Hui Mo‘olelo Mural Project at University of Hawaiʻi Maui College
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 has been 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.
What is Public Art?
Public art is planned or executed outside of a gallery or theater context and intended specifically for free public view. It is:
What is Public Art?
Public art is planned or executed outside of a gallery or theater context and intended specifically for free public view. It is:
- commissioned through a public process;
- characterized by interaction and dialogue with the community; and
- site-specific, meaning it responds directly to the place where it lives.
Artists
|
Entitled ʻOle Pau, artist Solomon Enos selected the mo‘olelo of Uncle “Gaby” Gouveia and Pualani Enos as inspiration for his work. Excerpt HERE
In response to the recording, Solomon shared, "There is a quintessential Maui flavor of sweetness, and both deep and broad cultural immersion. From fighting chickens with boxing gloves to Uncle Gaby being invited to play catcher by the Kepani Uncle, to the advocacy for Hawaiian language, all the bases covered, home run!" |
|
Artist Eric Finley, also known as SEVEN, selected the mo‘olelo of Louis Garcia III & Kaliko Storer of Lāhainā as inspiration for his work titled Nature's Gift. Excerpt HERE
Early on in our Hui Mo‘olelo: Lāhainā program, we heard that Lāhainā-inspired public artworks in particular should not be limited to Lāhainā places, as so many of our community members have now been displaced. We honor this request through partnerships with a range of artwork hosts, and have presented Lāhainā-inspired artworks in Lāhainā as well as Kahului, Kīhei and Honolulu. |
|
In developing Between Worlds, artist Jay Gilleard worked with two mo‘olelo: Anuhea Yagi, Student of Hawaiian Life Ways & Hōaka Delos Reyes, expert in the field of stone-on-stone carving (kālai pōhaku) [Excerpt HERE] as well as Nicolita Garces, Archivist and Librarian & Ashley Ancheta Galacgac, Engagement & Operations Manager, Hawaii Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations [Excerpt HERE].
"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." |
Mural Locations
Solomon @ Ka’a Ike Building; Jay @ Kupaa Building; SEVEN @ Pilina Building
Mahalo
|
Lori Abreu
Aloha Maui Pride Ashely Ancheta Galacgac Atherton Family Foundation County of Maui Uncle Hoaka & Aunty Maile Delos Reyes Jim Doran Aunty Kekoa Enomoto Pualani Enos Chelsea Fine Eric Finley Nicolita Garces Louis & Darice Garcia Uncle Bill Garcia Jay Gilleard Uncle Gaby Gouveia Hawai'i Community Foundation Equitable Access Arts & Culture Fund Hawai'i Council for the Humanities Hawaiʻi State Foundation on Culture and the Arts Lui Hokoana Namea Hoshino Jason Jerome - Kanikapila Project Ricky Jones Kala'i, Manu & Waepua Kaholoa'a Kalapana Kollars Lahaina Restoration Foundation Sissy Lake-Farm |
Patty Lee Sylva
Maui Family YMCA Maui Nui Botanical Gardens Maui Strong - Hawaii Community Foundation Theo Morrison Nā Kai ʻEwalu Nā Wahine ʻOno Iokepa Naeole Luana Paahana Hōkū Pavao Matt Pierce ProArts Playhouse Ann-Marie Power Jocelyn Romero Demirbag Tamara Sherrill Derek Snyder Songwriters Michael Herbert, Lynette Chun, Sara Jelley, Georgiana Nitu & Anthony Pfluke Lyz Soto Kaliko Storer David Tamanaha Michael Takemoto Erin Wade Shahlia Wainui Kelly & Lopaka White Joe Wilson Anuhea Yagi Aiko Yamashiro |
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)
- 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
- 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)
- 5/2/25: Uncle Gaby Gouveia, Pualani Enos, Jocelyn Romero Demirbag and Michael Takemoto community consultation with Solomon Enos (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)
- 5/6/25: 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)
- 5/8/25: 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 (SEVEN project development)
- 5/13/25: Hoe wa‘a with Uncle Gaby at Nā Kai 'Ewalu Canoe Club, Kahului (Solomon Enos project development)
- 5/12 - 15/25: Preliminary mural design review (chancellor DL 5/13; graduation primary focus after that)
- 6/9/25: Design review II
- 6/11/25: Hula and music making at Maui Family YMCA (Solomon Enos project development)
- 6/12/25: eNewsletter invites public to Jay Gilleard community engagement at Maui Nui Botanical Gardens (eNewsletter)
- 6/19/25: Lā'au Lapa'au Garden Tour & Philippine Plant Medicine Workshop at Maui Nui Botanical Gardens | Led by Namea Hoshino & Nicolita Garces (Jay Gilleard project development)
- 6/20/25: Solomon Enos’ Maui Public Art Corps Mural at UHMC nears completion (Maui Now)
- 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 (Program)
- 6/30/25: Project end date/ deadline to apply top coat/ sealant