Nature's Gift: A Mural for Uncle Louis Garcia III

Rooted in ‘Ōlelo No‘eau #2482: Ola i ka wai a ka ‘ōpua [There is life in the water from the clouds. Rain gives life.]
In June 2025, Maui Public Art Corps produced three large-scale murals at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College in collaboration with the County of Maui through our Hui Moʻolelo program. Each mural is grounded in a story collected from the community. These murals are not just for the public, they are by the public. Each work was designed through a collaborative process  including community consultations, storytelling sessions, study of ‘Ōlelo No‘eau, and public workshops to help refine the artists' initial concepts into communally imagined artworks.
Listen to the story that has inspired this artwork:
Louis Garcia III & Kaliko Storer of Lāhainā
​• Full Recording HERE (Bonus Video)​​
• Excerpt HERE
In 2024, Louis Garcia III and Kaliko Storer recorded a talk-story as part of Hui Mo‘olelo: Lāhainā—a storytelling initiative designed to preserve community voices through collaborative public art in partnership with @lahainarestoration • In 2025, artists from around the world submitted proposals to interpret this story as a work of public art, and artist Eric Finley (SEVEN) @theartistseven was selected by a community panel to bring it to life.

Created at University of Hawaiʻi Maui College in Kahului, the artwork honors a request shared early in the Hui Mo‘olelo: Lāhainā program that Lāhainā-inspired artworks not be limited to Lāhainā itself, as many community members have been displaced since the 2023 Maui Wildfires. The design celebrates fishing, community responsibility, and the importance of sharing blessings. Further developed through community songwriting and storytelling workshops, this mural reflects a collective effort to uplift lived experiences and honor the enduring spirit of Lāhainā.

Artist Statement

This artwork is based on the story of Louis Garcia III,  Maui’s treasured Ulua fisherman. I chose raised hands to represent Louis receiving the gift of fishing from his ancestors and the puka shell necklace he wears as his connection to his grandfather who taught him how to fish and guides him spiritually in his practice. The silhouette of the Ulua fish features the mountain landscape of Lahaina near Wahikuli park and represents the cycle of life from the clouds to the sea that provides the sustenance that is shared for our survival.

Proposal Excerpt

I am honored to have the opportunity to be considered for such a meaningful and expansive community art project such as Hui Mo‘olelo. The opportunity to make connections and form new relationships through creative collaboration can be very rewarding in many ways beyond just the art. My design approach in relation to the art is to remain open minded and flexible when in consideration of others input.

The project I have proposed is a mural depicting a scene in the life of a fisherman catching a giant ulua fish. I selected the excerpt featuring Louis Garcia and his story about catching a 92 pound ulua fish and his gift for catching these fish. Through listening, I realized how important of a role fishing plays in the lives of the island community. I see creative ways to highlight the importance of this relationship between humans and nature. I would like to include in my community engagement a creative way for the community to collaborate and inform the development of the concept design by creating poems about the topic. The poems will then be used as inspiration to develop the visual concept further.
Artist Bio: SEVEN began his artistic career as a young child drawing cartoon and television characters. He continued to practice and refine his drawing skills throughout his adolescence mostly inspired by comic books and fashion magazines. After high school he attended art school and graduated with a Bachelors degree in Fine Arts. While attending art school in Atlanta, Georgia, SEVEN became a notable graffiti artist. Throughout the years his new found passion eventually evolved into mural painting and a reputation for being a pioneering artist of the mural art scene in Chattanooga, Tennessee. After a 7 year tenure as a middle school computer technology instructor, SEVEN decided to pursue his passion as a professional muralist full-time. SEVEN has since become an established professional muralist who also paints large scale canvas artworks in addition to freelancing as an illustrator and graphic designer.

Community Consultations

Picture
Kaliko Storer, Louis Garcia III, Darice Garcia, Jocelyn Romero Demirbag & Derek Snyder and Theo Morrison
Picture
‘Ōlelo No‘eau with Sissy Lake-Farm
On May 10, 2025, we hosted a Hui Mo‘olelo: Lāhainā songwriting workshop at ProArts Playhouse in Kīhei. Led by guest musician Sara Jelley, community members were invited to reflect deeply on the moʻolelo of Louis Garcia III—a devoted lawaiʻa of Lāhainā—and to help shape the creative direction of SEVEN’s forthcoming mural. Inspired by Louis’s recorded talk-story with Kaliko Storer, participants explored themes of kuleana, ancestral connection, and the spiritual dimensions of fishing. Through guided songwriting and discussion, the group uncovered resonant messages of perseverance, gratitude, and the importance of sharing one’s blessings. These reflections culminated in the collaborative drafting of a powerful original song--Pule, Catch Fish and Share, that amplifies Louis’s message through music, honoring both the man and the moʻolelo that continues to ripple through the community.

Project Location

Project Timeline

  • 6/21/24: Launch Hui Mo‘olelo: Lāhainā; complete round 1 public art projects in Feb 2025 | Workshop #1 LINK (6/21/24) | Workshop #2 LINK (6/28/24) | Workshop #3 LINK (7/5/24) | Wellness with Aloha LINK (7/12/24)
  • 3/1/25: RFP is distributed with a 3/31/25 proposal deadline
  • 3/30/25: Eric/ SEVEN 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)
  • 5/6/25: Community consultation with Kaliko Storer, Louis Garcia III, Darice Garcia, Jocelyn Romero Demirbag & Derek Snyder (University of Hawai‘i Foundation) and Theo Morrison (Lāhainā Restoration Foundation) (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)
  • 5/10/25: Free Community Songwriting Workshop @ ProArts Playhouse
  • TBD: Additional community consultations pending
  • 5/13/25: Deadline for preliminary mural design stakeholder review
  • 6/9/25: Final design review
  • 6/11/25: Artwork feedback/ revisions request deadline
  • 6/12/25: Maui Public Art June Activities: Join Us! (eNewsletter)
  • 6/18/25: Eric/ SEVEN lands on Maui. Departure date is June 29.
  • 6/24/25: Public unveiling for new UHMC murals takes place Friday (Maui Now)
  • 6/27/25: Mural blessing led by Uncle Bill Garcia & public unveiling event at UHMC
  • 6/30/25: Project end date/ deadline for SEVEN to apply top coat/ sealant


Concept Development

Initial concept submitted with SEVEN's proposal on 3/30/25.

The project I have proposed is a mural depicting a scene in the life of a fisherman catching a giant ulua fish. I selected the excerpt featuring Louis Garcia and his story about catching a 92 pound ulua fish and his gift for catching these fish. Through listening, I realized how important of a role fishing and the lakes and seas in general play in the lives of the island community. I see creative ways to highlight the importance of this relationship between humans and nature.
Revision submitted 5/13/25.
Revision submitted 6/8/25.
Revision submitted 6/15/25.