Kirk Boes (center, behind the students), Lahaina Arts Guild art education director, teaches art classes at King Kamehameha III Elementary School. The 2023-24 school year begins next month, and donations of funds and supplies to this successful program would be much appreciated. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ARTIST.

LAHAINA — Kirk Boes just celebrated his 65th birthday and recently passed the mark as a 50-year Maui resident. He is perhaps best known as the art education director of the Lahaina Arts Guild (LAG), a nonprofit organization providing art instruction to young people on the West Side. LAG was recently selected as the partner “Agency of the Year” by Maui United Way.

But Boes is a man of many talents — over the last five decades, he has been a fine artist, a school teacher, a gallery director at Lahaina Arts Society, sailboat captain, member of a Christian rock band and well known bicyclist around town. He’s been married for 37 years to Laura Boes, a relationship he described “as love at first sight.” The couple has a home near the old Pioneer Mill “with lots of animals but no children.”

Originally from Newport Beach, CA, Boes arrived in Lahaina when he was 15. He went on to graduate from Lahainaluna High School (Class of 1976) and earned his B.A. in Communications and a Master’s in Education from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Discussing his work with children, he mentioned the importance of art education and the thousands of classes he and volunteers for LAG have given at King Kamehameha III Elementary School and other locations. He noted that school will be starting up again in August, adding that donations of funds and supplies to this well regarded program would be much appreciated.

“In a perfect world, we would get more corporate sponsors, such as hotels and restaurants, to make contributions. There is no formal art at Kamehameha III School without us. Art helps kids to grow socially and emotionally. They do better when they can do art.”

“Kirk is a super nice guy,” said Bill Smith, who is executive director of the Lahaina Arts Society (LAS). Smith said that Boes was gallery director at LAS for several years and transitioned to teaching with the guild, a sister organization. “He’s great with the children and he loves what he does,” and Smith added, “He’s a terrific artist in his own right.”

Smith said that anyone who wanted to make a contribution to the Guild’s program for young people could drop off funds or supplies for upcoming classes at 648 Wharf St., #103, in Lahaina.

In addition to his high-profile work as an art educator, Boes is also well regarded as a plein air painter. He exhibits with the Gallerie Behl in Lahaina.

“I’ve got a painting of his of Haleakala Crater hanging over my bed right now,” said Gallery Director Mele Bradley. “I find his painting colorful, moving and emotional. In the last few months we’ve become fast friends. He is an amazing person who is giving, gentle and informative. He’s really into art history and is a fan of modern masters like Picasso, Chagall and Van Gogh.”

Bradley said those interested in work by Boes can find it on view at Gallerie Behl at 505 Front St., adding that he is also available for private commissions.

Boes has also been active in the digital world. He is co-founder of the online arts platform Art Farm Productions (https://www.artfarm.productions), which he described as “a way to help other artists.” It features innovative displays using 3D technology in a virtual gallery setting. It has also hosted juried exhibits.

Most recently, the site featured Hawaii Waves, which coincided with the winter surf season. Jurors included noted surfer Buzzy Kerbox; Mark Brown, plein air painter and UH art instructor; and TV news personality Malika Dudley.

“I met Kirk when he was gallery director at LAS,” said Pukalani artist Robert Gann, who was a founder of the ArtFarm site. “I always enjoyed the friendly, positive way he managed the gallery. We became friends about five years ago. The website came along when Covid was starting up. It was a way to connect artists with each other. Kirk did a lot of work with other artists, helping with the relations and coordinating people and events. He’s a really accomplished artist and a positive upbeat guy.”

As for the site, Gann said, “I’m not sure where it’s headed; we’ll talk more about that when he gets back from his Alaska trip. Basically the idea is artists helping artists. As artists we can help each other to get exposure and help promote our work.”

As if that weren’t enough, Boes is the author of the book An American Dog in Paris, a whimsical animal story illustrated with his paintings. First published as a paperback five years ago, it was recently reissued in a hardback second edition.

“It’s a love story between a dog and a cat,” he said. “I would love to see it produced as a play or a movie.”