Oct. 27, 2025

Travelers passing through Kahului Airport can now experience the beauty of Maui’s four moku in artwork created by Kamehameha Schools Maui haumāna. The four-panel exhibit was installed and blessed in September 2025.

Located outside Gate 17 near a 2023 KS Maui mural on water conservation, the new installation, titled “Ka Wā Ma Mua,” continues the theme of environmental stewardship and the Hawaiian worldview that to look forward, one must first look to the past.

“Promoting sustainable water on Maui means protecting watersheds, fostering responsible community stewardship, and honoring Indigenous knowledge,” said Harley Viela KSM’25. “These practices will ensure that future generations can thrive in harmony with the island’s natural resources.”

The showcase was designed and created during the 2024–25 school year under the guidance of Visual Arts Academy kumu Angie Abe and Ceramics kumu Roxy Ragsdale. Students researched and interviewed kumu to represent each moku’s relationship to its watershed.

Before installation, the haumāna presented their pieces to Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation officials, explaining the inspiration behind each design. A QR code linking to their recorded presentation accompanies the display, allowing visitors to learn more about the stories and meaning behind the art. 

KS Maui senior Kaylia Gomes-Hema said the project reflects both memory and vision.

“’Ka Wā Ma Mua’ expresses our desire to return to a time of balance, when kānaka and ʻāina thrived together in reciprocal pilina,” Gomes-Hema said.

The installation is now on permanent display for the 4.4 million passengers who pass through Kahului Airport each year.