Maui has inspired generations of artists, from painters who capture the island's landscapes to musicians, poets, filmmakers and more. The diverse creative community on Maui reflects the island's rich community and distinctive sense of place.
Whether you're an art collector, a visitor interested in Hawaiʻi's culture, or a local looking to discover more of the island's creative community, this guide introduces notable artists connected to Maui and explores the work that makes them worth knowing.
Famous Maui Visual Artists
Maui's visual artists work in a wide range of styles and mediums, from detailed representational paintings and expressive portraits to experimental watercolor and contemporary mixed media. Their work reflects different perspectives on the island, its people, and the broader world.
Curtis Wilson Cost
Since 1973, Curtis Wilson Cost has devoted his artistic career to capturing the landscapes, historic places, and everyday details of Maui. His representational paintings are known for their remarkable precision, atmospheric light, and affection for Hawaiʻi's rural character.
Cost's subjects include plantation-era homes, weathered wooden fences, country roads, taro fields, and familiar landscapes rendered with extraordinary attention to detail. His paintings preserve more than scenic views. They document elements of Maui's history and changing identity, capturing places and ways of life that have evolved or disappeared over time.
The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation has recognized Cost's work as classic Hawaiiana, with more than 150 paintings installed in airports throughout the state. His gallery, established with his wife Jill in 1985, is recognized as Hawaiʻi's longest-running one-man artist gallery.
To explore his original paintings and fine art reproductions, visit the Curtis Wilson Cost Gallery, located in Upcountry Maui. Gallery visits are by appointment only.
Kirk Kurokawa
Maui-born artist Kirk Kurokawa is a painter and muralist whose work focuses on people, local life, and the natural world. Of Native Hawaiian, Japanese, and Chinese ancestry, he was born and raised on Maui before studying illustration at the California College of Arts and Crafts. He returned home in 2001 to pursue his career as a fine artist.
Kurokawa is particularly recognized for his portraiture. His paintings often focus on a single figure, capturing the character and humanity of everyday people. He also paints Hawaiʻi's native birds, flowers, and familiar scenes from island life.
His career includes participation in every installment of the Schaefer Portrait Challenge, where he received the Juror's Choice Award in 2006 and the People's Choice Award in 2015. He also painted the official portrait of former Hawaiʻi Governor David Ige.
Learn more about his work at Kirk Kurokawa's official website.
Jan Kasprzycki
Painter Jan Kasprzycki moved to Maui in 1976 and developed an artistic practice distinguished by vibrant color, expressive brushwork, and an enduring fascination with light.
His paintings encompass radiant floral compositions, landscapes, cityscapes, and portraits. Although his subjects are often recognizable, his treatment of color and texture gives the work a lively, sometimes almost abstract quality. Thick applications of paint and energetic marks contribute to the sense of movement within each composition.
His work has been exhibited beyond Hawaiʻi, but Upcountry Maui has been his home and an important source of inspiration for decades.
Explore his paintings and other projects through Kasprzycki Fine Art.
Julia Allisson Cost
Julia Allisson Cost is a Maui-born painter, textile designer, and picture-book author and illustrator. As Curtis Wilson Cost's daughter, she represents another generation of creativity connected to the island, while developing an artistic practice distinctly her own.
Julia's work spans several disciplines. Her paintings explore narrative and imagery, while her textile designs translate original artwork into fabric for clothing and other creative projects. She is also the creator of The Girl and the Boat, a wordless picture book told through 30 full-page oil paintings.
Discover more of her work through Julia Allisson Cost's website and selected offerings at the Curtis Wilson Cost Gallery.
Dick Nelson: Watercolor and the Science of Color
Dick Nelson, an artist and educator based in Kula, has spent decades exploring how color, light, and perception influence the way we see the world.
Nelson studied color theory with influential Bauhaus artist and educator Josef Albers at Yale University. That experience shaped his approach to painting and teaching, inspiring a lifelong interest in the relationships between colors and the visual effects they create.
As a watercolorist, Nelson has developed a distinctive approach known as the Tri-Hue Method, using cyan, magenta, and yellow to create a wide range of colors. His work explores the luminosity, transparency, and subtle shifts that can emerge through these relationships.
Discover his paintings and teaching at Dick Nelson Color.
Other Maui Painters and Visual Artists to Discover
Photo Courtesy of Greta Hoffman
The island's visual arts community includes many more artists working in different mediums and styles.
Ronaldo Macedo is a painter who has lived on Maui since 1989. His landscapes draw on the island's natural beauty and history, including harbor scenes, plantation houses, and beaches. His work reflects an interest in the relationship between place, memory, and the visual character of the landscape.
Tracy Dudley is a Maui-based painter whose work explores the natural world through oil, acrylic, watercolor, and printmaking. Inspired by time spent outdoors, she paints the patterns created by wind, clouds, water, and the island's changing coastal conditions.
Jamie Roth is another Maui landscape painter who works with atmosphere and light. His subjects range from ocean and Upcountry scenes to cloud formations, plantation homes, and sunsets. His work emphasizes the feeling of a particular moment rather than simply documenting a view.
These artists illustrate the range of approaches represented in Maui's visual arts community. Some concentrate on recognizable landscapes, while others explore color, movement, portraiture, and the subtleties of perception. Together, their work offers a broader picture of the island's creative life.
Famous Maui Musicians Who Share Hawaiʻi's Stories
Maui's creative identity is also closely tied to music. Hawaiian music carries histories, cultural knowledge, personal experiences, and a profound connection to place. The island has produced or nurtured musicians whose work reaches audiences throughout Hawaiʻi and beyond.
Kealiʻi Reichel
Singer, songwriter, kumu hula, and cultural educator Kealiʻi Reichel was born and raised on Maui, including in Lahaina and Pāʻia. His work bridges music, dance, Hawaiian language, and cultural education.
Reichel's performances are known for their emotional depth and cultural grounding. Through his music and hula work, he has helped audiences connect with Hawaiian stories and traditions.
Amy Hānaialiʻi
Amy Hānaialiʻi is an award-winning Hawaiian vocalist whose work combines traditional Hawaiian music with a contemporary musical sensibility. Her powerful voice and recordings have earned her major recognition in Hawaiʻi's music industry, including multiple Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards and Grammy nominations.
Her career demonstrates how Hawaiian music can honor cultural traditions while reaching new audiences through distinctive arrangements and expressive performances.
Willie K
Photo Courtesy of Allanbcool via Wikimedia Commons
The late Willie K (William Kahaialiʻi) was one of Maui's best-known and most versatile musicians. A singer, guitarist, and multi-instrumentalist, he moved fluidly between Hawaiian music, blues, rock, opera, and other styles.
His musical range and energetic performances made him a beloved figure in Hawaiʻi's entertainment community. He also collaborated with other Maui artists, including singer and performer Eric Gilliom.
Lily Meola
Maui-born singer-songwriter Lily Meola began performing locally as a child. Her musical influences range from classic vocalists and singer-songwriters to contemporary pop, and she has developed a distinctive sound of her own.
In 2022, Meola appeared on America's Got Talent, where her original song “Daydream” earned the show's Golden Buzzer. Her career is an example of how artists can carry their island roots onto a national stage.
John Cruz
Singer-songwriter John Cruz is known for his soulful voice, thoughtful songwriting, and contributions to contemporary Hawaiian music. His work blends Hawaiian influences with folk, acoustic, and other musical traditions.
Cruz has earned recognition within Hawaiʻi's music community and a loyal audience among listeners who appreciate expressive songwriting and a strong sense of place.
George Kahumoku Jr.
George Kahumoku Jr. is a celebrated slack-key guitarist, singer, songwriter, teacher, and cultural advocate. His work has helped share the Hawaiian slack-key guitar tradition with audiences around the world.
In addition to performing, Kahumoku has been involved in cultural education and community music programs. His career reflects the important role of teaching and cultural transmission in Hawaiʻi's artistic community.
More Maui-Connected Musicians
Photo Courtesy of Ian Panelo
Other musicians connected to Maui include Ekolu, the contemporary Hawaiian music group with roots on the island; Raiatea Helm, an acclaimed Hawaiian vocalist known for her falsetto singing; Josh Tatofi, whose music draws from R&B, soul, and Pacific influences; Kamakakehau Fernandez, a Hawaiian singer and performer; Dennis Pavao, remembered for his contributions to Hawaiian falsetto singing; Pat Simmons, a founding member of the Doobie Brothers with longstanding Maui connections; and Eric Gilliom, a Maui-born musician, actor, and entertainer.
Their careers span different genres and generations, demonstrating the breadth of Maui's musical culture and the ways its artists share their work with audiences far beyond the island.
Writers, Poets, and Filmmakers Connected to Maui
Maui's creative community extends beyond visual art and music. Writers and filmmakers have also drawn inspiration from the island, producing work that explores nature, identity, community, and the human experience.
W. S. Merwin: Poetry and Environmental Restoration
The late W. S. Merwin (1927–2019) was one of the most celebrated American poets of his generation, winning two Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry and serving as U.S. Poet Laureate.
Merwin settled in the Haʻikū area of Maui in the 1970s. There, he transformed a severely degraded former plantation property into a thriving tropical forest through decades of planting and restoration. His home and the surrounding landscape became inseparable from his environmental commitments and later writing.
Nature, impermanence, and the relationship between humanity and the natural world became important themes in Merwin's poetry. His life on Maui reflected a deep commitment to ecological restoration as well as literary expression.
The Merwin Conservancy continues to honor his legacy, connecting his writing with the forest he helped restore.
Destin Daniel Cretton: From Haʻikū to Hollywood
Destin Daniel Cretton was born and raised in Haʻikū, Maui, before building a career as a filmmaker, writer, and producer.
His directing credits include Short Term 12, The Glass Castle, Just Mercy, and Marvel Studios' Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. His career spans independent filmmaking and major studio productions, bringing his storytelling to audiences around the world.
Although his professional work takes him far beyond Maui, his upbringing on the island remains an important part of his story. Cretton's career illustrates how a creative foundation developed locally can lead to international recognition.
Stefan Schaefer and Brian Kohne: Independent Filmmaking
Stefan Schaefer is an award-winning filmmaker whose work has screened at film festivals and reached audiences through theatrical releases and streaming platforms. His work includes projects developed in Hawaiʻi and beyond.
Brian Kohne is a Maui-born filmmaker, writer, producer, and music producer. His credits include films such as Kuleana and Get a Job, and he has contributed to the island's film industry through his work in film production and local creative initiatives.
Their careers demonstrate the role independent filmmakers play in developing local stories, creating opportunities for island talent, and bringing Maui perspectives to wider audiences.
What Makes Maui Such a Creative Place?
There is no single explanation for Maui's long-standing creative appeal. Its landscapes are certainly part of the story, but the island's artistic identity is also shaped by its communities, cultural traditions, history, and the everyday experiences of people who call it home.
For painters, Maui offers an extraordinary range of visual subjects, from misty Upcountry slopes and old plantation buildings to coastal light and lush tropical vegetation. For musicians, Hawaiian language, hula, family histories, and local experiences provide rich sources of expression. Writers and filmmakers can draw on the island's distinct communities and the relationship between people and place.
At the same time, Maui's creative community is not defined solely by scenery. Many artists devote their work to preserving cultural knowledge, exploring contemporary experiences, and telling stories that might otherwise go unheard.
The island's artistic legacy is strongest when its many perspectives are recognized. From traditional practices and contemporary experimentation to representational painting, portraiture, and performance, Maui's artists contribute to a living creative culture that continues to evolve.
Discover Maui Through Its Art
Maui's creative community is remarkably diverse. Curtis Wilson Cost's detailed landscape paintings, Julia Allisson Cost's paintings and textile designs, Kirk Kurokawa's portraits, Jan Kasprzycki's expressive use of color, and Dick Nelson's explorations of watercolor and color theory represent just a few of the visual approaches found on the island. Musicians, poets, and filmmakers add further dimensions to this creative legacy.
If you're visiting Maui, exploring its art can offer a different perspective on the landscapes and communities around you. If you live here, discovering local artists can deepen your appreciation for the island's creative history and ongoing cultural life.
To experience Maui through the eyes of an artist who has spent more than five decades painting the island, explore the Curtis Wilson Cost Gallery. His work offers a lasting record of Maui's landscapes, history, and everyday details, inviting viewers to look more closely at the place behind the paintings.