At Mōʻiliʻili's Old Varsity Corner, the Art Opened Before the Kitchens Did
If you've driven past University Avenue and South Beretania Street lately, you may have noticed that the old Varsity Center is looking a little different.
The property has been renovated, blessed, and given a new name: Waiānuenue ma Kapaʻakea, a reference to the rainbows of Mānoa. Some of the storefronts are still waiting for their tenants, but there's already something worth stopping for — three new pieces of public art that tell the story of the land beneath them.
And that story goes back much further than the shopping center.
Kamehameha Schools marked the completion of the renovation with a blessing on September 15. At the heart of the courtyard is Piʻo, a work by Hilo artist Solomon Enos inspired by fish, water, light and sky. The piece captures the meeting of a rainbow and the water below, a fitting image for a place named after Mānoa's rainbows.
The restaurants will come in time. For now, the art gives us a reason to slow down and take a closer look at a corner many of us have passed countless times.
There's been plenty of talk about which restaurants are coming to Waiānuenue. And there are some familiar names on the list. But as of October, most are still listed as coming soon.
OAKBERRY Hawaiʻi was the first to open, welcoming customers on September 26. The açaí and smoothie shop is currently the one open food tenant at the center.
Here's a look at who's expected to join them:
No other tenant has confirmed an opening date on the center's official directory, so for now, it's best to check before making a special trip for a particular restaurant.
But you don't have to wait for the storefronts to fill up to appreciate what's happening here. The three finished art installations give the property a story all its own.
See the Waiānuenue business directory
What I find especially interesting about the new center is that the public art isn't just there to make the property look nice. Each piece reflects the history, culture and natural environment of this particular place.
Water is the common thread.
Start in the courtyard with Piʻo, the centerpiece by ʻōiwi artist and illustrator Solomon Enos.
The flowing imagery of fish, water, light and sky draws on the place where the light of a rainbow meets the water below. It's a beautiful connection to the name Waiānuenue and the rainbows so closely associated with Mānoa.
Take a moment to look at the details. This is the kind of piece that's easy to walk past when you're in a hurry, but more rewarding when you stop and spend some time with it.
The second installation, Kealohapauʻole, means “Endless Affection.” Koloikeao Anthony, a painter and graphic designer from Kaʻaʻawa and a 2019 graduate of Kamehameha Schools Kapālama, created a work centered on the image of a kānoa.
Here, water represents something shared — a resource that has sustained Kapaʻakea and the communities connected to this land. The layered patterns speak to the ways water connects people, place and culture.
It's a reminder that the things we depend on most aren't always the things we see every day.
The third piece brings the story closer to the surrounding neighborhood.
Created by Colleen “TUTUVI” Kimura, a longtime Mōʻiliʻili small-business owner and artist, together with Japanese-American artist Taiji Terasaki, Plants of Mōʻiliʻili features makaloa, ʻawapuhi, laiki, pūhala, kalo and niu.
These plants reflect the area's agricultural history, from the cultivation practices of makaʻāinana to the immigrant farming communities that followed.
There's another layer to this mural, too. Terasaki added an augmented reality experience that reveals the hidden karst waterways beneath the surface, along with plants and creatures that once lived here.
The installation also draws on local moʻolelo connected to pūnāwai, ʻiliʻili and moʻo.
The museum-like experience isn't confined to the walls of a gallery. It's right here on a corner with a parking lot, a crosswalk and a bus stop — places we might not normally associate with the waterways that once shaped the land.
Ask on site how to access the augmented reality feature, or check the Waiānuenue public art page before visiting.
Together, these three works tell a story: the rainbow meeting the water, water as something that sustains a community, and the waterways and plants that belong to this land.
It's a different way of looking at a familiar stretch of University Avenue.
Waiānuenue ma Kapaʻakea is the first completed phase of Kamehameha Schools' larger Kapaʻakea Project, which aims to create a more walkable town center with creative, educational and cultural experiences for Mōʻiliʻili.
The blessing ceremony on September 15 reflected that intention. According to Kamehameha Schools, the artwork and design elements were created to honor the stories of the land and the diverse cultural histories that make Mōʻiliʻili special.
And the neighborhood already has plenty of history of its own.
Some of the incoming businesses are returning to familiar territory. Phuket Thai University is coming back to the corner where it once operated, while Shaka Shaka is moving from Puck's Alley, just down University Avenue. Morning Brew and Local Boy Sushi are also expanding their Hawaiʻi presence here.
At the same time, the surrounding food scene continues to change. Iron Pan opened on South King Street earlier this year, while Hong Yeon in Mōʻiliʻili announced its closure after July 30.
That's part of what makes a neighborhood interesting. Businesses come and go, new spaces open, and familiar corners take on a different life. But the history of a place doesn't have to disappear with each change.
At Waiānuenue, that history is being made part of the experience from the beginning.
The plans for the wider Kapaʻakea district are ambitious. The published project overview describes a 6.28-acre area that could eventually include 600 to 700 residential units and 71,000 square feet of commercial space.
Those are long-term plans, though, and future phases are still being evaluated. The Varsity Building and Puck's Alley are among the properties being considered for how they might serve the community in the years ahead.
For now, Waiānuenue is the first completed piece of that larger vision. The art is in place, the first business is open, and the rest of the storefronts are waiting for their next chapter.
It's worth keeping an eye on how this corner evolves — not just for the new places to eat and shop, but for what it might mean for the surrounding neighborhood.
You don't need to plan an entire afternoon around it. If you're already running errands along University Avenue, consider taking a few extra minutes to explore.
The center is at the intersection of University Avenue and South Beretania Street. Parking is available in the broader district, including Waiānuenue, the Varsity Building and Puck's Alley; check posted rates and rules when you arrive. You can also make it a stop on a bus trip along University Avenue.
For updates on the restaurants and the larger project, keep an eye on the Waiānuenue news and events page.
Sometimes the places we think we know best still have stories to tell. This corner of Mōʻiliʻili is a good reminder to look a little closer.
And if you're curious about how the Kapaʻakea plans could shape the neighborhood around your home, I'm always happy to talk story and share what I know.
Diane Ito
Coldwell Banker Realty
Request a Personal Consultation
Specializing in mid-century, modern Hawaii homes, her desire to broaden the scope of the service has been successfully achieved as a 5-time award winner of the Top 100 agents in Hawaii by Hawaii Business Magazine.
