Aloha!
You guys…we did it! It’s the last day of 2023! That means it’s our final day for our Countdown to the New Year reflection series!
Today we are celebrating all the times this past year when Kākou Collective made its mark in the community. Did you spot our artwork out in the wild at these places?
We had the honor of doing an art installation and designing the fukubukuro bag this past year for the Royal Hawaiian Shopping center. It was so much fun! The bag’s art as well as the panel featured a stacked lei of pakalana, pua kenikeni, and pīkake. As a Native Hawaiian-owned business, we were so proud to have our art in a space that has become so touristy. In Waīkikī, a place which often prizes a false-Hawaiian esthetic, it was extra special to have reclaimed some of the authenticity of our local culture in such a public space.
In February 2023, we were a featured artist in the MAMo wearable art show! This was a whole new experience for us, and we were so humbled to be part of such an amazing event. Our lineup was inspired by endemic, indigenous, or canoe plants that play significant roles in Hawaiian culture. We wanted to challenge ourselves and others to reimagine how paper could be used to represent nature, beyond being used as a canvas. We’re so proud of how our pieces turned out! If you didn’t catch us in person at the art show, click here to read more about this event.
We had the pleasure of participating in a rotating exhibit featured at the Bishop Museum in the spring of 2023. Kākou Collective installed a huge hand-lettered mahalo panel in the Hawaiian Hall! We were so proud to work with the Bishop Museum and have our art on display there.
As we wrap up our countdown, we can’t believe all that we’ve accomplished this past year. Whew! We are so grateful to you, our hui, for supporting this small business and making it all possible!
It’s been a wild ride, and we can’t wait to share about all the exciting things 2024 will bring. Stay tuned for more details on upcoming events and drops in the new year. For now, make sure you keep an eye on your email because we’ll be sending our Hap-E-Mail list subscribers an alert when our Fukubukuro bags are available for purchase! Make sure you’re subscribed by signing up here!
Hauʻoli Makahiki Hou! (Happy New Year)
