The towering ʻUmeke Lāʻau installation by Native Hawaiian artist Meleanna Aluli Meyer, unveiled at Honolulu's city hall, is a powerful symbol of cultural resilience and healing.

A historic new art installation, ʻUmeke Lāʻau (Culture Medicine) by Native Hawaiian artist Meleanna Aluli Meyer, has been unveiled at Honolulu Hale (city hall) as part of Hawaiʻi Triennial 2025: Aloha Nō (HT25). Unlike traditional ʻumeke (calabashes) that are small vessels for food, water, and sacred offerings, this towering 22-foot-wide, 8-foot-tall wooden structure reimagines the form as a symbol of healing, reflection, and societal repair. Created in collaboration with Honolulu Community College carpentry students and the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s art and theatre programs, the immersive installation invites visitors to step inside, remove their shoes, and reflect on themes of culture, history, and transformation.
More than just an art piece, ʻUmeke Lāʻau serves as a tribute to the Native Hawaiians and Hawaiʻi citizens who opposed the U.S. annexation of Hawaiʻi in 1897. Built-in speakers within the structure play the names of over 38,000 individuals who signed the Kūʻē Petitions, including Meleanna’s grandfather, Noa Webster Aluli. The recordings, voiced by UH Mānoa Hawaiian Theatre faculty and students, ensure that these historical figures are remembered and honored. According to Tammy Hailiʻōpua Baker, founder of the Hawaiian theatre program, the experience of reading ancestral names into the microphone was deeply moving and reinforced the personal and collective significance of the installation.
The project was made possible through the efforts of many hands, including UH Mānoa artist-in-residence Meleanna Aluli Meyer, Honolulu CC carpentry students, and local artists such as newly appointed UH Mānoa assistant professor Kaʻili Chun. Described as an artwork that “feeds” not just physically but spiritually and culturally, ʻUmeke Lāʻau offers a rare immersive experience where visitors can engage with its meaning firsthand. The installation will be on display at Honolulu Hale through May 4 before traveling to other locations, ensuring its message of resilience and healing reaches broader audiences.
FULL STORY: Historic Native Hawaiian art unveiled at Honolulu Hale

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie