Feb 22, 2016 Pow! Wow! Hawaii 2016
This was my second time attending a Pow! Wow! event, but my first time attending it in Hawaii, which was pretty special since it is home to Pow! Wow! founder and artist Jasper Wong. As soon as I landed in Oahu, I was greeted with perfect weather and stress free vibes. I knew immediately it was going to be a great week.You meet a lot of people from traveling alone, whether it’s on the bus, the bar, or at an artist’s wall, and everyone has a story to tell. Coming together with other locals and visitors at Pow! Wow! was all part of the event experience. Art brings people together and inspires masses. With a sense of community and a shared respect for art, crowds gathered to express themselves in various ways from breakdancing to firebreathing. These artists basically paint nonstop for a week at their assigned murals and their artwork tells a story. With the sun beating down on the spot from noon till dusk, this was not an easy task. But seeing the incredible artwork being completed with Hawaii’s scenery as the backdrop was sublime. What I saw was the Kaka’ako district come alive with spray paint, talent, and stories. I want to thank Jasper Wong, the Pow! Wow! crew and the sponsors for all the hard work they put in to create an unforgettable art festival.
Photos by: Calvin Nakamaru