Maui, Hawaii, is a captivating island renowned for its breathtaking natural beauty and vibrant culture. Its diverse landscapes include lush rainforests, stunning waterfalls, and the iconic Haleakalā volcano, offering a paradise for nature lovers and adventurers. The island's pristine beaches, such as Ka'anapali and Wailea, are perfect for snorkeling, surfing, and relaxation. The warm, welcoming spirit of the locals, combined with the island's unique blend of natural wonders and cultural experiences, makes Maui an unforgettable destination. Maui's rich cultural heritage is evident in its traditional Hawaiian luaus, hula performances, and historic sites like Lahaina Town. It's in the town of Lahaina that our story begins.
On a trip in 2022 the artist Craig Brucker was absorbing the local vibe of Lahaina and was amazed not by the shops or banyan tree, yet rather by the very spiritual nature of the people and how it really seemed to be a homeless persons heaven on Earth.
See in Maui things are not like state side. It's a perfect 80 degrees all day and night year round. There is fruit growing from trees year round. There are chickens running around everywhere, and of course you have the sea to help provide as well. The local library provides water, showers and books for free. You are not looked down on by the locals, and there is an abundance of tourists who can help your cause. So the people truly become part of the land and live off mainly what is provided by nature.
The Artist spotted two homeless men sitting on the wall in Lahaina playing a game of chess and were very focused on it. They didn't have a care in the world other than the chess match between friends. The man on the right was also selling hand made hats he was crafting. If you wanted to buy one, cool... if not.. cool. He didn't pester anyone but rather let tourists approach him and he would talk to them in between moves. In this moment in time, life was perfect for these men.
So The Artist took their picture just observing them and what he captured ended up being his favorite photo of all time. The depth of the peaceful beauty resonated with him. Just two humans enjoying life even though they had nothing everything was perfect.
The Artist has a long history with The Music Box Gift Shop visiting it in his youth. When his long time friend purchased the music box he knew instantly he wanted to exclusively offer his art to them but most importantly this photo in a limited run because it embodied the Music Box Spirt.
See at it's core The Music Box spreads the "One Love" tradition. They also have always had a soft spot for the homeless and understand life has it's ups and downs. We understand the value of people in general. The poorest person can provide the most valuable wisdom. The owner of The Music Box, Austin McDonald is known to hire and support the homeless for odd jobs or give them chances as employees. So the depth of this picture means a lot to The Music Box and it's staff.
On Aug 8, 2023 a power line snapped near the Lahaina Intermediate School around 6:30 am starting a fire. The high winds caused the fire to spread rapidly. Now, what many don't know is the majority of Maui, Hawaii look exactly like Amarillo, Texas. The main body of the island is actually an aired desert. This tends to catch people off guard when they land at the airport. Because only the top parts of Maui are tropical and lush, the fire thrived on the desert plains. Simply put, just like the wild fire caused by a downed power line outside Amarillo, Tx in 2024. Unfortunately, the town of Lahaina stood in the path of the fire by nightfall. The outcome was devastating. The fire jumped from building to building igniting everything in it's path. Many people were not awake and only the loss of power signified something was wrong. As they exited their homes they found themselves surrounded by an inferno and trapped in all directions.
Many of the homeless jumped into the ocean fighting for survival. In total 2,200+ structures were destroyed and over 115 people lost their lives.
One month after the fire. The locals did what they called a paddle out. All the local surfers, boats and crews joined up to to bless the island. The people really came together in this time of crisis and helped each other. There is still great frustration with the government and their response to the situation. However, the people of Lahaina and Maui have really been there for each other.
They have a history of treating people truly like family and in this time of need... Everyone is family.
They know it will take time and energy to rebuild, but they will rebuild. They are "Lahaina Strong"
The artist returned in 2024 and desperately tried to find the status of the men in this picture.
He noticed many of the homeless were now living along the coast line or in the woods. The remnants of the fire were abundant.
Everyone he showed the picture to paused... and in a somber reflection said "I remember those guys"
Other local artists expressed how beautiful the picture was and how while they filmed the local nature and natural beauty of the island they failed to film the people in moments like this. It was from a local name Javier Gaytan of Aloha Raku Pottery he got confirmation that the man on the right who sold the hats is alive and well...and still selling hats to those that approach him.
In closing, I want to thank you for visiting The Music Box, it is our true oasis in Amarillo. We want you to spread the one love and be family.
On island in Hawaii they have a blessing that we believe is one of the most beautiful yet simple things.
"We would like to thank everyone and everything that had a hand in the preparation of this, or had to sacrifice for it to be, Thank You!"
This covers everything from the blade of grass a cow ate to the person who drove the truck.
