Hawaiʻi: Capitol Waterless Pool Project

A participant adds a dot of paint to the waterless pool project mural. Photo courtesy of Hawaiʻi State Foundation on Culture and the Arts

After years of increasing water damage and maintenance costs from the state capitol reflecting pools, the Hawaiʻi State Foundation on Culture and the Arts (SFCA), in collaboration with Department of Accounting and General Services and the State Historic Preservation Division, pursued a creative solution to an ongoing civic infrastructure problem. After a broad call for artists in March 2024, SFCA board members approved the selection of Native Hawaiian artist and illustrator Solomon Enos to develop a waterless design for the state capitol pool, which will be one of the largest art installations in Hawaiʻi’s contemporary history. The design will prevent leaking and water damage while maintaining the visual depiction of water.

In addition to strengthening infrastructure, the design approach embeds community participation as a core strategy. Inspired by the concept of groups and individuals who worked together to build a traditional loko iʻa, a Hawaiian fish pond, thousands from across the state have gathered to contribute small strokes on paper using a paintbrush that will be laid into the design. The design both facilitates community engagement and visually represents the fostering of shared resources and interdependency.

SFCA was well-positioned to manage the project due to prior successful experiences addressing similar large-scale public art installations on state property. For instance, it was responsible for the sculpture garden glass pool treatment at the No.1 Capitol District Building, which houses Capitol Modern (the Hawaiʻi State Art Museum) and several state government offices. The historic pool and bleachers were preserved and transformed with artworks by Doug Young and Carol Bennett.

The State Capitol Pools project is a multiphase project that will be completed by fall 2026. For more information, contact SFCA Executive Director Karen Ewald. For more examples of state arts agency strategies for civic infrastructure, see NASAA’s Cross-Sector Strategies for Civic Infrastructure and Community Cohesion Strategy Sampler.