Pewa Radio
Pewa Radio is an audio cast made by UH Mānoa ART students in response to Hawai‘i Triennial 2025—the state’s largest, thematic exhibition of contemporary art from Hawai‘i, the Pacific, and beyond. The episodes of Pewa Radio are inspired by the theme of this year’s exhibition, ALOHA NŌ, meaning to love deeply, and the mau pewa, an iconic symbol used as the kahako over the o in ALOHA NŌ’s visual identity. The pewa is a fishtail shaped patch used to repair and strengthen wooden objects. In the context of ALOHA NŌ, it reminds us of one of the most important functions for art is to heal wounds of the land, water, culture, heart, and mind. Healing is an ongoing process that makes us stronger, not a Band-Aid. As Hawai’i Contemporary puts it, ”To create a pewa is to truth tell. To create a pewa is to seek connection in vulnerable histories and difficult jagged places. To create a pewa is to reinforce the fabric of community.” Taking the mau pewa to heart, the students centered their audio episodes on an individual artwork presented in HT25, asking how it addresses the fissures, cracks, or rifts in the social fabric. Pewa Radio amplifies both artist and audience voices. Some of the episodes feature student conversations with select HT25 artists. Others simply feature the artist talking about their work in relation to healing. Others feature short three-to-five-minute conversations amongst a few students about a single art work. And still others are one-to-three-minute solo meditations.
Listen on:
Episodes
Thursday Jun 12, 2025
Thursday Jun 12, 2025
Thursday Jun 12, 2025
Thursday Jun 12, 2025
Artist Bradon Ng is interviewed by Avery Holshouser, Sara Suzuki, and Yuxin Zhuang.
Thursday Jun 12, 2025
Thursday Jun 12, 2025
Artist Kahi Ching is interviewed by Nainoa Kamakea, Dylan Gomez, and Amber Coppings.
Thursday Jun 12, 2025
Thursday Jun 12, 2025
Artist Kanitha Tith is interviewed by Kim Sweeney, Bruce Ward, and Sheldon Wong.
Thursday Jun 12, 2025
Thursday Jun 12, 2025
Artist Stephanie Syjuco is interviewed by Ligaia Meyer, Benjamin West, and Mijung Lee.
Thursday Jun 12, 2025
Thursday Jun 12, 2025
Artist Melissa Chimera is interviewed by Mei Lien Crandall, Morgan Pirnie, Dante Fernandez, and Sahara Kiskis.
Thursday Jun 12, 2025
Thursday Jun 12, 2025
Artist Meleanna Meyer is interviewed by Emily Kearney-Williams, Kano Watanabe, and Kelsie Eala.
Thursday Jun 12, 2025
Thursday Jun 12, 2025
HT 25 Co-Curator Noelle Kahanu gives some background on HT25’s Aloha Nō theme and use and meaning of the mau pewa as it relates to contemporary art.
Wednesday Jun 11, 2025
Wednesday Jun 11, 2025
Producer Jaimey Faris introduces the background for Pewa Radio and gives an overview of the content with mahalos.