Kakaako Street Art Murals

The Kakaako street art murals are a district of large outdoor murals on warehouse and building walls in Kakaako, Honolulu, Hawaii, centered near Ward Avenue and Auahi Street and close to Ala Moana Boulevard and Keawe Street. The area was once an industrial and warehouse neighborhood between downtown and Waikiki, and it has become Honolulu's best-known open-air gallery. Much of the work stems from the Pow! Wow! Hawaii mural festival, which brings local and international artists each year to paint new walls, so the collection keeps changing. Visitors see a wide range of styles, from photo-realistic portraits to Polynesian-inspired designs, abstract pieces and pop art, spread over several city blocks that can be explored on foot. The walls near Cooke Street, Auahi Street and Keawe Street have some of the densest clusters, and the district also contains breweries, shops and restaurants that make good stops. The best photo angles are straight on at the largest walls, ideally in morning or late afternoon light that avoids harsh midday glare. A typical walk takes one to two hours. The murals are outdoors and open at all hours, though they are best seen in daylight, and there is no admission charge. Crowds are generally light, and weekday mornings are especially quiet. TheBus routes run along Ala Moana Boulevard, Biki bike-share stations serve the area, and the district is a twenty-minute walk from Ala Moana Center. Since works change, visitors can check powwowhawaii.com for the festival and new additions.