Exercise Your Right to Sketch Government Your Way

If you have been the the Prince Kūhiō Federal Building at 300 Ala Moana Blvd, it was most likely get a passport or go to the Social Security offices or maybe to serve as a juror at the Courthouse. For me, it is where I work.

Let’s meet here in front of the 300 sign at the corner of Ala Moana Blvd and Punchbowl.

November 30, 2024
10am to Noon
Prince Kūhiō Federal Building

About the Prince Kūhiō Federal Building

The building was completed in 1977. It was named after Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole, who served as a territorial delegate to the US Congress from 1903-22. Local architects wanted the building to be appropriate to Hawaiʻi. The nine-story building is unique with curves in its design.

Today, the building houses the US District Court, US Secret Service, Dept. of Homeland Security, US Dept. of Justice, Coast Guard, CIA, FBI, IRS, and the USDA.

Parking is available at metered street parking.

Be sure to RSVP by Friday November 29 at uskoahu@gmail.com so I know to expect you.

Happy sketching,
Terri

What do you Sketch When Inspiration is Everywhere

I’ve been to McKinley High School before but only during the book sale or to shop at craft fairs. This time, I took a good look around the grassy courtyard and realized how vast the campus is. Nestled in busy urban Honolulu is a spacious 45-acre public high school. There are no fences on busy King Street or Pensacola, like you might see at other public institutions. Instead McKinley is welcoming, massive, and very approachable. The courtyard is flanked with stunning historical structures built in 1920-1930. For an urban sketcher, every turn is something new to sketch. There is inspiration everywhere.

Thank you to AIA Hawaii for choosing this iconic location for our collaborative event celebrating Architecture Month. And thank you everyone who came out to sketch today. It’s always great to see familiar faces and make new friends too. Shout out to Shamir (left of group) who is visiting us from Boston!

Today’s question was “How does art help you in other areas of your life?” I love hearing your answers. For most, art is therapeutic. It was amazing to hear how some of you share your work freely with strangers. That’s very inspiring. For others, art is helping with memory. When we draw and look back at our art, we can better recall the day and the experience. Thank you Spencer for sharing your travel art journal in Japan. How special is that!

We will get together next month but date and location is up in the air. Check back here for more information. In the meantime, happy sketching!

Terri

Celebrate Architecture Month with Urban Sketchers!

We’re teaming up with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Honolulu on October 19 in honor of Architecture Month.

Let’s meet on Saturday October 19 at 10 a.m. on the lawn at McKinley High School.

McKinley High School is noted as the oldest high school on O’ahu, dating back to 1865. AIA Honolulu will be conducting a walking tour for a fee. More information can be found on their website.

They also posted our sketching event on their calendar so hopefully we’ll meet new sketchers. Note: our event starts at 10 a.m., not 9 a.m.

Be sure to RSVP by Friday October 18 at uskoahu@gmail.com so I know to expect you.

Happy sketching,
Terri

Express Your Colors When Urban Sketching at the Okinawan Festival

Thank you all who braved the crowds to sketch at 42nd Annual Okinawan Festival at the Hawai’i Convention Center. I hope you got some hot, crispy andagi too.

Sketching people is always a challenge, especially when they are moving. But it is always fun to try. Today, we were blessed with nice hot weather, so it was good to be inside the convention center and take advantage of the air-conditioning while enjoying lots of fried food. Andadog anyone?

I even got to catch Urban Sketcher Noah perform with his band, Yuttai Kwattai in the afternoon. They are goooooood!

But before the entertainment and food, we got to spend the morning sketching.

Noah and Ivan sketched digitally so watch the slideshow to see their sketches. John emailed his creative sketch to me earlier.

SAVE THE DATE

Our next event will be on October 19. We will resting in September since we met twice in August.

Until next time, happy sketching,

Terri

Let’s Draw Crowds at the Event That Draws Crowds

One of the most popular cultural events in Hawai’i happens every year during the Labor Day weekend. It’s the 42nd Annual Okinawan Festival!

This event attracts thousands of locals and tourists, some traveling from other countries to participate and enjoy the dance, music, crafts and of course food. The andagi lines rival those of major theme parks so be prepared. You can check out the events on their website.

For us Urban Sketchers, let’s meet:

Saturday, August 31, 11:30am
(Sketching time is 10-11:30am)
Hawai’i Convention Center
In front of the statue

If you plan to attend, keep in mind of the challenges:

1. Although you are more than welcome to sketch outside of the Convention Center and in the lobby, to enter the festival is $10 adult/$5 senior. With the price of admission, there is plenty of free entertainment, craft booths, and a marketplace. But food will require purchasing scripts.
2. Parking is extremely limited at the Convention Center. But there are other options including a shuttle service and a paid parking option at Ala Moana Shopping Center. Thank you Noah for suggesting this. https://www.instagram.com/p/C-jR0HavPqH/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D&img_index=1
3. Expecting big crowds, we will not meet at 10am, like we usually do. Instead, please come early and start sketching on your own from 10 to 11:30. Then meet at the statue at 11:30 to share our sketches and take our traditional group photo.
4. Be sure to RSVP by Friday August 30 at uskoahu@gmail.com so I know to expect you.

Also Noah mentioned he will be playing bass with the group Yuttai Kwattai on the entertainment stage at 2:15. They perform contemporary style music with lyrics in the Okinawan language (uchinaguchi).

Since we are meeting twice this month, we will not be meeting in September.

Hope to see all your smiling faces on August 31. Until then, happy sketching!
Terri

Let’s Regroup and Try This Again

Hello fellow Urban Sketchers. After I cancelled the last event, I did get a couple of sketches to share.

Thank you for sending your lovely sketches.

So if you are up to it, let’s gather at Magic Island on Saturday, August 10, 10am to noon.

If attending, RSVP by Friday August 9 at uskoahu@gmail.com. It’s very important to RSVP so please RSVP. I hope to see you there!

Happy sketching,

Terri

Join the magic of Magic Island in July (canceled)

Due to lack of participation, this event has been canceled.

I encourage you to sketch this weekend. If you do, email your sketch to uskoahu@gmail.com.

Happy sketching,
Terri

Honor History Through Our Sketches

Thank you those who came out today to sketch this historic King Kamehameha statue on King Street. Adorned with lei celebrating King Kamehameha Day, we got close up and in person to this grand annual tradition.

There was live music across the street at I’olani Palace to entertain us while we were sketching but I think I can speak for all of us, we were grateful for the tradewinds to return after a very humid and muggy week.

Today’s question: Who is your favorite artist, dead or alive and why? So interesting to hear your answers, from anime, an heiress art collection, a printmaker, and an illustrated journal, the common agreement was learning shapes, dark and light. It’s inspiring to share our favorite artists with others.

SAVE THE DATE: July 13, 2024. We will be gathering at the Diamond Head side of Magic Island. I’ll post here if our plans change but for now that’s the plan.

Keep sketching,
Terri

Let’s Sketch Aloha at a Historical Landmark in June

It’s been awhile since we’ve sketched as a group. Looking forward to see all your lovely faces again.

We will be sketching at the King Kamehameha Statue in downtown Honolulu. The statue will be adorn with lei. Read here for more information on the lei draping ceremony.

Note: we will be sketching on Sunday and NOT Saturday to take advantage of free parking on the street on Sunday.

If attending, RSVP by Saturday, June 8 at uskoahu@gmail.com. I hope to see you there!

Happy sketching,

Terri