Love & Aloha: New Outrigger Exhibit Showcases the Art of Surf
Waikiki is the home of surfing—and a new exhibit at Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort, "Love & Aloha: Surfing in Waikīkī," is highlighting the evolution of the sport in Hawaii's most famous surfing neighborhood.
Hawaii's Surf Scene Meets Art.
Curated under the direction of the Bishop Museum's Michael Wilson, this cool new exhibit links the past and future of Oahu's surf scene, bringing together works from some of Hawaii's most important artists. Here are just a few of the movers-and-shakers on the modern surf scene who will be featured in the exhibit:
• Kahu Blaine Kia — Blaine will be blessing the surf-history wall in keeping with the essence of the aloha spirit that is at the core of the exhibit.
• Pōhaku Stone — Pōhaku is a pro surfer and one of our Surfers in Residence who is famed for popularizing "mountain surfing" down volcanic paths into the sea. He built a wooden kīkoʻo surfboard for the exhibit that is a replica of the first boards.
• The Moniz family — Pro long boarder Kelia Moniz and her mom, Faith Surf School co-founder Tammy Moniz, contribute a surfboard illustrating the boards of today to the exhibit.
Past, Present, Future!
The exhibit showcases Hawaii's surfing culture "past, present, and future" through visual storytelling, from stories about famous Hawaiian surf legend Duke Kahanamoku to the Beachboys of Waikiki, and show off real-time water fun with a live surf cam!
The exhibit just launched on August 24, 2021 to coincide with the celebration of Duke Kahanamoku's birthday and the festivities of the annual Duke's OceanFest that celebrate the life, career and cultural contributions of the man who popularized the sport of surfing.
A Storied Partnership
Hawaii has a rich surf history, and Outrigger is committed to keeping that surf culture alive. That is why Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort partnered with The Bishop Museum to bring the Love & Aloha: Surfing in Waikīkī exhibit to life.
The Bishop Museum frequently hosts exhibits featuring Hawaiian surf culture, and often features local artists and storytellers. In 2019, the well-received "Mai Kinohi Mai: Surfing in Hawaii" exhibit brought together what can be considered the greatest collection of surfboards ever assembled in one place.
The Culture Continues
We're excited that our own Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort has long-standing relationships with many local artists, from those featured in the Bishop Museum's aforementioned exhibit to Eduardo Bolioli's "Golden Dreams" exhibit in celebration of surfing's inaugural Olympics debut this year. And from surf to hula to lei making, we have the area's coolest culture on tap. Even better? The resort is home to the Surfers in Residence program, where legendary surfers share their extraordinary stories with guests. So come join us for a little surf meets art — meets culture (and a special offer, too!).
