ram aloha

Growing up, I spent every summer with my Japanese family in Honolulu, Hawaii. My parents live there now so I finally feel legit calling it home, even though I’ve called it home for most of my life.

Something about the islands gets into your heart. It goes without saying that the natural beauty of the islands is awe inspiring but perhaps less is said that accurately captures the mythical aloha spirit. The feeling that when you’re there you’re “ohana” (family). It doesn’t matter if you’re Japanese, Ha’ole (White), Portugese, Filipino, Chinese, or Black - or as is most often the case in Hawaii, 1/6th of each. Hawaii is by nature a coming together of cultures and ideas as a bridge between the “East” and “American West.”

Booooooom! tweeted about a project this morning called Pow Wow Hawaii. Hype Beast took the time to make a small three part vimeo series describing the 2011 edition of Pow Wow, which it turns out, is a meeting of street/pop artists in Honolulu to collaborate on the creation of several art pieces for display. The videos profile the artists that took part in this year’s Pow Wow and why they feel it is important both to Hawaii specifically (noting that the art culture has been relatively dormant - which I can definitely validate) and to art and expression in general.

I am totally brimming with joy seeing these videos. I’m proud of the bringing together of these artists. I’m proud of the Hawaii spirit of Ohana these artists reflect. I’m proud that Hawaii is receiving a boost of adrenaline to its arts and culture scene. And of course, I’m jealous when the video captures scenes of the group roasting a pig and getting down on some serious local kine grinds. :)

HBTV POW WOW Hawai'i 2011 Part 1 from HBTV on Vimeo.

HBTV POW WOW Hawai'i 2011 Part 2 from HBTV on Vimeo.

HBTV Pow Wow Hawaii 2011 Part 3 from HBTV on Vimeo.

P.S. As is often the case, there is a lovely overlap between art cultures in these videos - street art and music being a classic example I feel. In addition to being nicely captured and spliced together, these videos also have some rad tunes in the background.

Check out the song behind the last video, Purity Ring - Ungirthed.

Ungirthed by PURITY RING

And here’s a free download of that Two Door Cinema Club Remix. Free Download.

Something Good Can Work (The Twelves Remix) by skorsz