Colorful murals are going up at six locations across Oahu to spread the message that impaired driving crashes are 100% preventable. 

The Hawaii Department of Transportation is partnering with Keep It Flowing Media, Hawaii Partnership to Prevent Underage Drinking, the Coalition for Drug-Free Hawaii, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and local schools on the “Drive with Aloha” mural program. Funding comes from a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration grant, according to a news release. 

The murals encourage people to plan ahead and find a safe ride home. 

“Our outreach to the younger generation matters as it is informative and can play a critical role in the safety of themselves and others,” said KIF’s Ken Nishimura, who founded “Drive with Aloha.”

For each mural, students and community members take part in a painting workshop, painting day, a roadside rally and unveiling of the mural. While creating the murals, participants will learn about the dangers of impaired driving or riding in a car with an impaired driver. Also, they will hear from traffic safety advocates, community leaders and families whose loved ones were killed by impaired drivers. 

Ed and Paula Werner lost their 19-year-old son Kaulana when he was killed by an impaired driver in 2016, while standing outside their home in Nanakuli. 

“This program is reaching out and educating students in schools throughout the state of Hawaii so they can share with their family and friends of the information gotten. It pertains to driving with aloha, educating on bullying and also the violence going on within many communities,” said Ed Werner. 

This mural, completed through the "Drive with Aloha" program at Nanakuli Intermediate and High School, faces the street where an impaired driver killed a mother and daughter. It serves as a reminder to drive safely and honors the victims. (Photo courtesy of the Hawaii Department of Transportation)

The program started in Oct. 2023. So far, one mural went up at Nanakuli High and Intermediate School and a second mural went up at Farrington High School. A mural started in February at Kalani High School is almost finished. Murals will also go up at Leilehua, Kailua and James B. Castle high schools.  

“Each year, we see roughly half of the drivers in fatal crashes testing positive for alcohol and/or drugs. The most tragic point of that statistic is that they are not only hurting themselves. At HDOT we are trying everything we can to address impaired driving. ‘Drive with Aloha’ is an innovative and engaging way to show people the risks of impaired driving while also promoting positive decisions,” said Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation Director Ed Sniffen.

Michelle Broder Van Dyke covers the Hawaiian Islands for Spectrum News Hawaii. Email her at michelle.brodervandyke@charter.com.