Art Collection
The artwork at Prince Waikiki was commissioned and created specifically to perpetuate the history and story of our location in a sophisticated and authentic way.
The artists commissioned by Prince Waikiki interpreted the elements identified once thriving in the area including the Muliwai (estuary where fresh and salt waters met), Naio flower (a blossom from the Naio plant that grew along the banks of the Pi‘inaio Stream with natural healing elements), Hinana fish (juvenile fish that flourished in the Muliwai), and Limu ‘Ele‘ele (seaweed with healing elements).
Hulali i ka lā
Artists: Kaili Chun and Nicholas Bright
Medium: 850 individual copper pieces suspended from the ceiling
Date: December 2016
Location: Prince Waikiki lobby
Hulali i ka la, meaning “glistening in the sun,” was created by Kaili Chun and Nicholas Bright in collaboration with the hotel’s architect G70 who led the renovation completed in April 2017. It was featured in the inaugural Honolulu Biennial in 2017 as “The People’s Project.” Not only did the artist hand hammer the copper, but each of the hotel’s ambassadors and guests participated in creating the “hinana.” Together they swim in the shape of the Pi‘inaio Stream and point to the source of the stream.
Featured Artist
Muliwai
Artists: John Koga, Lawrence Seward, Kaili Chun, and Nicholas Bright
Medium: Wood, copper, and stone
Date: April 2017
Location: Prince Waikiki lobby
Kaili Chun has explained, “The sculpture is intended to represent (in an abstract way), the essence of the Muliwai. It does not depict anything specific about the Muliwai but rather embodies the notion of how everything is interrelated and connected. It also reveals how sophisticated our ancestors were in regard to creating a sustainable living system that valued and respected nature.”
Featured Artist
Muliwai
Artists: John Koga, Lawrence Seward, Kaili Chun, and Nicholas Bright
Medium: Wood, copper, and stone
Date: April 2017
Location: Prince Waikiki lobby
Kaili Chun has explained, “The sculpture is intended to represent (in an abstract way), the essence of the Muliwai. It does not depict anything specific about the Muliwai but rather embodies the notion of how everything is interrelated and connected. It also reveals how sophisticated our ancestors were in regard to creating a sustainable living system that valued and respected nature.”
Naio, Limu ‘Ele‘ele, & Hinana
Artist: Solomon Enos
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Colors: Ultramarine blue, true blue, raw umber, titanium white, true ochre, and crimson
Date: 2017
Location: Prince Waikiki lobby, mezzanine, 3rd floor, and 5th floor
Solomon Enos produced all 20 pieces with collaboration from hotel designers and finished the collection in his Chinatown studio. The goal was to create a soft yet strong visual of the elements of the hotel’s storied place. He describes his process of studying the subject, deconstructing the subject, forgetting about the subject, and then putting it back together.
