Student art on Lahaina dust fencing removed; placed in storage for future installation at Lahaina Civic Center

Student artwork that had adorned 1,000 lineal feet of mesh barrier fencing in Lahaina was removed last week to make way for a sewerline project supporting interim housing units and 29 homes on Fleming Road, the County of Maui announced. The artwork has been placed in storage for future use, including an installation at the Lahaina Civic Center later this year.

The art was commissioned late last year by the nonprofit Maui Public Art Corps, which has engaged with over 900 students throughout Maui to create artwork to convey resilience and uplift the community, said Erin Wade, Planning and Development Chief of the County of Maui Department of Management.

Last December, the art was printed onto 1,000 lineal feet of dust fencing by Maui Public Art Corps with the support of Hawai‘i Community Foundation. The State Department of Transportation offered Honoapi‘ilani Highway adjacent to the Wahikuli neighborhood as a place to prominently display the student art.

With the assistance of Goodfellow Bros. and ‘Āina Archeology, the 20’ x 8’ panels were installed along the highway.

“The student art display was an important way to share thought-provoking, inspiring, mournful and empowered perspectives of our island’s youth,” said Kelly White, Chair of Maui Public Art Corps. “Since being carefully removed to make way for the sewerline and housing projects, the panels will remain safely stored until for future use as a symbol of resilience, unity and the promise of a brighter future.”