HE'E NALU: The Art and Legacy of Hawaiian Surfing

HEʻE NALU: THE ART AND LEGACY OF HAWAIIAN SURFING

Oʻahu, HI – May 26, 2024 – Kuaʻaina Associates, in collaboration with Arts & Letters Gallery, Manini Gallery, and Aupuni Space, is proud to announce the arrival of "HEʻE NALU: The Art and Legacy of Hawaiian Surfing" to Oʻahu. This distinguished exhibition, originally presented at the HEARD Museum in Arizona, will complement the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture and the Summer 2024 Surfing Olympics, offering a profound exploration of the cultural and historical significance of Hawaiian surfing.

Exhibition Dates and Venues:

• Arts & Letters Gallery: June 6 – July 21, 2024
• Aupuni Space: June 6 – July 3, 2024
• Manini Gallery at Hawaii Theatre Center: June 7 – August 5, 2024

Opening Events:

• Arts & Letters Gallery: Thursday, June 6, XXpm - XXpm
• Aupuni Space: Thursday, June 6, XXpm - XXpm
• Manini Gallery at Hawaii Theatre Center: Friday, June 7, 5-8 PM

Public Programs

• Manini Gallery at Hawaii Theatre Center: 
• Gallery Walkthrough with Surf Journalist Daniel Ikaika Ito: June 8, 2024, 1-2 PM
• Artist Talk with Tom Pōhaku Stone and Daniel Ikaika Ito: July 5, 2024, 6-7 PM

The exhibition spans 2,000 years of surfing history, featuring works from fifteen contemporary Kānaka Maoli creatives and cultural practitioners. Through a rich tapestry of art and cultural items, "HEʻE NALU" illuminates the complex relationship between Indigenous surfing culture and the Western-dominated surfing industry, while celebrating the enduring significance of surfing in Kānaka Maoli identity.

Upcoming Venues: 

Following its run in Oʻahu, the exhibition will travel to the East Hawaiʻi Cultural Center and Donkey Mill Art Center, further engaging communities throughout the Hawaiian Islands.

About the Exhibition:

Developed in partnership with the HEARD Museum, guest curator Carolyn Melenani Kualiʻi (Kānaka Maoli) of Kuaʻaina Associates, and artist Ian Kualiʻi, the exhibition presents a cyclical narrative rooted in culture and resilience. It also addresses contemporary issues, including the exclusion of Hawaiian nationals from competing under the Hawaiian flag in the Olympics and environmental concerns regarding the Olympic judging tower in Teahupoʻo, Tahiti.

Featured Artists:

The story of Heʻe Nalu is brought to life through the works of Cory Kamehanaokalā Taum, Rick San Nicolas, Solomon Enos, Lehuauakea, Tom Pōhaku Stone, Daniel Ikaika Ito, Ian Kualiʻi, Nicole Naone, Pōhaku Kahoʻohanohano, Clifford Kapono, Christopher Kahunahana, Haʻa Keaulana, Akila Aipa, and Stephen Hokulani Kupihea, with video footage courtesy of Zone Media.

Mahalo Nui Loa:

We extend our deepest gratitude to our supporters: Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority, Atherton Family Foundation, The Creative City Advisory Fund, Core Group One, The James Simmons and Karen Rudolph Fund, and The Puʻuhonua Society, whose generosity has made this exhibition possible.

MEDIA CONTACTS: