Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina Debuts Fine Art Exhibit by Native Hawaiian Artist Haunani Hess

Source: Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina

Reported By: Matthew Kennedy

On Oahu’s serene western coast, Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina has unveiled its latest cultural highlight—an immersive fine art exhibition by Native Hawaiian visual artist Haunani Hess. Running through December 2025, the open-space gallery and live residency invite guests to explore Hess’s dynamic, textured works and engage directly with the artist in an environment that blends fine art with authentic cultural exchange.

Known for her layered canvases, bold color palettes, and tactile approach, Hess infuses the resort’s award-winning cultural program with a fresh energy. “The residency is an invitation to slow down, to be curious, and to feel the movement and emotion within each piece,” Hess notes of her process, which is as much about instinct as it is about form.

Born on Oahu and self-taught, Hess began her career in interior design, a discipline that continues to shape the compositional structure and tactile nature of her paintings. Her work draws inspiration from Hawaii’s natural landscapes, the organic repetition of textile patterns, and the freedom of subconscious expression.

Mediums often merge—paint, collage, gold linework, and natural pigments—to create a depth that is both visual and tactile. Hawaiian mountain ranges appear as silhouettes, while layered brushstrokes suggest wind, water, and shifting light. The interplay between these elements mirrors Hawaii’s own rhythms, transforming the canvas into a dialogue between environment and emotion.

Her work is represented in both private and public collections, including Four Seasons Resort Maui, Ritz-Carlton Maui, Mauna Loa Beach Hotel, and Tiffany’s Art Agency. At Ko Olina, her pieces are also showcased in the new Club Lounge and within the resort’s Club guest rooms and suites.

The Hess exhibition is part of the resort’s open-space gallery concept, a format designed to make art accessible and experiential. Guests are encouraged to wander through the collection at leisure, with opportunities to connect directly with Hess during special events and “talk story” evenings—intimate gatherings rooted in Hawaii’s oral traditions that encourage storytelling and exchange.

This interactive approach reflects the ethos of the resort’s arts program, which celebrates Hawaii’s creative community through active collaboration with notable local talents such as Nick Kuchar, Lola Pilar, Steven Kean, Kris Goto, Welzie, and Eduardo Bolioli.

By placing Hess’s work at the heart of its guest experience, Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina strengthens its role as both a luxury retreat and a cultural steward. The program offers travelers a deeper connection to place, where the island’s stories are told not only through landscapes and hospitality but also through the eyes and hands of its artists.

For visitors, it’s an invitation to experience Hawaii beyond its shores—to engage with its living culture and take away a sense of the island’s evolving creative identity.