Native Hawaiian artist and creator Solomon Enos has been working on the Capitol Pool Waterless Project that will replace the water-filled reflecting pools that once surrounded the Hawaii State Capitol.

What You Need To Know

  • For those who have yet to take part in the community project, there is still time — through the end of November — to add a dot of paint to the mural, “like a drop of water to an ocean,” said Enos in a release

  • The artist will be in the POD, Passion on Display, gallery or the multi-purpose room on the ground floor of Capitol Modern, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday except for Nov. 28 (Thanksgiving Day)

  • For schools interested in having their students participate, contact Shirley Lam at info@capitolmodern.org or 808-586-0778 to organize a large group visit

  • For those making a special trip to Oahu, contact Rodney Acosta of Museum Visitor Services at 808-586-9959 before heading over to make sure Enos will be on-site during the scheduled time

Enos’ creation is an abstract vision of the waters of the Pacific Ocean and roughly 2,000 people have participated by adding their mark with a paintbrush.

For those who have yet to take part in the community project, there is still time — through the end of November — to add a dot of paint to the mural, “like a drop of water to an ocean,” said Enos in a release.

“This project celebrates a little bit of individuality and our collective community,” said Enos, who is now making a last call to those who want to participate.

The artist will be in the POD, Passion on Display, gallery or the multi-purpose room on the ground floor of Capitol Modern, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday except for Nov. 28 (Thanksgiving Day).

For schools interested in having their students participate, contact Shirley Lam at info@capitolmodern.org or 808-586-0778 to organize a large group visit.

For those making a special trip to Oahu, contact Rodney Acosta of Museum Visitor Services at 808-586-9959 before heading over to make sure Enos will be on-site during the scheduled time.

In March of this year, the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts Board approved the selection of Enos to develop a design for the State Capitol waterless pool as a solution to the increased water damage and maintenance costs to the building, according to the release.

Enos’ approach to creating the mural is similar to that of building a loko ʻia, a Hawaiian fish pond, in which groups and individuals in the community come together to build it.

“This is going to be one of the largest art installations in Hawaii’s contemporary history and it is an opportunity for us to gather as much community engagement to create something that will be a community heirloom,” said Enos. “Folks will be able to return to it years from now and see the marks that were made here today.”

The Capitol Pool Waterless Project is a multi-phase project managed by SFCA and is scheduled for completion by fall 2026.

Enos at left and Gov. Josh Green at right adding his touch to the mural. (Photo courtesy of the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts)