Honolulu, Hawai’i
Weaving art and safety into Waipahu’s streetscape
The Project
In partnership with the City’s Complete Streets Program, Better Block Hawai’i (BBH) implemented a project on Leokū Street in Waipahu designed to beautify the area and improve roadway safety. Improvements were focused at the Leolua Street crossing, which is a high-injury location identified in the Oʻahu Pedestrian Plan and the Oʻahu Vision Zero Action Plan. The project resulted in the installation of over 5,000 square feet of new public street murals, curb extensions, protected with over 70 new delineators, and a new pedestrian refuge island that reduced crossing distances by 30 feet at the Leolua Street intersection.
For the mural, local artist Zach Angeles was selected through an open call. The artwork, featuring orange iʻa (fish), was inspired by the artist’s time spent in Waipahu as a child, and the desire to encourage more “schools of fish” to travel upstream along Leoku Street, so that they too can make memories with their ‘ohana. The street murals were installed in November 2024 with volunteer support from local residents, members of the Waipahu Neighborhood Board, and elected officials.
Art is the most empowering force we can bring to a community because it reminds us to look for beauty in everything. Waipahu’s Asphalt Art project reconnected us with the cultural roots of our local town with a symbolic painting of a stream of fish, and made our streets safer for pedestrians.
Daniel de Gracia, community member and Waipahu neighborhood board member
Use the slider to see the transformation
Press
Volunteers Install Traffic Delineators On Waipahu Roadway To Increase Pedestrian, Bike Safety (Hawaii News Now, October 20, 2024)
For inspiration and tips for the creation of art on roadways and public places, download the Bloomberg Associates Asphalt Art Guide which features successful plaza and roadway art activations around the world, as well as key steps for developing such projects.
