Ka Laʻi Waikīkī Beach Hotel

Kūkulu Ola is a large-scale ceramic installation commissioned by Bryan O’Sullivan Studio for the lobby of Ka Laʻi Waikīkī Beach Hotel. Installed in 2025, the work features five monumental vertical sculptures ranging from seven to nine feet tall. These kūkulu (pillars) merge Eastern and Western elemental systems - earth, water, fire/wood, air, and metal/spirit - to express ola, the living energy that connects nature, spirit, and place through continual transformation. Handbuilt through an intuitive and tactile process, Wang developed richly layered surfaces that reflect the distinct qualities of each element by imprinting seeds, piercing openings, carving patterns, and building organic textures into the clay. The resulting forms evoke coral, pods, shells, weathered stone, and ancient relics, creating a contemplative installation that speaks to balance, transformation, and the elemental forces found in nature.