Lahaina Gateway

Maui Strong: Art For Hope @ Lahaina Gateway

Maui County Office of Recovery (OOR) Satellite Office @ Lahaina Gateway: 325 Keawe St #B102, Lahaina, HI 96761

Project Summary

Maui Public Art Corps is honored to host a special exhibition in partnership with the County of Maui titled "Maui Strong: Art for Hope", which was developed for the County's Office of Recovery Satellite Office at the Lahaina Gateway.

Directly inspired by the impactful 2023 “Maui Strong” artwork installation — a 1,000-foot barrier fence positioned along a perimeter of the Lahaina burn zone showcasing artistic messages of hope by 600 students — the new exhibition continues this celebration of community resilience and unity in the aftermath of the 2023 Maui wildfires. Hawaiʻi artists enrolled in the Local Public Artist Roster were asked to create new works symbolizing strength and hope, and to draw from the students' artwork that embodies the community's collective spirit and commitment to rebuilding and recovery. The resulting collection of 11 super-sized artworks highlights the artistic achievements of both students and professionals, and provides a visual testament to the promise of a brighter future.

The Office of Recovery (OOR) space at the Lahaina Gateway will have space for the Office of Economic Development, 4Leaf Permitting, Maui Emergency Management, and West Maui Councilmember Tamara Paltinʻs district office. In addition, the OOR satellite office has a meeting space for focus group meetings, staff coordination and small informal convenings with members of the public. Maui County welcomes the community to come in, visit with County staff and neighbors and learn the latest updates from the community bulletin board.

The County of Maui invites community members to experience this moving tribute to resilience, unity, and hope.

A portion of the "Maui Strong" artwork installation

Art for Hope

Please contact the artist directly through the links below for original artwork sales inquiries. If you are interested in purchasing the super-sized artwork fabric prints featured in the exhibition, please contact kelly (at) mauipublicart.org.

Rider by Kirk Kurokawa (Wailuku, 2024) oil on canvas

The “rider” painting depicts a Pa’u rider. Brightly colored and proud. I see these riders as a reminder of Hawaiian history and days of the past. It also represents a way that all of or islands come together and are represented as a whole. Each island represented with their color but we ride as one Hawaii. Just like our children as well as our community, all different but we “ride” as one.

Untitled by Michael Takemoto (Kula, 2024) oil on canvas and origami lei

My work combines a painting of the iconic Maui landmark, ‘Īao Needle, draped with a colorful lei. I feel that the image of ‘Īao represents the historical, cultural, and natural quintessence of Maui, while the multicolor lei reflects the multicultural and multigenerational people of our island. Together, they make a statement about the resilience of our community and environment – Maui Strong!

Comfort by Courtney Holland (Wailuku, 2024) digital illustration

I am deeply inspired by the power of the Maui community and the resilience shown since the Lahaina fire. In the face of adversity, the community came together to provide comfort and support to those who lost loved ones and were displaced. Through this artwork, I aim to memorialize the unity and compassion that emerged and to evoke a sense of hope, resilience, and solidarity. The colors and imagery used in this art piece harken back to Lahaina’s legacy as a wetland and center of the Hawaiian Kingdom.

Untitled by Sasha Hercik (Kihei, 2024) digital painting

Inspired by the “Maui Strong” student art project, I compiled a list of common elements in their work and incorporated those into the piece. A plumeria lei, the symbol of hope, is held up by the hands of our community in the shape of Maui island with the sun placed to highlight Lahaina. The roots of the Banyan tree drape over the composition, a persistent yet quiet symbol of resilience and regrowth after destruction. A distant hand drops more plumerias into the scene, representative of support from off island. My goal with this piece is to embody the togetherness and strength our community showed during this tragedy, and to highlight the ‘Ōlelo No‘eau: “No task is too big when done together by all.”

Nani by Jana Ireijo (Wailuku, 2024) charcoal on plywood

Nani (the Humpback Whale) pays homage to the resilient spirit of Lahaina through the majestic form of a whale, a symbol of protection and ancestral guidance in Native Hawaiian culture. Created with charcoal from wildfires and water from the Pacific Ocean, Nani embodies the strength drawn from both devastation and the surrounding water. Set against the backdrop of the Makali’i constellation, rendered in Maui flowers, this artwork reflects the enduring light of hope and the promise of finding our way home, even in the darkest times.

Untitled by Roxy & Matt Ortiz (AKA Wooden Wave) (Laie, 2024) illustration

A fresh wind and ocean swell returns to the land and people of my beloved hometown. There’s a special feeling you get when you’re out on the water and see the timeless beauty of the West Maui Mountains. When I think of Lahaina, this is my favorite view; a reminder of the vastness of nature, of a loving and generous community, and of the memories of the childhood I spent growing up on its shore. In this image, the verdant mountains, ulu leaves, and sturdy banyan tree represent regrowth and healing. — Roxy Chasle Ortiz

Lahaina Patchwork by Alex Underwood (Wailuku, HI & Emeryville, CA, 2024) digital

With this piece, I wanted to create something that evokes a sense of calm & beauty in honor of Lahaina, while also calling back to some visual elements that celebrate Lahaina’s beauty & resilience. The blues and tan echo the beauty of Lahaina’s landscape, with pops of symbolic Lahaina red. Naupaka is celebrated here, a staple of Lahaina’s beaches, as well as a ti leaf lei representing the strength & resiliency of Lahaina.

ʻUlu Rising by Andy Behrle (Kamuela, 2024) digital photography

This artwork presents the colors and textures of the skies above Lahaina at sunset and midday as an contemporary ‘ulu quilt design. In this pattern, the artist has abstracted breadfruit leaves so that they resemble the wings of a phoenix. This artwork honors Lahaina’s distant past when it was known as a place to find shade under the area’s many large breadfruit trees. Inspired by ‘Ōlelo No‘eau #1936: Lahaina, i ka malu ‘ulu o Lele. Lahaina, in the shade of the breadfruit trees of Lele.

Lele Rising by Edmund Enomoto (Kula, 2024) woodcut

Lele is the ancient name for Lahaina, and also the Hawaiian word for jump, fly or soar. The breaching whale is a metaphor for Lahaina rising, or rebuilding. The artist created this West Maui artwork from his perspective looking from the ocean just north of ‘Olowalu town toward Mauna Kahalawai (West Maui Mountains).

Untitled by Lauren Gombas (Honolulu, 2024) digital painting

As with all Hawaiian islands, despite the challenges Maui faced and those yet to come, its community proved to be one of its greatest assets. As someone who lives on O’ahu and practices art, it’s my role to highlight Maui’s strength in the community, the community’s connection to nature, the community’s dedication to rebuilding after tragedy, and each individual’s connection to each other. My hope for this piece is an overwhelming feeling of unity.

Hawai’i ‘Amakihi by Sheanae Tam (Kailua, 2024) graphic design

I chose the Hawai’i ‘amakihi known for it’s resilience, resistance, and adaptability to symbolize hope for Lahaina and Maui. Using an old Maui map to represent the past and ‘ōhia lehua trees for growth, our community, like the ‘amakihi, is showing the strength to thrive in challenging times.

Project Site

Site Map

Artist by section: #1: S. Tam - #2: N/A - #3: K. Kurokawa - #4: M. Takemoto' - #5: C. Holland & S. Hercik - #6: J. Ireijo' - #7: Wooden Wave - #8: A. Underwood - #9: A. Behrle' - #10: E. Enomoto - #11: L. Gombas - Back Room: Maui Strong

Project Timeline