Maui Utility Box Art Project
The Maui Utility Box Art Project is a pilot public art initiative presented in partnership with the Department of Parks and Recreation, County of Maui and Hale Hōʻikeʻike at the Bailey House/ Maui Historical Society.
Designed to uplift early-career Maui-based creatives and enrich our shared environment, this program transforms everyday infrastructure into vibrant, place-based works of art—each one grounded in authentic local storytelling. Artworks in this series are each inspired by a recording from Hui Mo‘olelo, a collaborative program which cultivates stories celebrating Maui history, culture and sense of place and engages community members to co-design art that is directly rooted in these stories.
Modeled after successful utility box art programs in municipalities across the nation and around the world, this initiative demonstrates how public art can enhance shared spaces, reduce vandalism, boost civic pride, and reflect the true spirit of a place. This isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about anchoring identity.
By connecting emerging artists with place-based stories, the Utility Box Art Project helps cultivate a more informed, inspired, and connected community—one box at a time.
Designed to uplift early-career Maui-based creatives and enrich our shared environment, this program transforms everyday infrastructure into vibrant, place-based works of art—each one grounded in authentic local storytelling. Artworks in this series are each inspired by a recording from Hui Mo‘olelo, a collaborative program which cultivates stories celebrating Maui history, culture and sense of place and engages community members to co-design art that is directly rooted in these stories.
Modeled after successful utility box art programs in municipalities across the nation and around the world, this initiative demonstrates how public art can enhance shared spaces, reduce vandalism, boost civic pride, and reflect the true spirit of a place. This isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about anchoring identity.
By connecting emerging artists with place-based stories, the Utility Box Art Project helps cultivate a more informed, inspired, and connected community—one box at a time.
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"Rooted in ‘Ōlelo No‘eau #2268: Nānā ka maka; ho’olohe ka pepeiao; pa’a ka waha (Observe with the eyes; listen with the ears; shut the mouth. Thus one learns), this piece centers the story of the canoe Kealoha—a vessel carrying generations of knowledge, community, and aloha. Named in honor of Kealoha Lake, co-founder of Hawaiian Canoe Club alongside her husband John M. Lake, Kealoha continues to inspire through the people who carry on her legacy. Among them are Lopaka White and Sissy Lake-Farm, both deeply connected to this canoe and to each other through lineage, leadership, and aloha ʻāina. Their voices and actions ripple out from this canoe, shaping generations that follow. This piece is a tribute to Kealoha and to all who have been shaped by her—those who have paddled her, learned beside her, and felt her mana. It is a visual honoring of the layers of community, culture, and legacy that flow through this beloved canoe." — Artist Sarah DeYoung, inspired by the story of Sissy Lake-Farm & Lopaka White (Full Recording HERE | Excerpt HERE)
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About the Artist: Sarah DeYoung is a fine artist and designer based on the North Shore of Maui. Her work spans fine art, illustration, and digital design, inspired by the ocean, surf culture, and outdoor adventure.
With a BFA in Art Education and a minor in painting from Western Michigan University, Sarah began her career teaching art before shifting to freelance design. Her style is fluid and organic, shaped by a lifelong connection to water. She uses a distinct neutral warm and cool-toned palette, making her work easily recognizable. |
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Guided by ‘Ōlelo No‘eau #2066 — Mai ka piko o ke po’o a ka poli o ka wāwae, a la‘a ma nā kihi ‘ehā o ke kino (From the crown of the head to the soles of the feet, and the four corners of the body) — Christopher Carraway’s artwork honors the story of Reverend Gensho Hara of the Lāhainā Jodo Mission and his daughter Yayoi Hara. Though born of Lāhainā’s spirit, it stands in Kahului to recognize community displaced by the 2023 Maui wildfires. A moonlit Jodo Mission anchors the scene, surrounded by Bon Dancers, Taiko Drummers, floating lanterns, and the Hawaiian island chain — symbols of community, perseverance, and light. Through stories shared by Hui Mo‘olelo, the design reflects a collective journey of healing, hope, and aloha that carries Lāhainā’s living traditions into the future. [Inspired by the story of Reverend Gensho Hara, Lāhainā Jodo Mission & his daughter, Yayoi Hara Full Recording HERE | Translated transcript HERE]
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About Christopher Carraway (Kīhei): Passionate about art and its power to connect, inspire, and transform, I am a Maui-based artist dedicated to creating meaningful works that reflect both personal expression and community spirit. My work spans multiple styles, but I gravitate most towards graffiti, glitch, and portraiture, blending bold techniques with storytelling to bring unique visions to life. I thrive in both solo and collaborative projects, working alongside local artists, businesses, and organizations to create meaningful art. Deeply rooted in Maui’s vibrant creative scene, I am committed to using my passion to enrich the community, preserve its cultural essence, and push the boundaries of visual expression.
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Rooted in ‘Ōlelo No‘eau #69: Aia no i ke kō a ke au (Whichever way the current goes. Time will tell.), this artwork design celebrates Maui’s past, present, and future through the storytelling voices of Carol Ball and Erin Wade. Inspired by their Hui Mo‘olelo recording, artist Jillian Ikehara reimagines Kahului’s transformation—from its plantation-era roots to its future as a walkable, sustainable “Dream City 2.0” grounded in Native Hawaiian values. Each panel invites viewers to reflect on shared histories and envision an inclusive, aloha‑driven tomorrow. [Inspired by the story of Erin Wade & Carol Ball (Full Recording HERE | Excerpt HERE)]
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About the Artist: Jillian Ikehara is an artist and illustrator from Maui with a BFA in Illustration from California College of the Arts in San Francisco. With a passion for visual storytelling, conceptual, and design work, her work aims to present natural and authentic stories about the Hawaiian Islands, its history, its culture, and its people, old and new. She desires to tell fantastical, everyday, and forgotten stories about the Hawaiian Islands and present a new and unique perspective for the mainstream and Hawai'i alike. In any story or work she creates, she values accurate research and authentic experiences in the creative process to provide thought-provoking and complex illustrations. She believes that there are opportunities that Hawaiian culture and history can be shared through modern visual mediums and aims to work and collaborate with other Hawaii artists to explore as the world keeps changing.
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Box Art Locations
Keōpūolani Regional Park composes of 110 acres with 85 acres of the park developed and is the largest park in the County of Maui parks system. The park is centrally located in Central Maui and is adjacent to the Maui Arts and Cultural Center at Wahinepio Avenue and to the Maui YMCA complex and the Central Maui Building of the Boys and Girls Club of America at Kanaloa Avenue.
Keōpuolani was born around 1778 at an area known as Pahoehoe of Pāpōhaku, near present-day Wailuku, on the island of Maui. She was known as Kalanikauikaʻalaneo in her early childhood. Her name means "Gathering of the Clouds of Heaven".
Keōpuolani was born around 1778 at an area known as Pahoehoe of Pāpōhaku, near present-day Wailuku, on the island of Maui. She was known as Kalanikauikaʻalaneo in her early childhood. Her name means "Gathering of the Clouds of Heaven".
Community Consultations
Carol Ball & Erin Wade
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Sissy Lake-Farm (storyteller)
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Lopaka White
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Angelica Daoang & Lance Collins
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Hara Ohana
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Joe Wilson
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‘Ōlelo No‘eau with Sissy Lake-Farm
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Project Timeline
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Resources
- Kāpala Toolbox LINK
- Jackson Hole and Palo Alto open calls >> procedures, best practices, lessons learned