Aloha as Method: Curating the Hawai‘i Triennial

Why It Matters

By embedding a culturally rooted, anti‑colonial ethos into a major international exhibition, the triennial sets a precedent for how art institutions can foster genuine community partnership and sustainable cultural stewardship.

Key Takeaways

• Curators immersed in local work to inform exhibition direction
• ALOHA NŌ redefines aloha as intentional, relational practice
• Community labor in He‘eia wetlands inspired continuity theme
• Art Summit linked philosophy to concrete curatorial decisions
• Project balances global art circulation with Hawaiian sovereignty

Pulse Analysis

The Hawai‘i Triennial, slated for 2025, arrives at a moment when large-scale art events are scrutinized for their social and environmental footprints. Historically, biennials have acted as itinerant marketplaces for ideas and capital, often overlooking the specific histories of host locations. By situating the triennial within O‘ahu’s ecological and cultural landscape—starting with hands‑on restoration work in the He‘eia wetlands—the curatorial team signals a shift from extraction to regeneration, aligning the exhibition’s logistics with the islands’ long‑standing stewardship values.

Central to this shift is the theme ALOHA NŌ, a nuanced reinterpretation of the Hawaiian concept of aloha. Rather than a commercialized greeting, ALOHA NŌ embodies a deliberate choice to nurture relationships with land, ocean, and people, echoing Native Hawaiian philosophies of continuity (mo‘o) and collective responsibility. The involvement of philosopher Manulani Aluli Meyer and the articulation of aloha as both affirmation and negation provide a theoretical backbone that informs artist selection, programming, and community engagement, positioning the triennial as a platform for cultural resistance and solidarity.

For the broader art world, the Hawai‘i Triennial offers a replicable model of how institutions can integrate local expertise and ethical frameworks into global exhibition practices. By foregrounding community dialogue, language learning, and ecological labor, the project demonstrates that authenticity does not require sacrificing scale. As other biennials grapple with calls for decolonization and sustainability, the ALOHA NŌ approach illustrates a pathway to balance artistic ambition with genuine partnership, potentially reshaping funding models, curatorial training, and audience expectations worldwide.