April 10, 2025

Dear Chair Sugimura nd Members of the Committee,

My name is Erin O'Kief, I am the Development Director at Hui No'eau Visual Arts Center. All of us at Hui No'eau are deeply grateful for the $75,000 allocated to Hui No'eau's Youth & Family Arts Education Outreach Programs in the proposed FY26 Budget. Hui Youth Outreach Programs are now benefitting more than 14,000 Maui County keiki annually through a wide range of FREE arts programming delivered during school, after school at seven Elementary Schools, in accessible community spaces, and through partnerships with Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Resource Centers, Lahaina Public Library, Lāna'i Public & School Library, Moloka'i Arts Center, and many others schools and organizations across Maui County.

Engagement in the arts benefits the entire community. According to an American Academy of Arts & Sciences Report (2021), arts education programs build well-rounded individuals; broadens understanding and appreciation of other cultures and histories; supports social and emotional development; builds empathy, reduces intolerance, and generates acceptance of others; improves school engagement and culture; develops valuable life and career skills; and strengthens community and civic engagement. The report also states that art can offer ways to preserve cultural heritage by engaging marginalized populations whose histories and culture have been suppressed or forgotten. The arts also provide shared experiences in public spaces—a community connection that brings wellbeing and cohesiveness to all. According to a study by Americans for the Arts, 72% of Americans believe “the arts unify our communities regardless of age, race, and ethnicity.

We ask the Committee to please support Hui No'eau's Youth Outreach Programs in FY26. Your support will ensure continued, cost free access to these invaluable programs for Maui County keiki of all ages. I leave you with these testimonials from some of the Hui's community partners, teachers, and students who have benefitted from the program within the last year:

- Misty Bannister, Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Resource Center Children’s Services Coordinator shares: “Hui No‘eau’s amazing teaching artists have been the BEST with our children! They have become part of our children’s lives and bring them so much joy. The children and I always look forward to our in person art days every week. Parents have also been enjoying time spent with their children in the groups as well, which promotes such healthy parents and child relationships and such precious moments of bonding.”

- A teacher from Lahaina Intermediate School shares this after a recent field trip to the Hui: "It was so much fun to see them sculpt and paint and see some of the natural talents come up! Even if they didn't feel like it's "their thing" it was a healing and fun day away from school to learn important Aina based information and art skills. We're so grateful. We're also so grateful you found and covered our transportation. It really made us feel wanted and we appreciate the opportunity after such a hard year."

- Chelsea Trevino, Branch Manager at Lāna’i Public & School Library shares: “[Hui No'eau's Art2Go Art] kits have become a mainstay for our library with parents calling and anticipating the arrival of the next kit. The partnership has been a blessing for our community at a time when prices on the island have increased substantially, especially for items such as art and craft supplies....”

A parent on Lāna’i shares: “I just wanted to ask if you could bring more arts to our Lāna‘i keiki? Our keiki's love when you guys come here once a month at our Lāna‘i Library and share all the ways our kids can make art. From the jewelry making, to recycled items, to modeling clay, and so much more. They love it all, as well as the 'Art to Go' Kits. Mahalo Nui for all you've done for our Lāna‘i keiki.”

A teacher from a recent Kahului Elementary School Field Trip shares: "The students loved using a variety of art medias to construct the i'iwi bird habitat and the model of the bird. Most of them have experience watercoloring but most of them have not used modeling clay to construct something. This was the highlight for most students. I thought it was great that the lesson was set around a native bird and gave not only the children awareness but also the adults about how we can help and appreciate the endangered animals of Hawaii."

- Sam Zender, Hui No’eau Youth Teaching Artist shares this about weekly art lessons taught at Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Resource Centers: “Since I have been a part of this program, I have been a witness to the resilience of kids in the face of hardship and tragedy. This program is a
sanctuary from their “day-to-day” -- a place where they can come and explore making something that is their own, make a colorful mess, or just laugh because their hands are somehow covered in glitter. I have come to know the kids quite well. When conflict or misfortune happens to one family, emotions ripple throughout. Many times, I come in and change what we are doing because the kids are responding to another family moving out. As I know they are feeling the loss of their friends, we can try and do something more lighthearted and fun. Other days, it is great to challenge them by trying a new skill. Speaking of skills, the kids have grown so much in the time I've known them! In the beginning, they would tell me, "I can't do that." "Do it for me". Now, the same kids can be counted on to share what they know with newer kids. Even when we are trying new things, I don't hear "I can't." They try it, knowing that we are there to help them figure out the hard parts. We did ribbon leis for Lei Day last year. It was such a triumph for the kids. They jumped in and asked me to demonstrate over and over and then they took off and were helping each other. One of the five year olds was sitting with one of the older kids. The younger boy was struggling to understand the rhythm of ribbon weaving and the older boy responded: "It's easy. It's just like going to the beach." I thought that was very cool so I asked him to explain what he meant. “Just like going to the beach. You watch the waves." I found this amazing as this child has often been impatient with projects that have a lot of steps or difficult details, so I loved that he found peace and quiet in ribbon weaving. I also had parents who were excited about the project so I found myself teaching adults who had never had a chance to learn even though it is a part of their culture. One mother was sharing pictures of leis created by her Tongan relatives and was inspired to want to learn how to make leis in her family's custom. When we started, a lot of these kids were struggling with basic motor skills and I am so proud of how much they have learned. Originally, we had to closely supervise when we were using scissors because the kids were unsure and awkward and often unsafe. They are now much more comfortable and proficient with scissors, markers and paint-brushes and this is sure to be of benefit in school. This self-assurance in their own abilities and a willingness to try new things is what I really hope they take with them."

Mahalo nui for your consideration.

Erin O'Kief
Development Director
Hui No'eau Visual Arts Center
erin@huinoeau.com

Testimony from Lisa Paulson with Maui Food Bank