A mural inspired and painted by MEO Youth Services was blessed Wednesday
afternoon in a ceremony in the parking lot along Ku`ihelani Highway, near
the intersection of Pu`unene Avenue, Maui Veterans Highway and Mayor Elmer
Cravalho Way.
Maui artists Bailey Onaga and Matt Agcolicol created the mural titled
“Oneloa & Keone`o`io,” one of two murals in the public parking lot as part
of the state Department of Transportation’s Ku’ihelani Sound Wall Mural.
State DOT Deputy Director Robin Shishido said at the blessing that the plan
is to paint more murals on the wall – instead of graffiti – as it goes
around the corner along Puunene Avenue.
Onaga and Agcolicol talked about the importance of names, stories and
places. MEO youth kept bringing up “Bigs” in Makena in their conversations
about the mural theme.
“I said `do you know the name of this beach?’ ” recalled Agcolicol,
referring to the Makena spot colloquially known as “Big Beach.” “And that
was important for them to make the connection to the names, to the places,
to these wahi, these areas where we enjoy and spend our time, and how do we
carry on through name, story and place.
“We wanted to capture that.”
On a hot Thursday, July 31, MEO youth helped infuse the color into the
mural, which depicts the Pu`u Ola`i cinder cone, the beach and the powerful
waves.
Representing MEO Youth Services at the blessing were Dane Ka`ae and Kristin
Wells; youth Kaikea Barona, a junior at Kulanihako’i High School, and
Ualohe Acang, an 8th grader at Kalama Intermediate; and COO Gay Sibonga.
Many of the youth who were involved in the mural were unable to attend due
to sports practices and games.
Mayor Richard Bissen and state Sen. Troy Hashimoto attended the gathering.
Kahu John Demello offered the blessing.
Kahu John Demello blesses the mural “Oneloa & Keone`o`io” at a ceremony Wednesday afternoon at the parking lot along Ku`ihelani Highway in Kahului.
Shown in front of the mural “Oneloa & Keone`o`io” are MEO Youth Services participants Kaikea Barona, a junior at Kulanihako`i High School, and Ualohe Acang, 8th-grader at Kalama Intermediate; MEO COO Gay Sibonga; and the MEO Youth Services leadership team of Director Dane Ka`ae and Kristin Wells.
Maui artists Bailey Onaga and Matt Agcolicol created the mural “Oneloa & Keone`o`io” with an assist from MEO Youth Services. The mural was commissioned by the state Department of Transportation.
MEO Youth Services Director Dane Ka`ae offers a few remarks as Kristen Wells looks on.
