Call it a school project with a purpose, a fine example of being proactive rather than reactive. Students at Maryknoll School are trying to beat taggers to the punch by creating art before vandals create a mess.

"Yellow the rainbow."

Maryknoll School students are taking their class to the street.

"I need another yellow for the sun here."

Students are painting and decorating a construction fence that surrounds the future site of a new community center and school gym.

“Of course every construction project has a wall -- around it to keep the dust out. So what we were creating was a giant pallet and we thought taggers," said Yvonne Morris, the Director of Development.

A valid concern. Earlier this year, taggers found opportunities at this construction site in Kalihi. A block-long canvas turned into a block-long eyesore. This canvas could offer similar opportunities.

"Oh yeah definitely. I mean open space like this it's just an invitation," said Ben Luke, an area resident.

"In the end we're really hoping that the taggers will respect the art of someone else," said Morris.

Students believe respect is a two-way street.

“If they deal us more respect and they don't tag over this. We'll show them respect and we'll leave them alone," said 5th grade Maryknoll student Jaren Tengan.

“Respect is very important because it shows that we feel it's important because when we decorate our gym it like shows how much we care about our property and our home," said Brandi Chun.

So far area residents like what they see.

"I think it's great," said Luke. "I'm really glad to see that they were quick in putting the paint on and it looks like a nice theme and I think it makes a nice corner."

"If these graffiti people come around and see that and want to try and mess it up. They should think twice first," said Lori Umay, another area resident.

Some believe the school project could serve as an example for future construction sites. Graffiti with a purpose a way to un-invite unwanted guests.

"It's not really their property so they have no right to graffiti our school property. So we're just trying to make the community and the neighborhood look a little bit nicer," said Chun.

Construction on the gym is scheduled to begin in early June.