Traffic Safety and Wellness Mural

In the Fall of 2022, the Hawai’i Department of Transportation (HDOT), Hawai’i Partnership to Prevent Underaged Drinking (HPPUD) and Keep It Flowing LLC (KIF) partnered together to coordinate and complete the first traffic safety mural in the State. Located on Pono Street in the district of Waimalu on the island of O’ahu, the murals are the result of our company and HDOT’s membership in the HPPUD O’ahu Coalition and HPPUD’s dedication to keeping our communities safe from substance misuse and empowering others to make good choices. Even through the COVID pandemic, KIF, HPPUD and HDOT were able to meet online to discuss and plan how to make this project a reality.

The purpose of this project and the messaging are extremely urgent and important as HDOT reports that traffic fatalities in 2022 has risen approximately 30% from 2021 due to impaired driving, distracted [KK1] driving[KK2] and speeding.[KK3]

Our purpose was to create these murals for the community of Waimalu, O’ahu, to beautify the area, as well as create traffic safety awareness within the community and statewide.

The goal was to create murals on five pillars, utilizing all facets of each pillar to remind the community to drive safely and encourage healthy and positive family values. The murals have five focal messages – Safe Roads, Safe Places, ‘Ohana, Live Aloha and Drive With Aloha – directed towards safe driving and community well-being. These five key phrases and corresponding collage words were specifically chosen by youth, HDOT and HPPUD member to send bold and positive messages to the community.

KIF wanted to be sensitive to the images depicted on these murals. Field research was conducted by visiting the Ahupua’a of Waimalu, which stretches from Waimalu Valley to the waters of Pearl Harbor. A Kahu Ha`i`euanelio was enlisted as the cultural advisor for this project. In this instance it was decided to pay tribute to the valley and the native plant and ocean life, from mauka to makai (mountain to ocean).

Phase 1: Youth Assembly Day

Youth learned about the concept and purpose of the mural and how it is created. The mural draft was presented along with the goal for the youth painting segment. Traffic safety messages were shared with the youth by a member of HDOT on general safety practices as well as for the Mural Painting Weekend event. The group was also introduced to the supplies accompanied by a brief description per item.

Phase 2: Youth Painting Workshop

The second phase of the program was led by the Founder and Lead Muralist of KIF. The workshop was designed to educate the youth and volunteers regarding art mediums and supplies, paint brush techniques, teamwork and leadership values and most importantly traffic safety. The participants engaged in an assignment that replicated the actual mural painting process to prepare them for the Youth and Community Painting Weekend. The outcome was a huge success as a multi-generational team completed the exercise and was prepared to paint the mural.

Phase 3: Youth Painting Weekend

The third phase of the program was executed by the KIF team and another co-mural artist. The primary goal of the workshop was to begin and complete the base coat of the mural using brushes and rollers to paint all fivemural locations including each facet of the pillar within two days. The secondary goal was to have the group carefully paint the background mural color around the messages and words the artists sketched prior to the workshop. The KIF team guided all participants and offered painting techniques and advice to produce a quality outcome. Adult and youth members of HPPUD, HDOT, 4-H, Coalition for a Drug-Free Hawaii, Mililani High School Volleyball, and Campbell High School, came out to collaborate in completing the mural assignment over the weekend.

Phase 4: Mural Painting

The fourth phase consisted of the lead artist from KIF and co-mural artists who began rendering the different images of the Ahupua’a of Waimalu and completing the outline process for each of the messages. The artists were also assisted by volunteers who began the refinement stage for all the messaging by using fine tip brushes to sharpen the linework and edging of each letter. One pillar was completed per day, allowing the artist to complete the mural within five days after the Youth Painting Weekend. At the end of each day, a first layer of clear coat was applied with the intent of the application of a second and final coat to be applied shortly after the completion of the mural.

Phase 5: Mural Unveiling/Blessing

Mural unveiling was a complete success! The ceremony began with distinguished guests sharing their support of the program and gratitude for strong partnerships. The cultural blessing by Kahu Ha`i`euanelio Angela Kaiwikuamoohoihou immediately followed, with Kahu providing a general blessing and then blessing each pillar. Sharing of the murals extended beyond the community with members of the media interviewing participants of the project. The unveiling concluded with fellowship, new partnerships and the promise of more collaborations.