Wahi Pana 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.
The project includes art installations that activate sites across O‘ahu by connecting them to stories rooted in Native Hawaiian history and stories. Launching in 2025, this project brings together local artists and storytellers to create 11 multi-media installations around the island, with installations debuting in February, May, and September. Created in partnership with Department of Parks and Recreation, Office of Economic Revitalization, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Puʻuhonua Society, Aupuni Space, Hawai‘i Contemporary, the O‘ahu Visitors Bureau, and the Bishop Museum, this initiative will run for a three-year period from 2025 to 2028.
Wahi Pana is centered on artistic installations through various forms of creative story-telling including sculpture, video, photography, poetry, painting, and mele (music). Native Hawaiian and Hawaiʻi based artists are commissioned to collaborate with story-tellers and community members to research, and create site-specific artworks that highlight the complex histories of each place. Each installation will encourage residents and visitors to engage beyond the surface and to connect with the island’s rich history and culture. By deepening historical and cultural awareness, the initiative encourages more meaningful engagement with Hawai‘i and its people.
Phase 1: February 2025
Phase 2: May 2025
Phase 3: September 2025
Installation Ends: February 2028
Honolulu was selected as one of eight winning cities across the country to receive $1 million as part of the Bloomberg Philanthropies' Public Art Challenge. This unique grant program supports temporary public art projects that address important local civic issues in U.S. cities. Honolulu was selected as one of eight winning cities across the country to receive $1 million as part of the Bloomberg Philanthropies' Public Art Challenge. This unique grant program supports temporary public art projects that address important local civic issues in U.S. cities.
OTHER PARTICIPATING CITIES:
Our Purpose
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.
