We Tried It: In The Southern Sun Immersive Art Exhibit by Pow! Wow!
Explore a vibrant collection of murals, installations and multi-sensory artworks curated by Kamea Hadar in the heart of Waikīkī.
Photo: Courtesy of Andrea Lee
If you’ve been loving the way that Pow! Wow! murals have infused color, culture, energy and artistry into Hawai‘i’s spaces, then you’ll definitely want to check out In the Southern Sun, the organization’s exciting new exhibition happening now in Waikīkī. At the Hyatt Regency Waikīkī Beach Resort and Spa, the art collective has filled both floors of the 13,000-square-foot former Urban Outfitters space with captivating murals and installations created by top local and global artists.
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Curated by Pow! Wow! director-artist Kamea Hadar, the exhibit offers a visual storytelling of the history of Waikīkī, which was once home to ali‘i and rich with fishponds and taro patches. The experience is self-guided and currently includes more than a dozen works, broken up into separate zones that you can explore, take photos within and even interact with. Drawing inspiration from the Hawaiian proverb Mai ka lā hiki a ka lā kau (from the rising to the setting sun), the featured pieces progress from dawn to dusk, providing a journey through the changing light of Waikīkī.
The exhibit starts on the bottom floor with ‘Āinahau, a tribute to the Waikīkī estate of Princess Ka‘iulani, known for its beautiful gardens. The sweet scent of pikake (jasmine) wafts through the air as a nod to Ka‘iulani’s love of the flower, which she named after her favorite bird, the peacock. Aptly, woven peacock-style chairs can also be found throughout the exhibit.
Upstairs, you can don lei next to a statue of Duke Kahanamoku in a Jack Soren beach scene, peruse a mock crack seed store (complete with a Spam vending machine) and stand on a hotel room ceiling, all while absorbing the artists’ unique perspectives on culture and life in Hawai‘i. Melón’s gritty Chinatown street scene juxtaposes the Islands’ urban landscapes and natural beauty. A kalo leaf door leads to a Punky Aloha hale that celebrates the geographical elements of ahupua‘a. And Noa Hardisty’s black light room features a maze of glowing lava paths, cave creatures and menehune.
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Photo: Christine Labrador
When done exploring, head back downstairs for a little retail therapy. Created in collaboration with local label Fitted, the exhibit’s boutique Parcel offers exclusive graphic tees and caps. Just around the corner in the pop-up shop Hā‘ina Supply Co., you can snag fresh lei, forever lei made from fabric and clay, and additional handmade goods from local artisans.
Tickets are $20 for kama‘āina adults (with Hawai‘i I.D.), $10 for kama‘āina youth (ages 7 to 17), $25 for adult general admission, $15 for youth general admission (ages 7 to 17), free for keiki ages 6 and younger. Open daily 3 to 9 p.m., now through March 2026, 2424 Kalākaua Ave., Suite 101, Waikīkī, inthesouthernsun.com, @inthesouthernsun
Brie Thalmann is the home and style editor of HONOLULU Magazine.
