Honolulu’s commercial and retail district, Kaka‘ako, is filled with murals and street art across buildings in this urban community. Students said they thought the art displayed across the underground community gives this particular part of Honolulu a different and unique feel to the city.The walls of Kaka‘ako were blank canvases until February of 2011, when Honolulu artist Jasper Wong put together an organization called “Pow! Wow! Hawaii.” Every year artists from all over the world come together to fill the walls with unique and urban art. The art created is left on the walls for all of the locals and tourists to check out, according to powwowhawaii.com.Wong, director of Pow! Wow! Hawaii, said the organization’s purpose, and the display of art is, “To bring people together; beautify communities; and educate through art.”Wong explained there are many things that are needed in order to fulfill a process like this: “A lot of blood, sweat, tears and burning midnight oils. Pow! Wow! Hawaii has a lot of moving parts. It requires a lot of time and care to make sure all the gears move. The people of Hawaii love art and it's great to see thousands of people come to see murals.” Participant of Pow! Wow! Hawaii, Kalani Pokipala, said, “The light that I see Pow! Wow! Hawaii shining is a light that's been long overdue for the underground and urban community for Hawaii's artists, including everyone that comes from overseas. “For street art, music and culture to grow and thrive, there needed to be something or someone to take the bull by the horns and run full throttle. With the collective conscience, manpower and mind of every individual, starving artist, trendsetter, musician, curator, memory snappers, makeshift innovator, art mogul, and so on, this event allows for the clouds to dissipate and sunlight to shine in.”Pokipala said he thinks it is great Kaka’ako is being beautified through art and music through Pow! Wow! Hawaii. “The best part is having a plethora of artists from all over the world come together for one reason, and one reason only: bringing the awareness level of Hawaii's art and urban community to the masses, and working together as one to achieve such a conquest,” said Pokipala. Locals and students have witnessed the unique street art in the urban community created by the hands of those who have come from around the world.BYU-Hawaii student Kelsie Gordon, a junior majoring in biology from Washington, has checked out the different art styles in Honolulu. Gordon said, “I think street art brings lots of unique culture to the streets of Hawaii. It shows how an individual’s expression can be respected by many other people. I think street art also makes Honolulu, specifically the Kaka’ako district, unique because of the diversity of the artists who created the masterpieces.”The murals created in early February this year cover the walls and buildings of Honolulu and will be kept for everyone to see until next year when new and inventive artists from all over the world come again to cover the town with art.Uploaded March 19, 2015
Writer: Alyssa Troyanek
