The Āpuakehau Stream, its Role in Waikīkī, and Muliwai (2022)

Artist Kaili Chun discusses her sculptural installation Muliwai (2022), located in Waikīkī Market, Honolulu, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi. A muliwai is an estuary formed at the intersection where the wai (fresh water of the mountains) meets the kai (salt water of the sea). Chun reflects on the importance of the muliwai ecosystem that sustains plant, animal, and human life; how urban development has impacted this rich environment; and the need for people to recognize the interconnectedness of all things and their responsibility of environmental stewardship. The site-specific sculpture connects viewers to the memory of this place in Waikīkī and invites us to reflect on our relationship with nature and appreciate the delicate balance that sustains life.