Hui Mo‘olelo Mural Project
Solomon @ Ka’a Ike Building; Jay @ Kupaa Building; SEVEN @ Pilina Building
In June 2025, Maui Public Art Corps will produce three large-scale murals at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College in collaboration with the Maui Historical Society and the County of Maui through our Hui Moʻolelo program. Each mural is grounded in a story collected from the community — stories that speak of subsistence fishing, healing through plant medicine, and modern queer identity.
These murals are not just for the public, they are by the public. Each work is being designed through a collaborative process that includes community consultations, storytelling sessions, study of ‘Ōlelo No‘eau, and public workshops to help refine the artists' initial concepts into communally imagined artworks.
Nicolita Garces & Ashley Ancheta Galacgac
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Anuhea Yagi, Baby Luana, and Uncle Hōaka Delos Reyes
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In 2022 Anuhea Yagi, Student of Hawaiian Life Ways, recorded a talk-story with Hōaka Delos Reyes, expert in the field of stone-on-stone carving (kālai pōhaku). In 2025, Nicolita Garces, Archivist & Librarian recorded a talk-story with Ashley Ancheta Galacgac, Engagement & Operations Manager, Hawaii Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations.
Professional artists from across the globe have submitted proposals to translate these stories as a work of public art. Upon selection by a 2025 community panel, artist Jay Gilleard entered a period of project development to infuse their proposal in Kahului history, culture and sense of place -- ultimately resulting in a freely accessible work created through community engagement. This page serves to track the progress of this public art project, which will be unveiled by June 30, 2025 on the campus of University of Hawaiʻi Maui College.
Listen to the stories inspiring this artwork:
Professional artists from across the globe have submitted proposals to translate these stories as a work of public art. Upon selection by a 2025 community panel, artist Jay Gilleard entered a period of project development to infuse their proposal in Kahului history, culture and sense of place -- ultimately resulting in a freely accessible work created through community engagement. This page serves to track the progress of this public art project, which will be unveiled by June 30, 2025 on the campus of University of Hawaiʻi Maui College.
Listen to the stories inspiring this artwork:
From the Artist
The exploration of trans existence through history is a reoccurring theme in my portfolio, especially in relation to ancient cultures and the deities that embody gender fluidity. This approach challenges the idea that gender diversity is a new or Western phenomenon, instead showing that it’s part of the very fabric of human history.
Training to carve/sculpt stone set the tone for my latest body of work where figures/faces are chiseled in the studio and then used as reference materials for paintings in a half worked state. The rough edges translate perfectly into cliffs/ landscapes, otherworldly faces being part of the land, buried in the layers underneath or sometimes bursting out of the walls. This provides the perfect framework for collaborative approach with local communities as they are able to contribute ideas of important/significant landmarks that can be integrated conceptually. Stone as both a literal material and a metaphor is incredibly fitting for exploring the concept of permanence, memory, and history—like a vessel for holding stories across time. The connection between petroglyphs and graffiti is especially poignant because it ties together the ancient act of marking stone with contemporary forms of self-expression, blurring the lines between past and present. It suggests that the impulse to record our existence, our identities, and our experiences is timeless.
The interview with Nicolita resonated on a multitude of levels, firstly the relationship between queer identity and isolation, how that can contribute to a greater connection with nature through solitude, observations that can occur from large stretches of time alone. Their experience of being a lone Wolfe or 'weird' one in the family leading them to a place where home is internal meditation and earth and universe are ancestors. I am particularly excited by third gender connectivity to healers.
My idea is to create a carved stone head of a gender ambiguous Mahu or third gender person which would be integrated into a Maui landscape of significance. A great way of including direct conceptual contribution is through a more hands-on petroglyph workshop, recently I worked with a community of social care students to look at mark making/ancient graffiti. Using air drying clay each young person created symbolism inspired by their lived experience, hopes, messages for the future. I took high resolution photos so that the messages could be painted as if carved into the stone elements of the piece. This could be a multi day drop in to connect with the local community to create individual tiles which can be taken home.
Training to carve/sculpt stone set the tone for my latest body of work where figures/faces are chiseled in the studio and then used as reference materials for paintings in a half worked state. The rough edges translate perfectly into cliffs/ landscapes, otherworldly faces being part of the land, buried in the layers underneath or sometimes bursting out of the walls. This provides the perfect framework for collaborative approach with local communities as they are able to contribute ideas of important/significant landmarks that can be integrated conceptually. Stone as both a literal material and a metaphor is incredibly fitting for exploring the concept of permanence, memory, and history—like a vessel for holding stories across time. The connection between petroglyphs and graffiti is especially poignant because it ties together the ancient act of marking stone with contemporary forms of self-expression, blurring the lines between past and present. It suggests that the impulse to record our existence, our identities, and our experiences is timeless.
The interview with Nicolita resonated on a multitude of levels, firstly the relationship between queer identity and isolation, how that can contribute to a greater connection with nature through solitude, observations that can occur from large stretches of time alone. Their experience of being a lone Wolfe or 'weird' one in the family leading them to a place where home is internal meditation and earth and universe are ancestors. I am particularly excited by third gender connectivity to healers.
My idea is to create a carved stone head of a gender ambiguous Mahu or third gender person which would be integrated into a Maui landscape of significance. A great way of including direct conceptual contribution is through a more hands-on petroglyph workshop, recently I worked with a community of social care students to look at mark making/ancient graffiti. Using air drying clay each young person created symbolism inspired by their lived experience, hopes, messages for the future. I took high resolution photos so that the messages could be painted as if carved into the stone elements of the piece. This could be a multi day drop in to connect with the local community to create individual tiles which can be taken home.
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Artist Bio: (Born 1983) in an old Yorkshire mill town UK, Cbloxx (Jay Gilleard) is an internationally acclaimed muralist, painter, and stone sculptor. They became known for co-founding queer street art duo Nomad Clan. Spending 3 years in LA during the pandemic gave rise to their notable return to solo practise, painting a large mural downtown for Unesco’s world art day, as well as artistic residencies in Mexico exploring Mayan history. Cbloxx mural process involves extensive research attuned to localities where the public art will reside, often considering the geology of the land, archeological sites, ancient civilisations, cultural heritage, spirituality & ancestry. A tangled myriad of social justice topics sit at the epicentre of their portfolio, tactfully producing layered public art murals and installations that attempt to reconnect people to their environments.
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Community Consultations
Jim Doran, Joe Wilson and Lyz Soto
Nicolita Garces, Ashley Ancheta Galacgac, Anu Yagi and Derek Snyder
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Sissy Lake-Farm
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Project Timeline
- 8/29/24: MPAC introductory meeting with Joe Wilson & Dean Hamer, directors at Kanaka Pakipika / Qwaves / Kapaemahu Project
- 1/16/25: Launch Hui Mo‘olelo: Lei Pua ʻAla | Workshop #1 LINK (1/16/25) | Workshop #2 LINK (1/23/25) | Workshop #3 LINK (1/30/25)
- 3/1/25: RFP is distributed with a 3/31/25 proposal deadline
- 3/26/25: Jay applies for Hui Mo‘olelo program
- 4/11/25: Public art project panel reviews & artist vetting complete
- 4/14/25: Issue artist contracts
- 4/22/25: Artist orientation & ‘Ōlelo No‘eau meetings (WATCH)
- 4/30/25: Nicolita Garces, Ashley Ancheta Galacgac, Anu Yagi and Derek Snyder/UH community consultation (WATCH)
- 5/6/25: Community consultation with Lei Pua ʻAla Queer Histories of Hawaiʻi project of the Hawaiʻi Council for the Humanities and Aloha Maui Pride (WATCH)
- 5/7/25: Press Release: New Hui Mo‘olelo Mural Series Launches at UH Maui College, Honoring Maui Stories of Healing, Resilience & Identity (READ)
- 5/8/25: "Large-scale murals coming to UH Maui College through community-driven art project" (Maui Now)
- 5/8/25: eNewsletter artist announcement + mural survey (READ)
- 5/13/25: Deadline for preliminary mural design stakeholder review
- 6/9/25: Final design review
- 6/11/25: Artwork feedback/ revisions request deadline
- 6/13/25: Earliest date to begin painting
- 6/21/25: Make Music Day (opportunity)
- 6/27/25: Mural blessing led by Uncle Bill Garcia & public unveiling event at UHMC
- 6/30/25: Project end date/ deadline to apply top coat/ sealant
INTERNAL NOTE: Community engagement activities may include: Olowalu petroglyph huakaʻi/ Kīpuka Olowalu + consultation with Uncle Hōaka + Philippine Plant Medicine Workshop with Nicolita (reference), possibly in collaboration with MNBG garden tour | UH student engagement coordinated by Derek Snyder
Concept Development
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Initial concept submitted with Jay's proposal on 3/26/25.
My idea is to create a carved stone head of a gender ambiguous Mahu or third gender person which would be integrated into a Maui landscape of significance. Training to carve/sculpt stone set the tone for my latest body of work where figures/faces are chiseled in the studio and then used as reference materials for paintings in a half worked state. The rough edges translate perfectly into cliffs/ landscapes, otherworldly faces being part of the land, buried in the layers underneath or sometimes bursting out of the walls. Stone as both a literal material and a metaphor is incredibly fitting for exploring the concept of permanence, memory, and history—like a vessel for holding stories across time. |