88 Block Walks was created by Adele Balderston in 2014.

Named for the 88 blocks which comprise the Kaka'ako neighborhood of Honolulu, this ongoing series of walking tours explores themes of gentrification, displacement, urbanization and generational change within Kakaʻako’s cultural, historical and physical landscape. By providing greater public access to archival materials and other diverse histories of the neighborhood, 88 Block Walks aims to remove the lens through which landowners and developers present Kaka‘ako’s narrative to the public and invite the community to create their own. 

Adele Balderston is a place-based storyteller from Windward O‘ahu. She holds an MA in geography from Hunter College (CUNY) and a BA in new media communication studies from New York University. Her involvement with storytelling through mapping, public art and urban exploration began at Soundwalk where she produced audio walking tours of neighborhoods, institutions and museums all over the world. In 2010 she served as assistant director of Conflux, New York City's annual festival for contemporary psychogeography. Working at the intersection of geography, art and activism, Adele promotes awareness of socio-spatial inequality through interaction with urban environments. 

Learn about past walks here.

Are you an expert? If you know a story or a secret about Kaka'ako get in touch.

This project is supported by Interisland Terminal and a grant from the Hawai‘i Council for the Humanities.