Ala Moana Center's most photographed wall just got a makeover. The shopping center's 28-foot-wide ALOHA installation on the third floor now features a wave-inspired mural called “Nalu ma Le'ahi,” meaning “Waves at Diamond Head,” painted by Native Hawaiian artist Aaron Kai.
Kai, who was born on Hawaiʻi Island, drew on the Hilo Hāmākua surf culture that shaped his upbringing to create the piece, according to Hawaii News Now. The outlet describes the finished work as built around vivid colors, bold lines and a signature wave motif that has become something of a trademark for the artist.
That wave-heavy style traces back to Kai's roots. He was raised in Hilo as a self-taught artist, according to The Hundreds, and he's previously said that growing up surrounded by people who surfed, paddled and fished shaped how he sees the world artistically, per Huck Magazine. “Everyone around me growing up spent time in the water, surfing, paddling, fishing,” Kai said, according to the publication.
A Signature Style Built on Color and Motion
Huck Magazine has described Kai's broader body of work, spanning canvases, murals and objects, as centered on colour, impact and environment. The outlet also notes that his visual language borrows from two very different influences: the dynamic figures of Keith Haring and the rolling waves of Hokusai.
That blend of pop-art energy and ocean imagery has made Kai a frequent collaborator for major brands. Hawaii News Now reports that his past partners include adidas, Heineken, Samsung, Taco Bell and the Los Angeles Rams. Huck Magazine adds that Kai was selected as one of 200 creative people worldwide to work with Adidas on its FUTURECRAFT.LOOP initiative, while the Rams' own website notes the NFL team tapped him for an exclusive capsule collection built around his wave artwork.
The Hundreds has worked with Kai as well, releasing a collaborative headwear capsule with him in 2016 and later hosting him for two murals at its Homebase location, one of them freehand and measuring more than 56 by 16 feet, per the brand's own account. Kai has also said he's worked with Nike and made his own line of sunglasses with Hawkers.
A Rotating Canvas on Ala Moana's Third Floor
The ALOHA installation itself has only existed since 2023, when it was originally installed as a photo backdrop that has since drawn in millions of tourists, according to Chain Store Age. Every year, the mall brings in a new Hawaiian artist to give the sign a fresh artistic treatment, the outlet reports, turning the sign into something of a rotating gallery rather than a fixed landmark.
That rotating series launched in 2025 with a design from Hawaii illustrator Punky Aloha, followed by a second installation from Honolulu-based artist Kris Goto, per the same outlet's reporting. Notably, Chain Store Age's own coverage of this year's edition names a different artist, Kailua-based Kate Wadsworth, as the creator behind the 2026 ALOHA artwork, a detail that conflicts with Hawaii News Now's identification of Kai as the artist behind the current wave-themed piece on display this week.
Meeting the Artist in Person
For visitors hoping to connect the mural to the person who painted it, Kai is scheduled to appear in person. Guests can view the finished mural, meet Kai and take photos, with the first 100 guests receiving a complimentary tote bag.
Kai is also set to appear at HIC on the street level of Ala Moana's Ewa Wing to celebrate the launch of his HIC x Aaron Kai collection from 2 to 4 p.m. the same day. Beyond the branded collaborations and mall appearances, Kai's online presence stays close to his island identity: his Instagram bio describes him simply as Kanaka Maoli from Hilo, now living in LA and working across murals, commissions and graphic collaborations.
