As Wayne Taniguchi hung poster after poster of child art in the hallways of Ka'ahumanu Hale downtown, he began to realize the importance of children being able to artistically express themselves.

The artwork, created by Hawai'i elementary students for the Mediation Center of the Pacific and the Hawai'i Association for Conflict Resolution's "Posters for Peace" contest, provides a glimpse into the way that children view the world and the need to nurture creativity, he said.

"Their art speaks," said Taniguchi, who works as the facility manager at the state Circuit Court building and helped put up the display of child art there. "There is something innocent about the art of a child that speaks to the heart."

For the past six years, mediation professionals put on the poster contest in hopes of promoting peaceful conflict resolution among elementary-age students. By doing so, they also promote creativity in schools that often become fixated on improving reading and math test scores.

Last year, more than 90 pieces of art from about a dozen schools were submitted.

"Artwork appeals to every age and can inspire something different in every person. From a mediator's standpoint, students are learning through art that there is no right or wrong; there's perspective," said Tracey Wiltgen, executive director of the Mediation Center of the Pacific.

Twin brothers Cyrus and Alex Noveloso, 10-year-olds from Mililani Uka Elementary School, won first and second place, respectively, in last year's art contest.

Cyrus' drawing depicted how both violence and compassion can be communicated through body language. His brother Alex drew a picture of a firefighter using water of peace to put out the flames of violence and conflict.

"Nowadays, everything is so academic. It brought the creative aspect in, and it allowed them to think in a different way," the boys' mom, Kim Noveloso, said. "I'd love for them to take more art lessons or attend art school, but there isn't much available."

"It's fun to draw different stuff, but we hardly have time," Alex said. When asked why, he said: "Lots of homework."

About 40 pieces from the contest hang in Ka'ahumanu Hale and have been making visible impressions on those who walk by, said Elizabeth Kent, director of the state judiciary's Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution.

"People were so happy. They really appreciated that it was there. The adults always learn from seeing the children's art," Kent said.