturalism that has given us so many chapters of artistic flavor since memory and available archives serve. LEARN MORE.
Eric Okdeh
Mural located at the Main Street Promenade/ 2050 Main Street in Wailuku.
Inspired by ʻōlelo noʻeau: Ma kāhi o ka hana he ola malaila (where work is, there is life)
About the Piece: Created in collaboration with the Wailuku community, composition elements include visions of past and present Wailuku arts memories and influences, displayed on a billowing purple kimono being created by a teacher and her student from the 1911 Kanda Home in Wailuku, which was a boarding school for "unfortunate Japanese girls." Images include the St. Anthony Boys' School Band of the 1950s with conductor Walter Garcia; Aunty Emma Sharpe, who taught hula classes in Wailuku; Hawaiian Music Icon Willie K; the Philippine tinikling dance - done between bayuhan, wooden pestles used to pound husks off of rice grain; Maui Chamber Orchestra; Maui Academy of Performing Arts and more, with art forms based in Japanese, Portuguese, Filipino and Hawaiian cultures. Together, the piece speaks to Wailuku as the hub of migration and multiculturalism that has given us so many chapters of artistic flavor since memory and available archives serve. LEARN MORE.
Birds of a Feather at MAPA Main Studios, Wailuku
Birds of a Feather (February 2020)
Maui Academy of Performing Arts (MAPA)
A Maui Musical in Wailuku
Inspired by ʻōlelo noʻeau: E aloha kekahi i kekahi (love one another)
About the Piece: An original musical set on Maui written by Kathy Collins with music by Marti Kluth, the show is performed by MAPA's troupe of professional performers: Kathy Collins, Logan Heller, Carlyn Leal, and Kiegan Otterson with live music performed by Gilbert Emata. The story follows Moa (the Hawaiian chicken), Pīkake (the peacock), and Manu’aipilau (the mynah) who struggle to accept and appreciate their differences. To their great surprise, they learn that they are actually more alike than not, and they ultimately discover that their community is stronger because of their diversity. LEARN MORE.
Maui Academy of Performing Arts (MAPA)
A Maui Musical in Wailuku
Inspired by ʻōlelo noʻeau: E aloha kekahi i kekahi (love one another)
About the Piece: An original musical set on Maui written by Kathy Collins with music by Marti Kluth, the show is performed by MAPA's troupe of professional performers: Kathy Collins, Logan Heller, Carlyn Leal, and Kiegan Otterson with live music performed by Gilbert Emata. The story follows Moa (the Hawaiian chicken), Pīkake (the peacock), and Manu’aipilau (the mynah) who struggle to accept and appreciate their differences. To their great surprise, they learn that they are actually more alike than not, and they ultimately discover that their community is stronger because of their diversity. LEARN MORE.
Chinese Take Out: Super Size at the County Building
Chinese Take Out: Super Size (January 2020)
Sean Baba
Installation (currently) at 200 S. High Street in Wailuku
Inspired by ʻōlelo noʻeau: O ke aloha ke kuleana o kahi malihini (love is the host in strange lands)
“There are many aspects and cultures that make Maui, Local,” shares Baba, “A symbolic Icon of Hawaii and Wailuku is the Chinese to go container. It symbolizes memories and the mixture of cultures that have mixed and grown to become Hawaiʻi. When I created this, it was received beyond what it represented to me, and the diversity of who gravitated to it was overwhelming. I have been told that Wailuku needs an artwork that symbolizes art, culture and food and this to me has represented this to everyone who has seen it.” LEARN MORE.
Sean Baba
Installation (currently) at 200 S. High Street in Wailuku
Inspired by ʻōlelo noʻeau: O ke aloha ke kuleana o kahi malihini (love is the host in strange lands)
“There are many aspects and cultures that make Maui, Local,” shares Baba, “A symbolic Icon of Hawaii and Wailuku is the Chinese to go container. It symbolizes memories and the mixture of cultures that have mixed and grown to become Hawaiʻi. When I created this, it was received beyond what it represented to me, and the diversity of who gravitated to it was overwhelming. I have been told that Wailuku needs an artwork that symbolizes art, culture and food and this to me has represented this to everyone who has seen it.” LEARN MORE.
Hīnaʻi at Kīpuka Square
Hīnaʻi (December 2019)
Jessica Bodner
Sculpture at 68 N. Market St., Wailuku
Inspired by ʻōlelo noʻeau: ‘A‘ohe hana nui ke alu ‘ia (No task is too big when done together by all)
He Mooolelo no ka Lawaia ana: Ua akamai kekahi poe kanaka Hawaii i ka lawaia, no ia mea, ua kapa ia lakou, he poe lawaia. O ka makau kekahi mea e lawaia ai. O ka upena kekahi, a o ka hinai kekahi.
A Story of Fishing: Some of the people of Hawaii were very knowledgeable about fishing, and they were called fisher-people. The hook was one thing used in fishing. The net was another, and the basket trap, another.
Artist Statement: A reminder and memory of the Native Hawaiian tie to the land and sea and one of the few fishing methods that women and children were allowed to participate in. The hīna’i woven fish trap basket sculpture that I have created in upcountry Kula, is 6’ in diameter and painted a royal Hawaiian Yellow, a symbol of power, strength and royalty. LEARN MORE.
Jessica Bodner
Sculpture at 68 N. Market St., Wailuku
Inspired by ʻōlelo noʻeau: ‘A‘ohe hana nui ke alu ‘ia (No task is too big when done together by all)
He Mooolelo no ka Lawaia ana: Ua akamai kekahi poe kanaka Hawaii i ka lawaia, no ia mea, ua kapa ia lakou, he poe lawaia. O ka makau kekahi mea e lawaia ai. O ka upena kekahi, a o ka hinai kekahi.
A Story of Fishing: Some of the people of Hawaii were very knowledgeable about fishing, and they were called fisher-people. The hook was one thing used in fishing. The net was another, and the basket trap, another.
Artist Statement: A reminder and memory of the Native Hawaiian tie to the land and sea and one of the few fishing methods that women and children were allowed to participate in. The hīna’i woven fish trap basket sculpture that I have created in upcountry Kula, is 6’ in diameter and painted a royal Hawaiian Yellow, a symbol of power, strength and royalty. LEARN MORE.
Pō Meke‘au at the Omura Building & Wells Park
Pō Meke‘au (December 2019)
EHA (A group of 4 artists: Kirk Kurokawa, Elmer Bio, Amanda Bowers and Noble Richardson)
Mural at 2049 Wells St., Wailuku
Inspired by ʻōlelo noʻeau: ‘A‘ohe hana nui ke alu ‘ia (No task is too big when done together by all)
Artist Statement: A reflection of perspectives…fingerprints of four valleys opening light tunnels that pierce the curiosity of our spirit as daylight sets. Four rivers that run deep, carve sharp valleys, flow cleanly and silently greet our ocean. They flow in unique directions tethered by Pu‘u Kukui, the highest peak, last to bid light a farewell. Rippling down wave shaped edges of our mauna are pockets of silvery green leaves. The kukui; a gift from the ‘aina that serves as flavor, varnish, fishing techniques, medicine, la‘au lap‘au, subject of mo‘olelo and fuel to sustain fire. Like the waves of kukui that make its way down the mauna, our pohaku also navigates the rivers with a harmonic resonance that reminds us to calm our minds in order to see clear. Clarity reminds us that our ‘aina is our rightful inheritance and that no task is too big when protecting our great kupuna that sustains our livity and cultural significance that live through the hands of our mentors and hearts of our keiki. LEARN MORE.
EHA (A group of 4 artists: Kirk Kurokawa, Elmer Bio, Amanda Bowers and Noble Richardson)
Mural at 2049 Wells St., Wailuku
Inspired by ʻōlelo noʻeau: ‘A‘ohe hana nui ke alu ‘ia (No task is too big when done together by all)
Artist Statement: A reflection of perspectives…fingerprints of four valleys opening light tunnels that pierce the curiosity of our spirit as daylight sets. Four rivers that run deep, carve sharp valleys, flow cleanly and silently greet our ocean. They flow in unique directions tethered by Pu‘u Kukui, the highest peak, last to bid light a farewell. Rippling down wave shaped edges of our mauna are pockets of silvery green leaves. The kukui; a gift from the ‘aina that serves as flavor, varnish, fishing techniques, medicine, la‘au lap‘au, subject of mo‘olelo and fuel to sustain fire. Like the waves of kukui that make its way down the mauna, our pohaku also navigates the rivers with a harmonic resonance that reminds us to calm our minds in order to see clear. Clarity reminds us that our ‘aina is our rightful inheritance and that no task is too big when protecting our great kupuna that sustains our livity and cultural significance that live through the hands of our mentors and hearts of our keiki. LEARN MORE.
Eli at MAPA Main Studios
Eli (October - November 2019)
Emmanuel Jarus
Mural at 2027 Main Street, Wailuku
Inspired by ʻōlelo noʻeau: ‘Ike aku, ‘ike mai. Kōkua aku, kōkua mai. Pēlā ka nohona ‘ohana (Watch, observe. Help others and accept help. That is the family way)
Artist Statement: By Artist Emmanuel Jarus: In similar fashion to all of his public mural processes, Jarus draws from his experiences near the mural site. In this case, the rivers of Iao Valley (wai) + the ocean (kai). During his residency, a Wailuku family invited Jarus on a fishing trip where he observed and learned first hand the experience of spear fishing. The mural concept aligns with the proverb:
‘Ike aku, ‘ike mai
Kokua aku, kokua mai
Pela ka nohona ‘ohana
Watch. Observe.
Help others + accept help.
That is the family way.
In freshwater and salt, water as the heartbeat of life’s existence resonated. Having had the opportunity to be immersed within the river + ocean waters guided by Wailuku residents, and, taking in where the stream meets the sea at the Waiheʻe Coastal Dunes and Wetlands Refuge, these experiences observing life became the inspiration for the mural. LEARN MORE.
Emmanuel Jarus
Mural at 2027 Main Street, Wailuku
Inspired by ʻōlelo noʻeau: ‘Ike aku, ‘ike mai. Kōkua aku, kōkua mai. Pēlā ka nohona ‘ohana (Watch, observe. Help others and accept help. That is the family way)
Artist Statement: By Artist Emmanuel Jarus: In similar fashion to all of his public mural processes, Jarus draws from his experiences near the mural site. In this case, the rivers of Iao Valley (wai) + the ocean (kai). During his residency, a Wailuku family invited Jarus on a fishing trip where he observed and learned first hand the experience of spear fishing. The mural concept aligns with the proverb:
‘Ike aku, ‘ike mai
Kokua aku, kokua mai
Pela ka nohona ‘ohana
Watch. Observe.
Help others + accept help.
That is the family way.
In freshwater and salt, water as the heartbeat of life’s existence resonated. Having had the opportunity to be immersed within the river + ocean waters guided by Wailuku residents, and, taking in where the stream meets the sea at the Waiheʻe Coastal Dunes and Wetlands Refuge, these experiences observing life became the inspiration for the mural. LEARN MORE.
lost & found at Kīpuka Square
Lost & Found (September 2019)
Andy Behrle
Ephemeral light work installation/ 1-night only at 68 N. Market St., Wailuku
Inspired by ʻōlelo noʻeau: ‘A‘ohe hana nui ke alu ‘ia (No task is too big when done together by all)
Artist Statement: "Water is life, and life in Wailuku has always flowed through the river from mauka to makai. This is the unifying experience of everyone who has ever called this place home. I am interested in humanity’s relationship to the natural world, and how our interactions with nature inform our spirituality. This artwork is intended to draw some connections between the world we have inherited and the landscape we leave behind. I am also interested in how the memories of individuals and communities are rooted in the environment and places we inhabit. In a world where 1 trillion photographs were taken last year alone and every minutiae of our daily lives is captured and shared online, it is hard to imagine that a building as beautiful as Wailuku’s St. Anthony church has few surviving photographs even though it has only been gone for 42 years. St. Anthony is the patron saint of lost items, and hopefully this artwork reconnects a nearly lost past to the people living in Wailuku today and into the future." LEARN MORE.
Andy Behrle
Ephemeral light work installation/ 1-night only at 68 N. Market St., Wailuku
Inspired by ʻōlelo noʻeau: ‘A‘ohe hana nui ke alu ‘ia (No task is too big when done together by all)
Artist Statement: "Water is life, and life in Wailuku has always flowed through the river from mauka to makai. This is the unifying experience of everyone who has ever called this place home. I am interested in humanity’s relationship to the natural world, and how our interactions with nature inform our spirituality. This artwork is intended to draw some connections between the world we have inherited and the landscape we leave behind. I am also interested in how the memories of individuals and communities are rooted in the environment and places we inhabit. In a world where 1 trillion photographs were taken last year alone and every minutiae of our daily lives is captured and shared online, it is hard to imagine that a building as beautiful as Wailuku’s St. Anthony church has few surviving photographs even though it has only been gone for 42 years. St. Anthony is the patron saint of lost items, and hopefully this artwork reconnects a nearly lost past to the people living in Wailuku today and into the future." LEARN MORE.
Resemble The 'Alalā at 2020 Main Street
Resemble The 'Alalā (February 2019)
EHA (A group of 4 artists: Noble Richardson, Elmer Bio, Amanda Joy Bowers, Kirk Kurokawa), Pangeaseed Foundation
Mural at 2020 Main Street in Wailuku
Artist statement: “We are a group of 4 artists with one coherent message. This mural not only represents our amazing ahupua'a it represents the voices within it. Now is our time to speak for voices that can't be heard and for our land and resources that aren't able to speak. We must resemble the 'alalā (Hawaiian Crow ) and speak with volume.
We must be the hina'i ( fish trap ) and gather mana'o ( knowledge ) to sustain our connection to our home as well as releasing it so that it may evolve. Like Kanaloa ( ocean god symbolized by octopus) we must travel to far reaches of the ocean and make our way home so that we may uphold our kuleana (responsibility ) of caretaking for the land that takes care of us.
Our message is meant to be heard and carried far beyond our shore to share our knowledge with the world, and through @pangeaseed Foundation we can synthesize and reconnect as a single consciousness of caretaking for life. It is a message of artivism with a mission of planting seeds to strengthen our ecosystem.” LEARN MORE.
PHOTOS: Tre' Packard
EHA (A group of 4 artists: Noble Richardson, Elmer Bio, Amanda Joy Bowers, Kirk Kurokawa), Pangeaseed Foundation
Mural at 2020 Main Street in Wailuku
Artist statement: “We are a group of 4 artists with one coherent message. This mural not only represents our amazing ahupua'a it represents the voices within it. Now is our time to speak for voices that can't be heard and for our land and resources that aren't able to speak. We must resemble the 'alalā (Hawaiian Crow ) and speak with volume.
We must be the hina'i ( fish trap ) and gather mana'o ( knowledge ) to sustain our connection to our home as well as releasing it so that it may evolve. Like Kanaloa ( ocean god symbolized by octopus) we must travel to far reaches of the ocean and make our way home so that we may uphold our kuleana (responsibility ) of caretaking for the land that takes care of us.
Our message is meant to be heard and carried far beyond our shore to share our knowledge with the world, and through @pangeaseed Foundation we can synthesize and reconnect as a single consciousness of caretaking for life. It is a message of artivism with a mission of planting seeds to strengthen our ecosystem.” LEARN MORE.
PHOTOS: Tre' Packard
Untitled at Uptown Chevron
Untitled (February 2019)
Gregg Kaplan, Pangeaseed Foundation
Mural at 2085 Main Street in Wailuku
Artist statement: “My piece is inspired by the concept of Mauka to Makai and the belief that all things in nature are connected.
The mural showcases different prints, patterns, colors and textures that I have seen along the journey that Maui’s streams take through the valleys towards the shoreline and into the ocean.
I entered into this project with no final outcome in mind and enjoyed working through the weather and rain, meeting new friends local and around the world and bringing the different elements together spontaneously.” LEARN MORE.
PHOTOS: Tre' Packard
Gregg Kaplan, Pangeaseed Foundation
Mural at 2085 Main Street in Wailuku
Artist statement: “My piece is inspired by the concept of Mauka to Makai and the belief that all things in nature are connected.
The mural showcases different prints, patterns, colors and textures that I have seen along the journey that Maui’s streams take through the valleys towards the shoreline and into the ocean.
I entered into this project with no final outcome in mind and enjoyed working through the weather and rain, meeting new friends local and around the world and bringing the different elements together spontaneously.” LEARN MORE.
PHOTOS: Tre' Packard
High Tides / Low Tides at Market & Vineyard
High Tides/Low Tides (February 2019)
Kaiʻili Kaulukukui, Pangeaseed Foundation
Mural at 24 N. Market St., Wailuku
Artist statement: “Oceanic tides connect us all, whether we live in a coastal town, inland or even in the mountains, tides affect our lives. The amount of plastics in the sea has been increasing and is reaching catastrophic levels of saturation and much of the floating garbage is at the mercy of the tides and winds.
Nearly everything we use has some attachment to plastic, and unfortunately, time and time again those plastics end up in the sea. We have to stay vigilant about every plastic straw, bag, single use bottle and cap, cigarette and candy wrapper and so much more, that we drop on the ground, as it eventually ends up in the ocean harming ecosystems and the animals that live there.
The oceanic composition in “High Tides/ Low Tides” is meant to represent the change in tidal movements throughout the year. The moon phase is stuck on full to indicate the maximum effect of the process, and to strengthen the idea of the power caused by a full moon. The large red sun is layered over the ocean as a reminder that a large chunk of our trash is from Japan and other countries far across the sea. The subdued color palette is meant to represent the lost luster of plastics as they are heated in the sun and broken down in to micro plastics. The honu who is stuck in the lines and plastic represents us, people stuck in their ways and trapped by routine. The swimmer reaching to pull off the debris is a keiki, the literal representation of our future, and the idea of positive change that can be obtained.” LEARN MORE.
PHOTOS: Tre' Packard
Kaiʻili Kaulukukui, Pangeaseed Foundation
Mural at 24 N. Market St., Wailuku
Artist statement: “Oceanic tides connect us all, whether we live in a coastal town, inland or even in the mountains, tides affect our lives. The amount of plastics in the sea has been increasing and is reaching catastrophic levels of saturation and much of the floating garbage is at the mercy of the tides and winds.
Nearly everything we use has some attachment to plastic, and unfortunately, time and time again those plastics end up in the sea. We have to stay vigilant about every plastic straw, bag, single use bottle and cap, cigarette and candy wrapper and so much more, that we drop on the ground, as it eventually ends up in the ocean harming ecosystems and the animals that live there.
The oceanic composition in “High Tides/ Low Tides” is meant to represent the change in tidal movements throughout the year. The moon phase is stuck on full to indicate the maximum effect of the process, and to strengthen the idea of the power caused by a full moon. The large red sun is layered over the ocean as a reminder that a large chunk of our trash is from Japan and other countries far across the sea. The subdued color palette is meant to represent the lost luster of plastics as they are heated in the sun and broken down in to micro plastics. The honu who is stuck in the lines and plastic represents us, people stuck in their ways and trapped by routine. The swimmer reaching to pull off the debris is a keiki, the literal representation of our future, and the idea of positive change that can be obtained.” LEARN MORE.
PHOTOS: Tre' Packard
Navigating Our Future at 1774 Lower Main
Navigating our Future (February 2019)
TECHS, Pangeaseed Foundation
Mural at 1774 Lower Main St., Wailuku
Artist statement: “My mural is in collaboration with @pacificwhalefoundation and features Maui’s very own navigator Kalā and her son Te Kauri. Kalā is helping to ensure the future of wayfinding and traditional ocean voyaging are maintained for the next generation. In order to be a traditional navigator your observation skills have to be of the utmost highest level. Noticing such changes like the impacts on land affect our oceans and how we navigate.
To not only navigate by the stars but also navigate the challenges facing our oceans and ecosystems of today, we will have to better observe what’s happening around us; the changes in our climate, habits, our impact on the environment, the teachings of our elders and the wisdom of our ancestors planted in nature patiently waiting for us to uncover what we thought was once lost. From the mountain tops to the sea we must care for it all and everything in between.
As part of the collaboration with @pacificwhalefoundation for this mural, the task was to incorporate the endangered Hawaiian false killer whale depicted in the star constellation. For navigators, stars play an important roll in wayfinding. Stories and tales were specifically created to ensure that the way to find a certain place was remembered. It was also told in such a way a child could remember the tale thus, allowing us indigenous Maori and guardians of both land and sea to hand our sacred knowledge down through the generations.” LEARN MORE.
PHOTOS: Tre' Packard
TECHS, Pangeaseed Foundation
Mural at 1774 Lower Main St., Wailuku
Artist statement: “My mural is in collaboration with @pacificwhalefoundation and features Maui’s very own navigator Kalā and her son Te Kauri. Kalā is helping to ensure the future of wayfinding and traditional ocean voyaging are maintained for the next generation. In order to be a traditional navigator your observation skills have to be of the utmost highest level. Noticing such changes like the impacts on land affect our oceans and how we navigate.
To not only navigate by the stars but also navigate the challenges facing our oceans and ecosystems of today, we will have to better observe what’s happening around us; the changes in our climate, habits, our impact on the environment, the teachings of our elders and the wisdom of our ancestors planted in nature patiently waiting for us to uncover what we thought was once lost. From the mountain tops to the sea we must care for it all and everything in between.
As part of the collaboration with @pacificwhalefoundation for this mural, the task was to incorporate the endangered Hawaiian false killer whale depicted in the star constellation. For navigators, stars play an important roll in wayfinding. Stories and tales were specifically created to ensure that the way to find a certain place was remembered. It was also told in such a way a child could remember the tale thus, allowing us indigenous Maori and guardians of both land and sea to hand our sacred knowledge down through the generations.” LEARN MORE.
PHOTOS: Tre' Packard
Kaulana Nā Wai ʻEhā at Uptown Chevron
Kaulana Nā Wai ʻEhā (February 2019)
Cory Kamehanaokalā Taum, Pangeaseed Foundation
Mural at 2085 Main Street in Wailuku
Artist Statement: “This piece is my tribute to the four famous streams of west Maui and the importance of the Ahupuaʻa system in both traditional times and even more so, today. The idea is to give the viewer the "birds eye view" of the Wailuku valley and river, and the sea at Kaʻehu bay. I believe in these crucial times we must look from this view to realize and understand the effects of our actions and the importance of protecting what precious resources we still have before it is too late.
The textures of the mountain valley and the ocean hope to share how the original people of this land were very aware of the importance of the patterns in nature that surrounded us; from the visual patterns found on many life forms around us, to the cycles in the earth and sky.
The bold panel of pattern the runs through the middle of the composition represents each of these stream systems, Waikapū , Wailuku , Waiehu , and Waiheʻe, running from the watershed all the way down the ocean. The center image is a "Hue wai", a traditional Hawaiian water gourd, an item that was once an very important part of life when the resource of water was understood as the one of greatest riches in life.
The patterning on the gourd eludes to the pool of fresh water high in the Mauna Kahalawai (West Maui Mountains), known as "KiʻowaioKihawahine", and the traditional spiritual understanding of the role and importance of the goddess Kihawahine (Lizard Woman). The bird motif is a contemporary pattern inspired by the only endemic seabird to Hawaii, the ʻAʻo (Newells Shearwater), who begin their life high on the slopes of Mauna Kahalawai, then eventually travel out throughout the Pacific Ocean.” LEARN MORE.
PHOTOS: Tre' Packard
Cory Kamehanaokalā Taum, Pangeaseed Foundation
Mural at 2085 Main Street in Wailuku
Artist Statement: “This piece is my tribute to the four famous streams of west Maui and the importance of the Ahupuaʻa system in both traditional times and even more so, today. The idea is to give the viewer the "birds eye view" of the Wailuku valley and river, and the sea at Kaʻehu bay. I believe in these crucial times we must look from this view to realize and understand the effects of our actions and the importance of protecting what precious resources we still have before it is too late.
The textures of the mountain valley and the ocean hope to share how the original people of this land were very aware of the importance of the patterns in nature that surrounded us; from the visual patterns found on many life forms around us, to the cycles in the earth and sky.
The bold panel of pattern the runs through the middle of the composition represents each of these stream systems, Waikapū , Wailuku , Waiehu , and Waiheʻe, running from the watershed all the way down the ocean. The center image is a "Hue wai", a traditional Hawaiian water gourd, an item that was once an very important part of life when the resource of water was understood as the one of greatest riches in life.
The patterning on the gourd eludes to the pool of fresh water high in the Mauna Kahalawai (West Maui Mountains), known as "KiʻowaioKihawahine", and the traditional spiritual understanding of the role and importance of the goddess Kihawahine (Lizard Woman). The bird motif is a contemporary pattern inspired by the only endemic seabird to Hawaii, the ʻAʻo (Newells Shearwater), who begin their life high on the slopes of Mauna Kahalawai, then eventually travel out throughout the Pacific Ocean.” LEARN MORE.
PHOTOS: Tre' Packard
Legacy at South Church & Wells
Legacy (February 2019)
Dulk, Pangeaseed Foundation
Mural at 2085 State Highway 32 (parking lot at South Church & Wells Street), Wailuku
Artist statement: “Last year 2018 I had the chance to visit the Hawai'i archipelago for the first time and I was very lucky to feel incredible sensations being very close to a humpback whale and her calf.
When Pangeaseed asked me for coming back to the islands for painting for a purpose I didn't hesitate in working with a piece based on these magical creatures.
Maui is one of the best places to see the humpback whales in the world and we were there while breeding season was happening so the opportunity was the best to create it. Working in this piece has been really emotional for me.
Legacy represents the eternal travel of a humpback mum and her calf traveling to a better place.
Our seas are being subjected to dramatic circumstances every day and their inhabitants flee without a way to a better place. They camouflage themselves between ecosystems trying to escape from an announced end.” LEARN MORE.
PHOTOS: Tre' Packard
Dulk, Pangeaseed Foundation
Mural at 2085 State Highway 32 (parking lot at South Church & Wells Street), Wailuku
Artist statement: “Last year 2018 I had the chance to visit the Hawai'i archipelago for the first time and I was very lucky to feel incredible sensations being very close to a humpback whale and her calf.
When Pangeaseed asked me for coming back to the islands for painting for a purpose I didn't hesitate in working with a piece based on these magical creatures.
Maui is one of the best places to see the humpback whales in the world and we were there while breeding season was happening so the opportunity was the best to create it. Working in this piece has been really emotional for me.
Legacy represents the eternal travel of a humpback mum and her calf traveling to a better place.
Our seas are being subjected to dramatic circumstances every day and their inhabitants flee without a way to a better place. They camouflage themselves between ecosystems trying to escape from an announced end.” LEARN MORE.
PHOTOS: Tre' Packard
Native Protector at 1975 E. Vineyard
Native Protector (February 2019)
Joey Rose & Alexandra Underwood, Pangeaseed Foundation
Mural at 1975 E Vineyard St., Wailuku
Artist statement: “Ocean acidification, an issue largely unknown, is a serious and growing threat to our oceans. CO2 pumped into the atmosphere from man-made carbon emissions is being absorbed by the ocean, making the water more acidic.
Everything made of calcium carbonate is impacted by highly acidic ocean water including shellfish, plankton, and coral.
But there is some hope: although not a permanent solution, studies show that replanting certain species of native coral help reduce the effects of ocean acidification.
In our mural, the native coral in the center of the composition stands tall in protection of the rest of the reef.
We chose to highlight the immense power of this native coral. The large central coral is strong and solid, while the other sea life is becoming translucent as they come in contact with the large dark shapes, symbolizing the effects of acidification.” LEARN MORE.
PHOTOS: Tre' Packard
Joey Rose & Alexandra Underwood, Pangeaseed Foundation
Mural at 1975 E Vineyard St., Wailuku
Artist statement: “Ocean acidification, an issue largely unknown, is a serious and growing threat to our oceans. CO2 pumped into the atmosphere from man-made carbon emissions is being absorbed by the ocean, making the water more acidic.
Everything made of calcium carbonate is impacted by highly acidic ocean water including shellfish, plankton, and coral.
But there is some hope: although not a permanent solution, studies show that replanting certain species of native coral help reduce the effects of ocean acidification.
In our mural, the native coral in the center of the composition stands tall in protection of the rest of the reef.
We chose to highlight the immense power of this native coral. The large central coral is strong and solid, while the other sea life is becoming translucent as they come in contact with the large dark shapes, symbolizing the effects of acidification.” LEARN MORE.
PHOTOS: Tre' Packard
Celestial Guidance at 1132 Lower Main St.
Celestial Guidance (February 2019)
Mary Iverson, Pangeaseed Foundation
Mural at 1132 Lower Main St., Wailuku
Artist statement: “My mural is meant to inspire us to find a balance between technology and nature. The design portrays the observatory atop Haleakalā next to the Polynesian navigation compass. Both entities help us look to the stars and ponder our position in the universe, but each represents a very different perspective; modern tools on one side, ancient wisdom on the other. We have made so many technological advances but we’ve lost our connection to nature, resulting in a world in peril.
Our wasteful practices have brought many animals to the brink of extinction, especially those who rely on healthy oceans to survive. The fate of the albatross is especially sad; many birds are dying from ingesting pieces of plastic, which is estimated to become more abundant than fish in our oceans by mid century.
Although the situation is dire, there are actions we can take to reduce our impact on the oceans moving forward: avoid single-use plastics, support businesses that use compostable materials, use a refillable water bottle, secure your trash, and participate in a beach clean up.
Find the ocean conservation organization nearest to you and check in with them - there are so many great people out there making a difference that can use our help! Thank you for following my work and for keeping @pangeaseed and @seawalls_ in your sights.” LEARN MORE.
PHOTOS: Tre' Packard
Mary Iverson, Pangeaseed Foundation
Mural at 1132 Lower Main St., Wailuku
Artist statement: “My mural is meant to inspire us to find a balance between technology and nature. The design portrays the observatory atop Haleakalā next to the Polynesian navigation compass. Both entities help us look to the stars and ponder our position in the universe, but each represents a very different perspective; modern tools on one side, ancient wisdom on the other. We have made so many technological advances but we’ve lost our connection to nature, resulting in a world in peril.
Our wasteful practices have brought many animals to the brink of extinction, especially those who rely on healthy oceans to survive. The fate of the albatross is especially sad; many birds are dying from ingesting pieces of plastic, which is estimated to become more abundant than fish in our oceans by mid century.
Although the situation is dire, there are actions we can take to reduce our impact on the oceans moving forward: avoid single-use plastics, support businesses that use compostable materials, use a refillable water bottle, secure your trash, and participate in a beach clean up.
Find the ocean conservation organization nearest to you and check in with them - there are so many great people out there making a difference that can use our help! Thank you for following my work and for keeping @pangeaseed and @seawalls_ in your sights.” LEARN MORE.
PHOTOS: Tre' Packard
Nāmakaokahaʻi at Market & Vineyard
Nāmakaokahaʻi (February 2019)
Lauren Brevner, Pangeaseed Foundation
Mural at 98b N Market St, Wailuku
Artist statement: “Inspired by Hawaiian mythology, I choose to represent the topic of overfishing with my interpretation of the sea goddess Nāmakaokahaʻi.
Her waters are seen as empty and lacking life, this visual combined with a limited palette emphasizes a loss of color and vibrancy that our oceans once had.
Highlighting a netted parrotfish (a species that is integral to the protection of coral reef health) which are severely overfished in Hawaii is another reminder of the many ways overfishing has an impact on our oceans.
As an ARTivist it was very important to me to create a piece that was visually engaging, easy to understand and positive while still carrying a clear message.” LEARN MORE.
PHOTOS: Tre' Packard
Lauren Brevner, Pangeaseed Foundation
Mural at 98b N Market St, Wailuku
Artist statement: “Inspired by Hawaiian mythology, I choose to represent the topic of overfishing with my interpretation of the sea goddess Nāmakaokahaʻi.
Her waters are seen as empty and lacking life, this visual combined with a limited palette emphasizes a loss of color and vibrancy that our oceans once had.
Highlighting a netted parrotfish (a species that is integral to the protection of coral reef health) which are severely overfished in Hawaii is another reminder of the many ways overfishing has an impact on our oceans.
As an ARTivist it was very important to me to create a piece that was visually engaging, easy to understand and positive while still carrying a clear message.” LEARN MORE.
PHOTOS: Tre' Packard
Mauka to Makai at 1830 Mill St.
Mauka to Makai (February 2019)
Matthew and Roxanne Ortiz aka Wooden Wave, Pangeaseed Foundation
Mural at 1830 Mill St, Wailuku
Artist statement: “This mural was painted in collaboration with @coral_org in an effort illustrate the importance of caring for the upstream or “Mauka” regions in order to keep near shore reefs clean and clear of harmful run-off.
The tree house in the foreground serves a research outpost and native plant nursery for conservationists who are revegetating eroding gulches. The phrase written on the right side of the mural translates to “Mountain to the Sea” and highlights the idea that the well being of the ocean is intrinsically tied to the health of our upland ecosystems.
We imagine this is where conservationists work and play. Protecting our seas is laborious but satisfying work. On breaks from rigorous field work, resident conservationists are encouraged to skate the half pipe, ride the slide and soak in the gorgeous view from the tire swing.” LEARN MORE.
PHOTOS: Tre' Packard
Matthew and Roxanne Ortiz aka Wooden Wave, Pangeaseed Foundation
Mural at 1830 Mill St, Wailuku
Artist statement: “This mural was painted in collaboration with @coral_org in an effort illustrate the importance of caring for the upstream or “Mauka” regions in order to keep near shore reefs clean and clear of harmful run-off.
The tree house in the foreground serves a research outpost and native plant nursery for conservationists who are revegetating eroding gulches. The phrase written on the right side of the mural translates to “Mountain to the Sea” and highlights the idea that the well being of the ocean is intrinsically tied to the health of our upland ecosystems.
We imagine this is where conservationists work and play. Protecting our seas is laborious but satisfying work. On breaks from rigorous field work, resident conservationists are encouraged to skate the half pipe, ride the slide and soak in the gorgeous view from the tire swing.” LEARN MORE.
PHOTOS: Tre' Packard
While the projects above were not installed in Wailuku Town, they were an incredible part of Pangeaseed Foundation's February 2019 program. Congratulations to the artists: Ben Johnston (“Protect What You Love”), @crackedink (“You Are What You Eat”), Gavin Murai (“Prosperity”), Getso (“Towards Hope”), and Jerry Rugg (“Hawaiian Monk Seal”)
LOCATION: Baldwin High School, Wailuku, HI
LOCATION: Baldwin High School, Wailuku, HI