When people think of Maui Public Art Corps, many picture a mural. And yes, murals are part of our story. They’re beautiful, familiar and easy to spot. But murals are just one chapter in a much larger book we’re writing together. The real heart of what we do beats quietly, in small rooms, with small groups of people who show up not always knowing the full “why”. That’s where Hui Mo‘olelo begins.

Hui Mo‘olelo isn’t a training or a class, not really. It’s more of a commitment, a gentle rite of passage that asks something vulnerable from you: your presence. Over three two-hour gatherings, small cohorts — usually no more than ten people, learn not just how to tell stories, but how to listen for them, how to hold space for them, and how to be changed by them. People arrive curious but unsure. Why meet three times? Why not just get instructions and carry on? But as the sessions unfold, something shifts. You find yourself telling stories aloud to near-strangers, and in doing so, you realize how much generosity storytelling actually takes. And when the time comes to sit down with a recording partner (a family member, a kupuna, someone whose story might otherwise fade), you’re ready, not because you memorized a checklist, but because you’ve learned to listen from a place of respect and courage.

When these intergenerational stories are gathered, Maui Public Art Corps doesn’t file them away. Instead, we work with a team of editors who carefully choose short excerpts—just two or three minutes, from each recording. These become the seed for a different kind of creativity: public art. Artists from around the world listen to these community voices and vie for the chance to bring them to life through murals, performances, experiences, installations and more. It’s important to understand: these aren’t “artist projects.” They’re community projects. The artist is just one part of the puzzle.

Hui Mo‘olelo is co-owned, every step of the way. The teaching artists who guide the cohort. The cohort members who show up and lean into discomfort. The intergenerational partners who trust us with their stories. The artists who listen deeply before they create. And, just as critically, the hundreds of community members who join the process along the way, from deciding where these artworks should happen – where they can transform spaces into places that feel like they belong to all of us, to hosting open workshops that develop each proposal into a work deeply rooted in sense of place. 

Right now, we’re looking for those spaces. We’re asking you to help. Do you know a park, a plaza, a walking path, or an overlooked corner in your neighborhood that feels like it could hold a mural, a pop-up performance, a community workshop? We’re seeking places across Maui County—public spaces, or privately-owned spaces open to the public (POPS), where new stories can be planted in 2026. You can nominate a site or suggest your own through a short survey we’re collecting now. Think of places that are accessible, open, welcoming, and not tied to the benefit of a single business or home. Places where people pass through without needing to spend a dollar. Places that could mean something more.

This is why public art exists. Not to decorate, but to make our neighborhoods more livable. To create spaces that invite conversation, curiosity, connection. To make visible the stories that hold us together.

If you feel curious about joining our next Hui Mo‘olelo cohort, know that what we’re asking isn’t small, but it is simple. We’re asking for your voice, your time, your presence. And in return, you’ll help carry forward the stories that shape Maui’s future.

Because Hui Mo‘olelo is more than murals. It’s about people. And we hope you’ll join us.

Preserving Our Stories at the Library of Congress: Through our collaboration with StoryCorps, all Hui Mo‘olelo recordings are published to the StoryCorps Archive and preserved at the American Folklife Center (AFC) of the Library of Congress, ensuring availability to future generations of researchers and historians. These recordings are processed and securely stored by StoryCorps before being transferred to the Library of Congress for long-term preservation. While the StoryCorps collection at the Library is currently a closed collection and not accessible to the public on-site, you can access these interviews through archive.storycorps.org/user/mauipublicart and archive.storycorps.org/user/stba. By participating, we are contributing to a growing national archive that reflects the diverse voices and experiences of people across the United States.

A blessing and unveiling of two newly installed public artworks by Maui artist Courtney Holland and Los Angeles-based artist James Dinh is scheduled for Monday, July 7, 2025, beginning at 10 am at Keōpūolani Regional Park in Kahului. The gathering will take place at the Kanaloa Avenue entrance near the Skate Park and will honor not only the completed works, but also the many hands and voices that shaped their creation. The public is encouraged to participate.

Each mural serves as the artistic backdrop to a new outdoor Fitness Court—one by Holland at Keōpūolani Regional Park and one by Dinh at Kahului Community Center Park, marking a new partnership with the County of Maui, the Hawai‘i Medical Service Association (HMSA), and the National Fitness Campaign. The public artworks are affixed to the 224-square-foot sheer back walls of the Fitness Court structures, which are designed to promote health and movement in public spaces. Recognizing this as a powerful site for creative expression, the project team saw the mural surfaces as opportunities to expand on public input received through the 2023 Maui County Public Art Community Survey—calling for artworks that preserve local stories, honor the environment, and celebrate cultural history.

Originally set for unveiling in fall 2023, this public art project was postponed in the aftermath of the Maui wildfires as all partners prioritized support for community recovery. By November 2023, artists Courtney Holland and James Dinh had completed their mural designs following a five-month collaborative development process grounded in place-based storytelling, cultural consultation, and historical research. The project was led by the County of Maui's SMALL TOWN * BIG ART initiative in collaboration with Maui Public Art Corps, Hale Hōʻikeʻike at the Bailey House / Maui Historical Society, HMSA, the National Fitness Campaign, and a core group of community consultants who generously offered insights into the history, culture, and sense of place of Kahului and Keōpūolani Regional Park. These individuals included Mary Kielty, Chief of Recreation for the County of Maui Department of Parks & Recreation; Art Vento of Maui Arts & Cultural Center; Kauwela Bisquera of the Kahului Rotary Club; Aunty Kekoa Enomoto, community advocate; Sissy Lake-Farm, kumu hula of Hālau Makana Aloha O Ka Lauaʻe; Ann-Marie Power of AMPLove Project Management; and Kelly White of Maui Public Art Corps and the County’s public art program.

Courtney Holland’s mural, rooted in ‘Ōlelo No‘eau: “O ka pono ke hana ʻia a iho mai na lani” (“Continue to do good until the heavens come down to you”), is a personal reflection on her roots in Kahului and the enduring legacy of her kūpuna. “By seeing my work in this space, I hope the community feels a deeper connection to the stories, emotions, or themes I’ve explored,” said Holland. “My goal is to spark reflection, conversation, and perhaps even inspiration. My artistic process is rooted in exploration, intuition, and storytelling. It’s not always linear—often, it’s about embracing the unknown and allowing the work to evolve naturally.”

James Dinh’s mural, rooted in ‘Ōlelo No‘eau: “Hānau ka ‘āina, hānau ke ali‘i, hānau ke kanaka” (“Born was the land, born were the chiefs, born were the common people”), weaves together references to native plants and animals, hula gestures, community history, and oral traditions shared by Kahului residents. From stories of royal fishponds told by Aunty Kekoa Enomoto to cultural insights from Art Vento, Kauwela Bisquera, and Mary Kielty, Dinh created a sweeping composition that speaks to the interconnectedness of land, leadership, and community. “I hope the mural serves as a vibrant reflection of the community’s identity and cultural richness,” said Dinh. “My artistic process is grounded in listening, collaboration, and connection. I begin by learning the stories and histories of the community, which shape both the concept and the visual language of the work.”

Kumu hula and cultural consultant Sissy Lake-Farm reflected on the role of culture bearers in the mural development process: “We helped shape this project by ensuring that the manaʻo shared came from a place of ʻike and kuleana. The result is not just two beautiful artworks—it is a living archive of community, layered with meaning and intention.”

“These murals embody the very purpose of our public art program,” said Kelly White, Public Art Program Manager for the County of Maui and Chair of Maui Public Art Corps. “They tell stories that matter, created by artists who listened deeply to community members who love this place. When we center the voices of our residents in public space design, we all benefit.”

The public is warmly invited to attend the July 7 blessing and unveiling, which will be led by Uncle Bill Garcia, a member of the Royal Order of Kamehameha, and Kākalaleo (Kumu in the art of chant) for Nā Hanona Kūlike O Piʻilani. This will be a chance to meet artist Courtney Holland, learn more about the community-based process that brought the murals to life, and celebrate the role of art in shaping shared spaces.

For more information, visit www.mauipublicart.org/events

This program is made possible through the County of Maui, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and the National Fitness Campaign.