We are honored to have just completed our first Drive with Aloha 2023-2024 Mural & Prevention Program! Stay tuned to learn more about this amazing statewide program…

The “Drive with Aloha” Mural & Prevention Program in Collaboration with 

The Hawaii Department of Transportation, 

The Drug Free Coalition of Hawaii, 

Hawaii Partnership to Prevent Underage Drinking & 

Mothers Against Drunk Driving & Safe Ride Hawaii

Launched in October 2023!

Why “Drive with Aloha?”

Youth impaired driving & the consumption of alcohol, illegal & prescription substances by minors, is a great concern within the State of Hawaii.  In 2021, Hawaii Youth Behavior Surveys stated 19.4% of Hawaii middle schoolers & 14.8% of high schoolers surveyed has ever rode in a car driven by someone who was “high” or had been using alcohol & drugs. Additional data below supports the need for youth engagement & outreach programs in the State of Hawaii.

• 13.9% of high schoolers drank alcohol for the first time before age 13
• 5.0% of middle schoolers and 21.2% of high schoolers ever used marijuana
• 20.8% of middle schoolers and 40.3% of high schoolers has ever drank alcohol
• 16.6% of high schoolers currently drank alcohol (at least one drink on at least one day during the 30 days before the survey)
• 12.2% of middle schoolers drank alcohol for the first time before age 11

What is the Goal of “Drive with Aloha?”

Our collective goal with this Statewide Program is to complete collaborative full-color murals on school campuses, provide educational presentations by traffic safety partners (Hawaii Department of Transportation, law enforcement, MADD) & “talk story” with youth on impaired driving issues. We are partnering up with surviving family members of impaired driving crash victims to share their stories & impact statements with the youth & community members while also coming together for sign-painting workshops with students, sign-waving & community roadside rallies in promotion for safer roads. Our team & supporters are also utilizing data collection & social media campaigns to best spread awareness & connect with communities across the Islands.

How Can YOU Support “Drive with Aloha?”

• We INVITE the public to complete our GENERAL SURVEY… You can do this from your home; just scan the QR code or click the link BELOW.
• Join the roadside sign-waving RALLIES! ALL VOLUNTEERS need to be cleared by one of our team members, so please contact us through our website or social media channels to confirm participation, location & time.
• EVERYONE can practice SAFE driving! Don’t drink & drive, stay alert & DRIVE WITH ALOHA!

Drive with Aloha 2023-2024 Project Summary

The Drive with Aloha Mural Program is a creative-learning pathway, a designated sequence of art-driven activities and presentations, designed to develop the skills and learned behaviors towards safe driving and impaired driving prevention.  Our goal is to encourage safer behaviors through education, advancing healthier lifestyles, stimulate critical thinking and strengthen community engagement through collaborative art programming.

Our first Drive with Aloha mural was completed on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, at the Waimalu Department of Transportation (HDOT) office in November 2022. This pilot program aimed to strengthen community ties and enhance roadway safety while gathering feedback to ensure the murals resonated with residents within the community and conveyed the intended messages effectively. The success of this project provided the foundation for expanding the initiative to a statewide effort.

In 2023, our organization was approached by HDOT to submit a grant proposal to expand the Drive with Aloha program to six high schools in the County of Honolulu. We were awarded the necessary resources to launch this expanded program in November 2023. Designed to educate and inspire both students and the broader community, the program uses art as the primary tool for teaching about sober driving and road safety, complemented by workshops and presentations. Additionally, the program provides a platform for families who have lost loved ones in impaired driving crashes to share their experiences, both intimately with students and on a larger scale, with the goal of preventing further senseless accidents and fatalities.  The families of victims see great value in the program and have actively participated by speaking at every school and contributing to the painting of the murals. Their involvement not only adds a deeply personal touch to the program but also strengthens its impact by sharing their stories and helping to create meaningful artwork.

The program achieved tremendous success with both schools and communities, gaining significant visibility through television news coverage and robust social media support. We emphasize survey-driven data collection to gather feedback from students at each school, ensuring their perspectives and support are considered. Additionally, we distribute approximately 5,000 flyers per school, as well as to local vendors, to further amplify the message and reach a wider audience.

We have now completed our sixth and final mural for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. The success of the program was recognized by our grantees, leading to another grant that will extend the project’s reach to all counties in 2024-2025. We are both grateful and humbled to facilitate a program that enhances road safety and provides a platform for families who have lost loved ones in impaired driving crashes. Their advocacy and education efforts are crucial in promoting safe driving and fostering a better Hawaiʻi.

Mahalo nui to our partners Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation, Kaulana Foundation, Safe Ride Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻi Partnership to Prevent Underaged Drinking, Coalition for a Drug Free Hawaiʻi, all participating schools and supporting vendors.

Nānākuli High School

Farrington High School

Kalani High School

Leilehua High School

Kailua High School

Castle High School

SEE YOU ALL FOR THE 2024-2025 DRIVE WITH ALOHA TOUR!