Aiea High Students Paint New Drive With Aloha Mural

Aiea High School has a colorful new reminder for every teen who is about to get behind the wheel.

As reported by KITV, more than 550 students, about 65 percent of the campus, helped paint a new Drive with Aloha mural at the school.

The mural encourages teens to make safe choices on the road and never drive impaired.

Aiea is the program's 23rd Drive with Aloha mural statewide.

A campus-wide effort

Students did more than paint, spending time sign waving and attending an educational assembly on safe driving.

Student activities coordinator Jennifer Arre told KITV the students were happy that the posters they made themselves were used at the roadside rally.

"We're all coming together to help spread a positive message for our community," student government historian Jazmyne Shimizu told KITV.

Principal Wayne Guevare said the campaign fits the school's core values of integrity, grit and ohana.

"It's a chicken skin moment when we can do these activities for our kids when they work shoulder to shoulder, all in unison, all for the same reason," Guevare said.

Senator Brandon Elefante joined the students as they painted, recognizing the program's work to promote road safety.

A program with Aiea roots

Drive with Aloha is led by Keep It Flowing, a Honolulu nonprofit that uses art to share health and safety messages with young people.

According to the organization, its very first Drive with Aloha mural was painted in November 2022 at the Hawaii Department of Transportation office in Waimalu, just down the road from Aiea High.

The program pairs each mural with traffic safety presentations, roadside rallies and stories from families who have lost loved ones to impaired drivers.

Arre shared a simple message for every driver: "Always, always think about your family."

Next time you are near campus, take a moment to admire the students' work, and drive with aloha.