July 2, 2026
MEDIA CONTACT:
Stryker Weiner & Yokota Public Relations, Inc.
Kryslyn Hashimoto
Bishop Museum Announces the Return of World Wide Walls to its Campus With Ambitious New Exhibition
Honolulu, Hawaiʻi — Bishop Museum, the State of Hawai‘i Museum of Natural and Cultural History, is excited to announce an ambitious new exhibition by World Wide Walls opening in November 2026.
Following their groundbreaking 10-year anniversary exhibition at the Museum in 2021, World Wide Walls returns to the Castle Memorial Building with Under/Ground, created by Jasper Wong, World Wide Walls founder and lead director, Amy Wong, World Wide Walls CFO/COO and co-lead director, and designed by DeAnne Kennedy, Bishop Museum exhibit designer. The exhibition title and concept explore the juxtaposition of two separate worlds and the spaces where they intersect, examining the relationships between fine art and street art, insider and outsider art, and how cultural value is then assigned and perceived. These contrasts are reflected in both artistic disciplines and in physical environments, speaking to the roots of “hip-hop” culture.
The space will transform into a full-scale subway station, complete with a life-sized subway train that visitors can enter. Inspired by the subway trains covered in street art of 1960s and 1970s New York City, a pivotal timeframe in the emergence of modern graffiti and hip-hop culture, the installation aims to transport viewers to a specific time and place. Through a fully immersive environment, the exhibition will explore the social and cultural conditions that gave rise to these movements.
Under/Ground will feature all-new murals, original artworks, sculptures, and immersive installations. By recreating and recontextualizing these environments within Bishop Museum, the project bridges street culture and institutional space, recognizing the legitimacy, innovation, and lasting influence of hip-hop and street art. Ultimately, the exhibition celebrates these movements as vital forms of human expression that reshaped global culture and continue to inspire new generations to create, speak, and be seen.
A full news release with details of the exhibition, its features, and its artists will be distributed in October 2026. News media are invited to RSVP for an exclusive pre-opening, closed-door preview of the exhibition:
Under/Ground Media Preview
- Thursday, Nov. 19, 2026
- 1-4 p.m. HST
- Bishop Museum, Castle Memorial Building, 1st floor
- Interview opportunities:
- Jasper Wong, World Wide Walls founder and lead director
- DeAnne Kennedy, Bishop Museum exhibit designer
- Select participating artists (TBD)
- Please RSVP with Krislyn Hashimoto of Stryker Weiner & Yokota Public Relations via the contact information above
Updates on Under/Ground and related programming and events can be found on the exhibition’s website, BishopMuseum.org/UnderGround.
Download Press Release
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About Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, the State of Hawai‘i Museum of Natural and Cultural History:
Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum’s mission is to inspire our community and visitors through the exploration, celebration, and perpetuation of the extraordinary history, culture, and environment of Hawaiʻi and the Pacific. The Museum was founded in 1889 by Charles Reed Bishop in memory of his wife Bernice Pauahi Bishop, a royal descendant of King Kamehameha I. Today, the Museum thrives as an educational center for the community and is widely regarded as the world’s premier institution for Hawaiian and Pacific content.
Bishop Museum’s vast collections of more than 25 million objects and specimens represent nine disciplines and include more than 22 million biological specimens, over 2 million cultural objects, 115,000 historical publications, and 1 million photographs, films, works of art, audio recordings, and manuscripts. These collections tell the stories of the cultures and biodiversity of Hawaiʻi and the Pacific as well as the proud legacy of scholarly research spanning 130 years.
Bishop Museum proudly serves more than 200,000 visitors each year, including 20,000 children on school visits. Guests are encouraged to pre-plan their trip to #HawaiisMuseum with its free digital guide, available through Bloomberg Connects.
To learn more about the Museum’s research, collections, exhibits, and programs, visit BishopMuseum.org, follow @BishopMuseum on Facebook and Instagram, visit Bishop Museum’s YouTube channel, or call (808) 847-3511. Bishop Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Bishop Museum is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer, and welcomes applicants from the military, veterans, and those with disabilities. Learn about careers at Bishop Museum at BishopMuseum.org/Careers and on its LinkedIn page.
Bishop Museum Press is Hawai‘i’s oldest book publisher and one of the first scholarly publishers in the Western Hemisphere, and has published over 1,200 titles and distributed over 1 million books in 72 countries worldwide. Bishop Museum hosts a restaurant and gift shop on campus, Tūtū’s Place by Highway Inn and Shop Pacifica by Nā Mea Hawai‘i.
Past news releases can be viewed and downloaded at BishopMuseum.org/NewsRoom.
About World Wide Walls:
World Wide Walls (formerly POW! WOW! Worldwide) is a global network of artists and events focusing on mural, street, and contemporary art. It originated in 2009 in Hong Kong with Founder, Jasper Wong. In 2010, POW! WOW! Hawaii was born, an annual art festival that brings together local and international artists to create vibrant murals throughout the city of Honolulu. The festival quickly gained popularity and expanded its reach to various cities around the world.
Events take place in cities across North America, Asia, Europe, and the Pacific. Each festival showcases the creativity and talent of local and international artists, who collaborate to transform public spaces into open-air galleries. These events often include mural painting, art exhibitions, live music performances, educational workshops, and community engagement activities. The mission is to bring art and culture to communities, foster creativity, and create positive impact through public art. The festivals not only beautify urban landscapes but also promote cultural exchange, inspire dialogue, and contribute to the revitalization of neighborhoods.
The network continues to expand, with each new event tailored to the unique characteristics and culture of the host city. Through the power of art, we aim to connect artists, engage communities, and leave a lasting legacy of creativity and inspiration in cities around the globe.