“Ka Lei Ola o ka Moana” by Jana Ireijo is pictured here at the pop-up Kaiser Permanente clinic at 2301 Kaanapali Parkway in Lāhainā. The images represent a story inspired by island kūpuna Tom Fujita. The Maui News/Megan Moseley
Tucked in the back of the Lāhainā-based Kaiser Permanente clinic is a mural to add comfort and history for local residents during this moment of transition.
Located behind the pop-up portable unit at 2301 Kaanapali Parkway, is artist Jana Ireijo’s creation – an homage to the memories and mo’olelo (stories) of one of the island’s beloved kūpuna, Tom Fujita.
Kelly White, Public Art Program manager for Maui County and chair of Maui Public Art Corps, said the effort’s completion was honored with a blessing in November, and acts as a moment of respite for residents visiting the temporary clinic.
“Ultimately, it’s a space that’s open to the community to come and use,” she said.
With plans to set up a gazebo and some shaded areas in the back in hopes of making it more inviting, she said it was the first step in creating a mural that really captures the essence of Lāhainā.
A new mural was recently unveiled in Lāhainā dedicated to the memories and mo‘olelo of Tom Fujita. Maui Public Art/Courtesy photo
“I think step one was to create a mural that’s really preserving the history, culture and sense of place of Lahaina for individuals that are either utilizing Kaiser services, or just going to that area to spend time,” she said.
The mural is a product of Hui Mo’olelo: Lāhainā, a program of Maui Public Art Corps, Hale Hōʻikeʻike at the Bailey House/ Maui Historical Society, Maui County and Lāhainā Restoration.
Titled “Ka Lei Ola o ka Moana,” it showcases marine life and highlights Fujita’s deep bond with the ocean that was discussed during an audio recorded conversation he had with his friend Dean Tokishi through Hui Mo’olelo.
Currently, White is going through public feedback on the mural, as it’s important to their program to prove that their work is impactful, she said.
“Maui Public Art Corps is a public art program,” she said. “Public art actually has to be commissioned by a public process marked by dialogue with a larger community and responsive to the specific site where it’s going to be unveiled.”
A new mural was recently unveiled in Lāhainā dedicated to the memories and mo‘olelo of Tom Fujita. Maui Public Art/Courtesy photo
It took about a year to create the mural, she said, and she hopes it offers a safe space for the local residents.
“There’s been a lot of conversations around visitors, right?” she said. “And kind of folks who have been displaced and leaving Hawai’i as a result of the wildfire, so I think these authentic stories that are meant to be passed down from generation to generation are something a lot of people kind of need for their own educational purposes right now too, right? To learn what the authentic stories of Lāhainā are right now.”
In a press release, Fujita described his appreciation for his story being chosen for the mural.
“This mural really represents a part of my childhood days living in Lāhainā. And it really brought back some memories. To receive this mural, the school of kampachi and the numerous sharks I would see diving, catching akule at night and also seeing a lot of whales out there when we’re fishing, and of course the rarest sighting was the whale shark we saw — I thank you for this,” he said.
According to a press release, through a component of the Hui Mo’olelo program, the public artwork is rooted in two passages from Mary Kawena Pukui’s “‘Ōlelo No’eau: Hawaiian Proverbs and Poetical Sayings,” collaboratively selected by the artist and by Kumu Sissy Lake-Farm: He luelue ka ‘upena e ku’u ai (The fine-meshed net is the one to let down into the sea); and E lei no au I ko aloha (I will wear your love as a wreath/ I will cherish your love as a beautiful adornment).
A new mural was recently unveiled in Lāhainā dedicated to the memories and mo‘olelo of Tom Fujita. Maui Public Art/Courtesy photo
“This mural is inspired by the stories and memories of Mr. Tom Fujita, shared in conversation with Dean Tokishi, evoking scenes of childhood fishing trips with his father and family gatherings on Lāhainā’s shores,” Ireijo said in the news release.
The mural will be available to view for the next several years while the clinic’s permanent site is being developed.
“This mural reflects Lāhainā stories and voices of those who have endured and come together to heal. We are proud to provide a space for this meaningful artwork and grateful to the community for making it a symbol of hope and unity,” said Dr. Kimmie Ouchi, chief and medical director of the Kaiser Permanente Lāhainā Clinic, in a statement.