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Off the drawing board, on to the streets By Aaron Laipply Graffiti has made its presence in Hawai`i over the last decades, stretching more recently with graffiti artist, Shepard Fariey’s “Obey the Giant” poster-bombs, which can be seen next to the fire station at Sharks Cove and one on the corner of Kapi`olani and Kalakaua. These are just a few of many different pieces that Shepard has done in the streets of O'ahu. Proliferation and the consumption of graffiti by society and the media have brought popular figures in the graffiti world to our doorsteps. These artists utilize the streets and buildings of Hawai`i as their canvases. Certainly graffiti has made its mark on Hawai`i and much of that influence came from early graffiti movements from various industrialized cities across the globe. Katch One, a Hawai`i born graffiti artist, has been bombing for over a decade, and is now a rising entrepreneur with his brand of apparel and skate decks.
Katch One has taken these influences of counter-culture to incorporate his artwork in Natural Koncept, his clothing and skate company based out of Honolulu. “I would classify myself as a ‘grown-up graffiti artist,’ by this I mean I come from a strong basis in graffiti but have taken the style and images to other forms of media, mainly canvases and sculpture. I don’t run around bombing and tagging walls anymore, but the graffiti style and attitude will be a part of me forever,” said Katch One. Though some graffiti artists make the jump from no name to global recognition in graffiti books and pop-culture, there are some who don’t market themselves and don’t get paid for their work. Local graffiti artist Areo as been bombing for 12 years in Honolulu and on the West Coast. Areo belongs to the group "Hamma GanG" (HGG). He described the group to represent "something that is broken or somebody that is high on drugs.” HGG is a syntax to undermine Hawai`i’s growing problem with methamphetamines. Areo grew up looking at Katch One’s work and drew inspiration from many different graffiti artists from around Hawai`i. When Areo was just beginning, he custom-made his own spray-can tips. “We used to use stock ones (tips) and cut the bottoms and you just kind of experiment with them,” Areo said. “You can perfect ones to give you thin lines or ones for stenciling,” Areo added. He continues to work on pieces at his home and he is planning to move to the streets. The consequences of being caught Staying anonymous is the most important concern for most graffiti artists, especially since the penalties for vandalising public property has become increasingly stricter since the 1980s. Recently in Hawai'i, Governor Linda Lingle signed a bill that designated stricter penalties and possible jail time for property damage due to graffiti. Oscar Pouoa, an officer on the Honolulu Police Department (HPD), said that the department remains conscious about the growing graffiti problem. “Each district keeps track of what they have,” he said. Officers of each district in Hawai'i must follow-up on new graffiti pieces.
Definition of graffiti Under the Hawai`i General Powers and Limitations of the Counties Section 23C, graffiti means any unauthorized drawing, inscription, figure or mark of any type intentionally created by paint, chalk, dye, or similar substances. Under these statutes, the monetary penalty for vandalism done by graffiti is up to $1,000 or equal to the actual cost of having the damaged property repaired or replaced. This form of guerrilla art is constantly changing our environment. Whether it is Areo changing the faces of our streets and underpasses, or Shepard Fairy warning us about government control of the public, graffiti is a statement. These artists believe that their work inspires people, and not just to do art, but to be better at life. Katch One said, “As an adult, I am influenced and inspired by all art that is skillful and has something to say.”
© 2005 UHM Journalism program and students.
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In a phone interview, he said, “I was influenced by Disney and Warner Brothers cartoons as a child, and by old school New York graffiti artists like Lee, Dondi, Seen, Futura and Phase 2 as a teen.” 