Hui Noʻeau to Distribute Keiki Art Project Kits

Hui No‘eau Visual Arts Center. PC: Gaylord Paul Garcia

On Wednesday, June 3 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., the Hui No‘eau Visual Arts Center will host a drive-through pick up of free art project kits to students who participate in the organization’s Nā Keiki No‘eau After School Art Program at Makawao, Pukalani, and Pāʻia Elementary Schools.

Nā Keiki No‘eau is a visual arts education program that sends Hui teaching artists off-site and into A+ After School programs in Maui County. First started in 2017, the outreach effort is aimed to increase arts programming for public school children and to provide enriching after school experiences and visual arts education. This year, Nā Keiki No‘eau served 348 youth in Makawao, Pukalani, and Pāʻia Elementary Schools A+ Programs.

“Hui No‘eau is thrilled to be able to distribute art kits for the children who participate in our afterschool programs. Having positive activities and opportunities for joyful self-expression are so important right now. We hope these kits are able to bring some happiness and creativity into Maui homes,” Program Director Lana Coryell said in a press release.

Kits will be provided on a first come first serve basis with 1 kit per participating child. Kits are designed for youth ages 5+ with adult supervision. Each art project kit contains basic supplies and instructions to follow. Families picking up kits should use Hui No‘eau’s lower entrance at 38 Kaluanui Road. Kits for distribution include projects such as “Mosaic Fishing,” “Kinetic Crab” and “Clay Pendant.”

Coryell added, “when schools closed and we couldn’t engage students in person as we usually do, we had to get a little creative ourselves! Hui Teaching Artist Julie Matheis did a wonderful job using our existing art materials to design simple projects that children could do at home with adult help. Hui No‘eau is really grateful to the donors who fund this program and who supported our wish to find creative ways to reach children during this time. Our staff came together to make these art kits happen and we will continue to find creative ways to serve our community throughout this pandemic.”

To donate to Hui No‘eau’s Na Keiki No‘eau Program, contact Program Director Lana Coryell at [email protected] or 808-572-6560 x. 22.