CREATIVE

Kauhulu — Permanent Light Installation at Bank of Hawai‘i, Lahaina

Kauhulu — Permanent Light Installation at Bank of Hawai‘i, Lahaina

By ARCH Hawaii, Artist: Dada Shikako
After five years of creating ephemeral installations for music festivals around the world, I’m beyond grateful to unveil my first permanent immersive art installation — and in the heart of Lahaina, Maui.
This project began with a call from Bank of Hawai‘i that felt like destiny. "Do you do light art pieces?" they asked — and my heart nearly exploded. I answered with a wild pitch deck full of my most imaginative, conceptual sketches. Their response: “We love the vision… but dial it back — we’re a bank.”
That kicked off a full year of collaboration, redesigns, and deep learning. In Hawai‘i, I came to understand, making something isn't just about the thing — it's about the story behind it. And that’s how the story of Kauhulu was born.
That kicked off a full year of collaboration, redesigns, and deep learning. In Hawai‘i, I came to understand, making something isn't just about the thing — it's about the story behind it. And that’s how the story of Kauhulu was born.
Kauhulu means “school of fish” in ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i. It’s a tribute to Maui’s oceanic heritage — a visual and spiritual bridge between sky and sea. Designed specifically for a community healing from unimaginable loss after the Lahaina fires, this piece was approached with pono — a sense of balance, respect, and responsibility.
Each fish in the sculpture is shaped from petals of the Bank of Hawai‘i logo — a nod to the demigod Maui, who is said to have pulled the Hawaiian Islands from the sea. His legendary fishhook now lives in the sky as the constellation Scorpius, which inspired the star-like distribution of fish across the piece.
Hand-shaped plexiglass elements represent ocean waves, sunlight glimmer, and the sleek curves of traditional Hawaiian voyaging canoes. The lighting is choreographed to immerse viewers in the sensation of diving beneath the Pacific, looking up toward the sun through crystalline blue water — one of the most breathtaking light phenomena I’ve ever seen.

HARVEY: DISCO KITTY - ART CAR

HARVEY: Disco Kitty - ART Car

ABOUT THE PROJECT:
Harvey : Disco Kitty is the brainchild of Evan Collier (Arch Productions and Design/Lead Builder), Benjamin Jones (Honorarium Artist/Circus Fabulae 2019), Shiny Galeani (Art Project Manager), and Tiff Porter (Stylist). Between the four of them, they have been collectively burning for over 40 years.
Project Details
Client: ARCH PRODUCTION
Date: 2022 – 2023
Skills : Custom Everything
Industry : Festivals and more
This vehicle literally has had 9 lives as it started it life as a 1998 Chevy motorhome until it was purchased by Evan in the early 2000’s and made into ‘Harvey the RV’ and rented as a party bus in the Brooklyn area with a nod to late 1960’s psychedelic styling. After years of partying in Brooklyn, Harvey’s body finally fell off it’s frame and Evan was left with a nude, but working rolling chassis. Now reconstructed as a cat on the prowl, Disco Kitty is made of nearly 85% of upcycled building materials and auto parts!

LES PAUL REPLICA GUITAR

ABOUT THE PROJECT:
We're thrilled to unveil a custom-fabricated scaled Gibson Les Paul replica. It's been a journey of passion and persistence, pouring our hearts into every detail.
Project Details
Date: 2023
Using some pretty cool 3 Axis milling techniques, plus a mix of bondo and glue for the body, we've managed to recreate this iconic guitar with incredible precision. The humbucker pickups, tuning knobs, custom fret inlays, and hardware – all brought to life with 3D printing!
it's more than just a guitar, it's a symbol of dedication and craftsmanship.

FLORAL WAVE FOR MC&A

ABOUT THE PROJECT:
Introducing our monumental masterpiece: an 8-foot-tall wave, meticulously crafted from Baltic Birch using state-of-the-art CNC cutting techniques! This awe-inspiring creation, was born from our warehouse in Kalihi.
Each layer of Baltic Birch is glued and layered together, resulting in a artistic representation of the waves of Hawaii Custom jack stands, welded from 1" square tube steel, ensure that this wave stands tall and proud, ready to captivate audiences wherever it goes.
This stunning piece made its debut at an event on Kauai last year, where it stole the show with its sheer presence and artistry. Witness the fusion of craftsmanship and creativity, and experience the beauty of the ocean brought to life through our eyes.

3D LOGO

ABOUT THE PROJECT:
Here's a final install shot of a 3D logo we designed, fabricated and installed at the Four Seasons Ko'olina lobby. What can we build for you?

CREATIVE

Kauhulu — Permanent Light Installation at Bank of Hawai‘i, Lahaina

After five years of creating ephemeral installations for music festivals around the world, I’m beyond grateful to unveil my first permanent immersive art installation — and in the heart of Lahaina, Maui.

That kicked off a full year of collaboration, redesigns, and deep learning. In Hawai‘i, I came to understand, making something isn't just about the thing — it's about the story behind it. And that’s how the story of Kauhulu was born.

That kicked off a full year of collaboration, redesigns, and deep learning. In Hawai‘i, I came to understand, making something isn't just about the thing — it's about the story behind it. And that’s how the story of Kauhulu was born.

HARVEY: Disco Kitty - ART Car