Kauaʻi bus shelters improved through murals, storytelling

Local nonprofits recently worked with Kaua‘i artists to improve three bus shelters with vibrant murals.

The bus shelter murals are located in Kilauea, ʻOmao, and ʻEleʻEle. Each bus shelter mural features a design that represents the community’s unique history and natural environment.

These murals are part of the Līhuʻe Placemaking, Forestry & Gardens Initiative, an effort to build valued public spaces and connect communities across Kauaʻi through improved infrastructure and storytelling.

This project is being spearheaded by the Rice Street Business Association and Better Block Hawaiʻi, with support from the County of Kauaʻi Office of Economic Development. This initiative is partially funded by the AARP Community Challenge Grant.

The murals were designed and developed, respectively, by Kayti Lathrop, Bree Blake and
Bethany Coma. In October 2022, the artists presented potential bus shelter mural designs to
residents at a community dinner. Attendees voted on their favorite mural designs, which were
implemented later in the year.

If you’re interested in painting your local bus shelter, click here for a how-to-guide on creating
murals on public facilities. This guide was recently developed by Better Block Hawaiʻi to enable
and empower communities to pursue the placemaking projects most important to them.