Wahi Pana: Storied Places is a temporary public art project of the City and County of Honolulu Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts (MOCA) and is a winner of the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Public Art Challenge grant.
Beginning February 2025, the project will feature art installations across the island of O‘ahu that connect each site with their indigenous, Native Hawaiian mo‘olelo (stories).
Wahi Pana: Storied Places is a temporary public art project of the City and County of Honolulu Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts (MOCA) and is a winner of the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Public Art Challenge grant.
Beginning February 2025, the project will feature art installations across the island of O‘ahu that connect each site with their indigenous, Native Hawaiian mo‘olelo (stories).
Phase 1 & 2 Art Installations Now Open
Wahi Pana engages and educates Hawai‘i's residents and visitors through art that explores the layered and profound mo‘olelo (stories) of our ‘āina (land).
By presenting these cultural narratives, we aim to inspire respect and appreciation for our island's rich heritage, prompt meaningful conversations, and strengthen connections within our community. Through the creative expressions from talented local artists, Wahi Pana seeks to deepen the understanding and appreciation of our history and culture, fostering a shared sense of place among all who experience these powerful stories.
🌺 Wahi Pana Artist Panel – Tonight! 🌺
Get to know the artists behind Phase 2 of Wahi Pana and the stories embedded in their powerful place-based works. Hear moʻolelo, learn about their process, and gather for an inspiring evening in the park.
📍 Kapiʻolani Park (former archery range)
🗓 Monday, June 23
🕔 5:00–7:00pm
🎟 Free + Open to the Public
Bring a friend, stay for sunset, and be part of the conversation. #storiedplaces #wahipana
“For everyone to understand what the project is about, we call it Kū’ena’ena.” @koloikeao
Join us Monday, June 23 for the next Wahi Pana @wahipana Artist Talk to learn more about Koloikeao’s graphic installation at Kap’iolani Park “Kū’ena’ena” and dive deeper into the creative process behind the Phase 2 artworks.
Monday, June 23
5:00 – 7:00 PM
Kapiʻolani Park (Old Archery Range – Poni Moi Avenue and Paki Road)
Featuring:
— Koloikeao Anthony @koloikeao
— Kekahi Wahi @kekahiwahi
— Ualani Davis @ua_lala
The conversation will be led by Puni Jackson, creating space for artists to share and reflect on the meaning behind their work as part of Wahi Pana Phase 2.
Free and open to the public.
Register at the link in bio.
Ualani Davis @ua_lala reflects on photography as both a form of power and a source of kuleana in representing place, memory, and community—an impetus behind her cyanotype installation “Kuʻu Pua i Kohelepelepe” at Koko Crater Botanical Garden.
Come learn more about Ualani’s work at the next Wahi Pana @wahipana Artist Talks on Monday, June 23, and hear from the Phase 2 artists about their creative process.
Monday, June 23
5:00 – 7:00 PM
Kapiʻolani Park (Old Archery Range – Poni Moi Avenue and Paki Road)
Featuring:
— Koloikeao Anthony @koloikeao
— Kekahi Wahi @kekahiwahi
— Ualani Davis @ua_lala
The conversation will be led by Puni Jackson, creating space for artists to share and reflect on the meaning behind their work as part of Wahi Pana Phase 2.
Free and open to the public.
Register at the link in bio.
🌺 𝗪𝗮𝗵𝗶 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗹 🌺
Join us for a special evening in the park as our Phase 2 artists—Koloikeao Anthony, Kekahi Wahi, and Ualani Davis—share moʻolelo, creative process, and the deeper meanings behind their powerful, place-based works.
📍 𝗞𝗮𝗽𝗶‘𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗶 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸 (𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝗸𝗶 𝗔𝘃𝗲 & 𝗣𝗼𝗻𝗶 𝗠𝗼𝗶 𝗥𝗱)
📅 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟮𝟯
⏰ 𝟱:𝟬𝟬–𝟳:𝟬𝟬𝗽𝗺
🎟 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 + 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰. 𝗥𝗦𝗩𝗣 𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗱, 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝗶𝗼
Bring a friend, stay for sunset, and connect through stories of land, memory, and art.
#WahiPana #storiedplaces
✨ 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿-𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗮𝘂𝗺𝗮 𝗕𝗮𝘆 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟳. ✨
Come in your shorts and slippers, enjoy a special evening celebration at Hanauma Bay featuring the presentation of "𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗮𝘂𝗺𝗮: 𝗛𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝗵𝗶 𝗟𝗼𝗹𝗶 𝗠𝗮𝘂", an experimental video by 𝗸𝗲𝗸𝗮𝗵𝗶 𝘄𝗮𝗵𝗶, storytelling, artist talks, and light refreshments under the stars.
This rare after-hours event invites the community to reconnect with this cherished wahi pana. 𝗸𝗲𝗸𝗮𝗵𝗶 𝘄𝗮𝗵𝗶 (𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗮𝘂𝗺𝗮 𝗕𝗮𝘆) and 𝗨𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗶 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗶𝘀 (𝗞𝗼𝗸𝗼 𝗖𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻) will be present to mark the collective significance of their new installations.
📍 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗮𝘂𝗺𝗮 𝗕𝗮𝘆 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲
📅 𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟳
⏰ 𝟲:𝟯𝟬 𝗣𝗠 - 𝟴:𝟯𝟬 𝗣𝗠
🔵 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 + 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰
Let’s come together to celebrate his legacy and the enduring presence of our people, both within and upon the land. Help us spread the word!
#WahiPana #StoriedPlaces
📢 𝗣𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝟮 𝗪𝗮𝗵𝗶 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗦𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗞𝗮𝗽𝗶‘𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗶 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟱, 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗪𝗮𝗵𝗶 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗞𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗮𝗼 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗻𝘆.🎨📝
Grounded in mo‘olelo and guided by place, "Kū‘ena‘ena" invites reflection on the layered history of this beloved gathering space.
📍 𝗞𝗮𝗽𝗶‘𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗶 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸 (𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲)
📅 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟱
⏰ 𝟰:𝟬𝟬 𝗣𝗠 - 𝟲:𝟬𝟬 𝗣𝗠
🔵 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 + 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰
Spread the word and be part of our huaka‘i!
#WahiPana #StoriedPlaces
📢 𝗣𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝟮 𝗪𝗮𝗵𝗶 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗦𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗨𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗪𝗮𝗵𝗶 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗨𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗶 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗶𝘀.🌿
We will celebrate Ualani Davis’ photographic installation with a morning blessing and intimate unveiling. "𝗞𝘂‘𝘂 𝗣𝘂𝗮 𝗶 𝗞𝗼𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗽𝗲" uses cyanotype imagery to honor the mo‘olelo of this storied landscape.
𝗗𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘄𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟳 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗮𝘂𝗺𝗮 𝗕𝗮𝘆, 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗨𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗶 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸.
𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲: There will be a short hike to reach the installation site. We recommend wearing comfortable shoes and bringing a hat, water, and sun protection.
📍 𝗞𝗼𝗸𝗼 𝗖𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻
📅 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟰
⏰ 𝟵:𝟬𝟬 𝗔𝗠 - 𝟭𝟬:𝟬𝟬 𝗔𝗠
🔵 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 + 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 (𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴)
Spread the word and be part of our huaka‘i!
#WahiPana #StoriedPlaces
📖 Bringing Poetry to Place: Brandy Nālani McDougall’s Lē‘ahi 🌺
Mahalo to all who joined us for the latest Wahi Pana activation in collaboration with #HawaiiTriennial2025 (#HT25), featuring the poetry of Brandy Nālani McDougall, Hawai‘i’s Poet Laureate.
Her piece, Lē‘ahi, challenges us to consider how perceptions of this iconic landscape have evolved—through the eyes of Kānaka ‘Ōiwi, Western explorers, the U.S. military, and tourism. A section of her larger work, Aloha Ka‘apuni, this poetry reminds us that aloha ‘āina is not static; it moves, shifts, and endures.
Mahalo to Brandy for sharing her mo‘olelo through this profound work, and to everyone who gathered to witness the power of Native Hawaiian poetry in public spaces.
🎥 Swipe to watch the event recap!
🎶 Music: Kaimana Hila written by Charles E. King (1916). Performed by Fran Guidry and Ledward Ka‘apana.
📷 Photos: @mikeitophoto
📲 Read more on #BloombergConnects
📷 Tag us in your photos and share your reflections!
#WahiPana #StoriedPlaces
🙏 A Legacy Honored: Na Lehua Helele‘i 🌺
This past week, in collaboration with #HawaiiTriennial2025 (#HT25), we gathered at Fort DeRussy Park to honor the late Rocky Ka‘iouliokahihikolo‘Ehu Jensen and the restoration of his iconic ki‘i installation, Nā Lehua Helele‘i.
Originally installed 25 years ago, these five towering images of Kū stand as a memorial to fallen Kanaka Maoli warriors—but also as a statement of presence, resilience, and strength. Through the support of the Royal Order of Kamehameha and Wahi Pana, this powerful work has been restored, ensuring Rocky’s legacy endures.
Mahalo to everyone who joined us, including Mayor Rick Blangiardi and Rocky’s daughter, Natalie Jensen, who shared heartfelt reflections on his contributions to Hawaiian art and culture.
🎥 Swipe to watch the event recap!
🎶 Music: Kaulana Nā Pua written by Eleanor Kekoaohiwaikalani Wright Prendergast (1893). Performed by George Kahumoku Jr.
📷 Photos: @mikeitophoto
📲 Learn more on #BloombergConnects
📷 Did you attend? Share your photos with us!
#WahiPana #StoriedPlaces
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