Perfect Days

On Thursday, August 27, 2026, storytellers, ʻohana, and community members gathered at the Lāhainā Think Space inside the Queen Kaʻahumanu Center for the official blessing and public unveiling of Perfect Days, a new collection of four animated short films celebrating the living history, environment, and intergenerational spirit of Lāhainā.

Created by acclaimed animator Richard O’Connor and his team at Ace & Son Moving Picture Company in partnership with Maui Public Art Corps and the County of Maui Public Art Program, the films translate authentic talk-story recordings into hand-crafted animation. Inspired by  ʻōlelo noʻeau Na lā 'ae 'oia ("The days that were days indeed. The days of youth, prosperity, and strength"), the project is rooted in Hui Moʻolelo: Lāhainā, an ongoing community initiative that utilizes deep listening and intergenerational talk-story as a foundation for public art and civic infrastructure.

The unveiling event highlighted the power of preserving community knowledge directly from those who lived it. Featured storytellers and contributors including Cornelio Bancaco Jr., Hōkū Delatori, Tom Fujita, Kanoelani Kenolio, Kyla Nahoʻoikaika, Trinity Scanlan, Nayah Smith, Noelle Storer, and Dean Tokishi were honored during the morning gathering.

Speakers emphasized that Perfect Days is not a replacement or retelling of Lāhainā’s history, but an expansive layer of artistic interpretation designed to bring community memories to life for future generations. During the event, storytellers reflected on the experience of having casual, heartfelt conversations transformed into lasting visual art.

"Seeing this come to life really brings back memories of what I used to do, what my family used to do way back," shared storyteller Cornelio Bancaco Jr. during the gathering. "I really appreciate all of you for making this possible so that we can share our stories."

"We thought we were just going to sit down at the table and talk story," recalled Trinity Scanlan, reflecting on recording with close friend Noelle Storer alongside fellow storytellers Kyla Nahoʻoikaika and Nayah Smith. "It's our generation's turn to be able to share what we went through, so hopefully our kids can grow up holding onto the same values."

The oral histories collected through Hui Moʻolelo and visual works like Perfect Days serve a purpose beyond the installation setting. By prioritizing deep listening before design, the project functions as a relational framework to directly inform long-term civic recovery efforts, including the Lāhainā Memorial Project planning process. Rather than deciding what a memorial should look like first, the initiative gathers genuine community values, memories, and hopes to ensure future spaces are guided entirely by local voices.

"Stories build a foundation," noted lead speaker Kaliko Storer during the event. "Everybody has stories, and what a way to share them with our community, our families, and the world."

The multi-screen immersive installation of Perfect Days is now open to the public at the Lāhainā Think Space at Queen Kaʻahumanu Center. Visitors are invited to explore the space, put on headphones, and engage with each story individually. Community members are also encouraged to participate in ongoing Hui Moʻolelo recordings, as personal memories, family histories, and hopes for the future continue to be archived to guide Lāhainā’s path forward.

To learn more about the project, listen to the full audio recordings, or participate in upcoming community initiatives, visit mauipublicart.org/perfectdays.