In light of POW! WOW! Hawaii 2015 coming up next month, celebrated artist Ron English took to the streets of Kaka'ako to look back on some of the murals that were created for the festival. An annual, week-long event based in Hawaii, POW! WOW! brings together artists and art lovers with exhibitions, live panels, lectures, and concerts, culminating in a massive luau/block party.
POW! WOW! 2014 saw the birth of some of the most impressive street art yet, including a giant mural of Hawaiian marine life painted by English himself. In the video, the artist chats with other participants—some who are native Hawaiians, like Solomon Enos—and others, like French Canadian husband-and-wife duo Scien and Klor of 123KLAN, who traveled across the globe to participate in the festival. Although the numerous murals painted for POW! WOW! encompass various themes, street artist Gaia says it's ultimately about being "able to explore deep, cathartic issues through works that look potentially beautiful and alluring"—aptly summing up the overarching goal of the event.
