Your Ultimate Guide to Pow! Wow! Hawaiʻi 2019
With block parties, art exhibitions and a big finale bash at the ʻAlohilani Resort, it’s Kakaʻako’s most eventful annual makeover.
PhotoS: Courtesy of Pow! Wow! Hawaiʻi
Talented local and global artists come to Kakaʻako every February to turn its walls into a new, vibrant gallery of urban art. The annual event that includes talk-story opportunities with the artists, block parties, exhibitions, concerts and more (not to mention dozens of Instagrammable backdrops) returns Feb. 8 through 17.
SEE ALSO: Uniqlo’s New Pow! Wow! Hawai‘i Collection Is Available Exclusively in the Islands
Here’s what’s happening in Honolulu this year:
Local artist Gary Draws Fish is a confirmed artist for 2019.
The Artists
This year, more than 60 artists—40 of them from Hawai‘i—have been confirmed to paint dozens of murals throughout not only Kakaʻako, but other walls in town, as well. Some new mural locations are near Ala Moana as well as on the side of the Hawaiian Rent-All shop on Beretania Street. Local favorites Kris Goto, Jack Soren, Matthew Tapia, Gavin Murai, Cory Taum, Jesico Serrano and newcomer Render are a few of the many artists from the Islands who will contribute to the annual makeover. International and Mainland artists Drew Young (Canada), Roamcouch (Japan), Mayonaize (Australia), HowNosm (New York), Michael Reeder (California) and Spidertag (Spain) will also be showcasing their skills throughout the week.
Check out the full list of artists on the Pow! Wow! website and find out where they’ll be painting their murals on the map below.
Mural painting occurs daily from Feb. 11 to 16.
Want to talk story with the creatives behind the art? Meet renowned artist Logan Hicks on Feb. 12 and talk to Shepard Fairey and Pow! Wow! founder Jasper Wong on Feb. 14 at the Wade Warehouse in Kakaʻako.
Must-Attend Events
To kick off the festivities, see the best from Honolulu’s independent record label, Kāhala Records Music, at the Swell deck at the ʻAlohilani Resort in Waikīkī. The Kāhala Records Music showcase will go from 7 to 10 p.m.
On Feb. 9, the Honolulu Night Market and Pow! Wow! block party will ensue on Auahi and Keawe streets in Kakaʻako from 6 to 10 p.m. Mingle with hundreds of people and celebrate with street food, music and more as the week’s festivities begin. Pow! Wow! Hawaiʻi will also put on a hat giveaway featuring custom-made hats from the ’47 hat company. Join the indoor soccer tournament and a break dance battle with the Endless Summer Jam for a lively evening.
If block parties aren’t your cup of tea, check out the opening reception of the main art show of Pow! Wow! located at the Thinkspace Gallery in Wade Warehouse on Cooke Street. Pow! Wow!: Exploring the New Contemporary Movement, curated by Andrew Hosner, co-founder of Thinkspace Gallery in California, will be on view between Feb. 9 and 15. A photo exhibit will also be put on at Treehouse, 675 Auahi St., showcasing film photographs from previous Pow! Wow! Hawaiʻi events.
To wrap up the week, Pow! Wow! will bring the festivities full circle to the Swell deck at the ʻAlohilani Resort, but this time, with all of the Pow! Wow! artists and brunch. Hear the best of Kāhala Records, mingle with the artists and catch a brunch buzz at one of Waikīkī’s swankiest pool decks.
See a full schedule of events here.
What’s New
If rushing down half-pipes on a skateboard or being a supportive spectator of the action is up your alley, Fitted Hawaiʻi will be holding Pow! Wow! Hawaiʻi’s very first Fitted Ramp Jam at 754 Pohukaina St.
For the first time ever, Pow! Wow! will make its way to Ala Moana Center, with artwork by the world-renowned artist behind Totoro and Spirited Away: Hayao Miyazaki. See the best from one of Japan’s greatest animation directors in an expansive art exhibition from 6 to 10 p.m. on Feb. 13 at Suite 1234, right by the center stage and food court.
Photo: Courtesy of Pow! Wow! Hawaiʻi
Where to Park
Take a gamble and search for street parking, or pay for parking at the Salt at Our Kakaʻako parking garage. The first hour there is free; it’s $6 every hour thereafter without validation. With validation from one of Salt’s stores it’s $1 for the second hour, $3 for the third, and $6 per hour after.
Pro Tips
Get your official Pow! Wow! merchandise from Big Bad Wolf in South Shore Market or shop online.
If you can’t make it, follow along on Instagram at @powwowworldwide.
Leave the car at home and use the code “POWWOWHAWAII” for $20 in Lyft credit for new users or use “POWWOW19” for 10 percent off your next two rides for existing Lyft users.
