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An Inspired Approach
Native Hawaiians and many of their Polynesian brethren in the South Pacific carried strong traditions of fabric making, called kapa. In Hawaiʻi, women used specialized grooved clubs to pound patterns into the prepared, softened bark of certain trees and shrubs, such as hau and wauke. Luckily, the traditional art of kapa has not been lost to time. The legacy and…
Beauty and the Beach
Salvage Public made their initial debut in 2013 with the launch of a small collection of graphic T-shirts. It was a side project for co-founders Joseph Serrao, Noah Serrao, and Nāpali Souza. Joseph had just moved back home to O‘ahu from L.A. and linked up with his old high school friend, Nāpali Souza. From this solid creative core, the trio…
Designed to Endure
Among the contemporary and state-of-the-art high-rise residential towers that define the present architectural persuasion of Ward Village, there’s a mid-century modern marvel that is the cornerstone of the neighborhood’s commitment to honoring design and art from decades past to centuries ago. The IBM building, located at the corner of Ala Moana Boulevard and Queen Street, was built in 1962 by…
Ke Kilohana and Keaomelele
In the Islands, it’s customary to look to the stories of the gods found in chants, songs, and hula to pay homage and respect to Hawaiian culture. This practice gives a deeper meaning and significance to our modern, built environment, which informs how we use spaces and their aesthetic in relation to the natural world. Ke Kilohana, one of Ward…
Live Smart
As more of us move from the suburbs back into cities, we’re forced to reexamine the ways we live, work, shop, and play. Ever evolving and focused on making the most out of our free time, a new movement has taken root. We call it the smarter living movement, and we think it has the potential to revolutionize the ways…
Movement In Stone
Take a walk on a rocky beach, look down and notice just how many rocks are strewn about your feet. Each one has a story, a life cycle, and a connection to its environment. Most of the time, however, our gaze is focused on the horizon and we rarely notice the small things idly standing beneath us. Artist Kamran Samimi notices these…
No Suits Allowed
In the early years of the 20th century, in a nondescript stall in Honolulu’s Chinatown, it’s likely the first aloha shirt was sewn. In the following years, the aloha shirt would serve as a unifying cultural fabric between the Hawaiian Islands and the rest of the world. From sailors stationed in Hawai‘i in the Second World War to modern-day politicians…
Presenting Yayoi Kusama’s Footprints of Life
History has shown us that all great cities are built upon more than just brick and mortar. Whether it’s Athens, Rome, or New York, an appreciation and celebration of the arts is at the cornerstone of every developed society. Art shows us that we’re capable of interpreting life in a variety of mediums, that we are able to reflect on…
Shaped By Nature: A Look at Ae‘o’s Architecture
As an architecture firm, Bohlin Cywinski Jackson (BCJ) has built themselves an impressive reputation for their ability to consistently produce elegant and environmentally sensitive buildings. While they’ve been in business for more than five decades and have produced leagues of legendary designs, Ae’o, a forthcoming residential development in Ward Village, is going to be particularly mesmerizing. Ae‘o, one of the…
Shie and Him
“Fashion is very important. It is life-enhancing and, like everything that gives pleasure, it is worth doing well.” —Vivienne Westwood Style can be a tough thing to define. Style is authentic. Style is inspiring. True style cannot be bought, rented, or leased. An art form in its own right, style is the flavor of life. It’s a splash of color…
Talking Story w/Kirsten Reyno of Lola Pilar Hawaii
It’s a Sunday morning and Kristen Reyno is scouring her favorite streetside market for fresh tropical fruit. She picks up a perfectly ripened guava, gives it a firm squeeze, and adds it to her collection. “It’s perfect,” she says to herself. However, Kristen’s not searching for the perfect afternoon snack, she’s creating art. Under the title Lola Pilar, Kristen, who…
Talking Story with Lei-Maker Meleana Estes
It’s no secret that Hawai’i is head over heels for lei. As part of our culture, the people of Hawai’i celebrate our love for one another by creating and gifting lei. While this cultural art form has been engrained into the Islands for centuries, in recent years, it’s become increasingly popular across the country. And we think that’s a great…
The Illustrious Illustrator
Oahu-based artist Nick Kuchar has a way of capturing the “alluring unknown” in his artwork. Through his vision, even the most familiar places — at least to local people in Hawai’i — feel nostalgic, romantic, and evocative. Even a locale as central to our daily lives as Ala Moana can feel downright whimsical under Nick’s hand. Recently, we sat down…
The Science of Creativity – Lauren Trangmar
A deconstructed saimin sloshing wildly within its bowl. A map of the United States from the perspective of Hawai‘i. An astrological chart with a hodgepodge of curious creatures darting to and fro. Welcome to the world of illustrator and artist Lauren Trangmar. With a visual language that draws on history, science, and an uncanny combination of strange things, Lauren is…
The Swell Makers
In Honolulu’s creative spaces, collaboration is king. Nowhere is this more apparent than at the Lana Lane art studio of Wooden Wave, the artistic progeny of husband and wife Matt and Roxy Ortiz. The duo started working together a decade ago and are now best known for their whimsical treehouses, vertical islands of surf-skate utopian bliss. In 2013, Wooden Wave…
Waiea’s Living As Art With Tony Ingrao
The Talented Man Behind the Ward Village Honolulu Waiea Interiors: Designer Tony Ingrao Life is what you make of it, and what you surround yourself with is an intrinsic part of this picture. Believing in the philosophy of “living as art,” Waiea at Ward Village’s interior designer Tony Ingrao defines his spaces as such. A busy and talented man who…
Ward Village x Pow! Wow! Coloring Sheet
Looking for a fun activity to do with your keiki while staying at home? Click here to download this coloring sheet illustrated by Jasper Wong of Pow! Wow! Hawaii and add your own creative touch to the piece.
Welcome to the Future: ʻAʻaliʻi
There’s a new movement underway that’s changing the way we live, work, and play. As more of us opt to live beyond the four walls of our home, we’re finding that convenient access to restaurants, shops, work, and Hawaiʻi’s natural bounty are paramount. We call it Smarter Living and we’ve designed an entire residential tower around this vision. With that…