In early March 2017, I travelled east of Honolulu to He‘eia to visit the restored lo‘i along the Waipao river and the nearby heiau and hale pili maintained by the Papahana Kuaola organisation. This was my third visit to the island of O‘ahu, but the first time in the embrace of the mountains and valleys. With Sama Alshaibi and Sean Connelly, both Honolulu Biennial artists, I swam in the fresh waters, my toes touching the smooth river stones and smelling the fresh light raindrops bring sustenance to the forest and kalo plots nearby.
The opening week of the 1st Honolulu Biennial was un- like every major art biennial I’ve attended or heard of. Warm, generous and down-to-earth, I met the Biennial artists, curators, staff, board, volunteers and other local artists and curators. Through the program of studio visits, talks and performances activating the Biennial sites, many of the artists, curators and writers gathered most days and nights. This is what happens in all biennials, but the incredible genuineness and accessibility of the interactions, the positivity and islander warmth of the relationships made and sustained, and the future focus of all our conversations truly made this Biennial special. The next edition will benefit immensely from being delivered in at least three of the important languages of the archipelago: ‘Olelo Hawai‘i, Japanese and English.
