World’s Largest Surf Mural, world record in Kalihi, Hawaii

“History has been made in the streets of Kalihi. As part of the “101 Perfect Waves International Mural Project”, artist Hilton Alves has just completed the first of 101 surf murals that he plans to paint around the world,” the
Hawaii News Now says. 

“With a little help from fellow artist Brian Wyland, the two artists completed the 14,000 square foot painting over the weekend.”

“Hilton Alves has just completed what may be the world’s largest surf mural in Honolulu. The 14,080-square-foot painting was completed in just eight days, transforming a rundown city wall into one of Oahu’s most feared and fabled waves, the Banzai Pipeline,” the
HuffPost says.

“But Alves is far from finished. This feat is only the first in a series of 101 paintings, entitled the 101 Perfect Waves International Mural Project, that he plans on completing in partnership with Hawyland Styles Gallery. “In every project, every mural has something special that happens during the creation of it,” Alves told the Huffington Post, “Now, 100 more special moments will take place.”

“Alves completed this art project as a donation to give back to the Honolulu community and does not plan on submitting his art to Guinness World Records. Alves told the Huffington Post that he and his team spent six months researching wave murals around the world in order for them to confidently claim that their surf art is the world’s largest. According to Guinness World Records, the world’s largest mural created by one artist is 18,066.4 square feet. There is currently no record for the world’s largest wave or surf mural.”

“Born in 1980 and raised in Guaruja, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Hilton Alves’ passion for the sheer beauty of ocean life is expressed through his paintings and murals of surf, marine life, perfect waves, and seascapes. The self-taught artist uses acrylic, airbrush, and oil to bring life to his playful imagination,” the
clubofthewaves.com says.

“In 2013, he painted the largest wave mural in the world, located in Kalihi, Honolulu, Hawaii — marking the start of his mission to paint ‘101 Perfect Wave’ murals all around the world. His aim in painting huge murals and planning activities with local communities and kids is to inspire people to have a greater relationship with the ocean and art, and to take part in environmental preservation.

“Hilton and his gallery are based in the beautiful town of Kahuku on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii.”

“The biggest surf mural in the world is located in Honolulu, Hawaii. It’s in Kalihi and is very easy to access. The mural was revealed in late 2013 and has yet to be championed by another surf mural as the biggest. It’s about 5 stories tall and takes up almost 14,000 square feet. It’s a huge painting of the wave at Pipeline, the
livinginhawaii.com says.

“The artist’s specialty is actually waves and he hand painted all of the small wave details in the mural. Surprisingly it only took him 8 days to do the entire thing! I know it would take me a lot longer, and it wouldn’t come out as nice.

“However, it did take him over 6 months of planning before he started actually painting. Alves had to raise almost $10,000 and collect almost 150 gallons of paint to do the entire mural. It truly is a sight to see and I would highly recommend visiting it while you’re staying in Hawaii.”

“In 2013, I created the 101 Perfect Waves – International Mural Project starting with painting the largest wave mural in the world, located in Kalihi, Honolulu,”
The Inertia says.



“With this project I hope to share the inspiration I get from the sea and waves with cities and countries around the world. My aim with painting huge murals and planning activities with local communities is to inspire people to have a greater relationship with the ocean and art, and to take part in environmental preservation.

“This series of murals can be admired on Oahu and Maui, in Hawaii, in Sao Paulo, Brazil and at Sentosa Island, Singapore.”

“Meet Hilton Alves, an artist living in Kahuku, O‘ahu who is well-known for his vibrant surf street art murals shrouding buildings all over the island. The spark for Alves to become an artist was ignited as a 20-year-old in his hometown of Guarujá, Brazil,” the
Freesurf Magazine says

“He worked at a local surf shop and—on the slow days—would daydream of swell, sketching waves in his notebook. One day, a customer looked over his shoulder while he doodled and asked if he ever painted the waves on canvas. Alves had never considered his doodles “paint-worthy” and was hesitant to take the next step. Yet, the next day that same customer brought Alves a brand new art kit, which encouraged him to continue creating using materials and techniques new to him.

“Most recently, Alves created a collection of paintings called “Surf Street Art” reminiscent of graffiti culture perpetuated by his participation in street art festivals, such as the Miami Art Basel and the HUE Mural Festival in Houston. This visual art series is composed of mixed-media: spray paint, stencils, collage, and silk-screen. To top it all off, he will often paint a wave or other marine life over these surfaces.”

“Artist Hilton Alves began painting the world’s largest wave mural at 1320 Kalani Street in Honolulu. The mural, five stories tall and four hundred feet wide, was completed on October 26th in a record 8 days. Miraculously the weather stayed perfect for the entire 8 days allowing the artist to complete in time and for onlookers to watch the process transforming the blank and drab wall to an art centerpiece in Honolulu,” the
Damon Tucker says.

“The concept of the approximately 14,080 square feet mural is bringing the North Shore to the South Shore with an image depicting a beautiful Banzai Pipeline wave scene. This mural is a celebration of Hawaii’s surf culture and acknowledgement of Hawaii being an ocean lovers and surfers mecca for the world. At the mural’s completion, artist Hilton Alves exclaimed, “I can’t believe we finished this massive wall and we are going to paint 100 more around the world!”

“Project materials, including 150 gallons of paint, were provided through sponsorship from Vertical Technologies and Al’s Tinting Inc. and donations from Planet Sun, Everpaddle, Once a Month Church, the North Shore News and individual donors. The completion of the mural process from inception was also made possible through the help of volunteers who worked hard for about 6 months to make it come to life. The colossal mural art itself a donation from Hilton Alves to the city of Honolulu and all who will enjoy it and only made possible through donations and community support.”

“What is the 101 Perfect Waves project?
It’s an international mural project where my goal is to paint 101 wave murals around the world. The project started in 2013, on Oahu, Hawaii. I painted a very big mural featuring Pipeline as Mural 01/101, then headed to Brazil, then Maui, Singapore, Los Angeles, Miami, Houston and Israel. 38 wave mural have been painted so far since then.

What is the biggest challenge to the 101 Perfect Waves project?
It depends on the project, sometimes funding the whole thing is challenging. I’d say that comes first I guess. One of my goals with the 101 project is to paint the largest mural in the world, to be registered on the Guinness Book of World Records and doing the logistics and funding for a project like that will be challenging. Somehow I always find solutions to accomplish my goals.

Your work has a wonderful surreal light to it, where does this cross over with wave pools?
When we see a perfect wave breaking on a wave pool, we can see different colors and light through that transparency in the water. I believe my work has a little bit of that too.” (Wave Pool Magazine)

“Artist and waterman Hilton Alves has long been a lover of the sea and water sports. Born and raised in Guaruja, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Hilton began painting professionally in June, 2000. His passion leads him to express the magnificent beauty of the aquatic world in paintings and big murals,” the
Route 99 Hawaii says.

“In 2013 Hilton created the 101 Perfect Waves – International Mural Project by painting the largest wave mural of the world, located in Kalihi, Honolulu. With this project he is sharing the inspiration that comes from the sea and waves with cities and countries around the world.

“His aim in painting huge murals and planning activities with local communities is to inspire people to have a greater relationship with the ocean and art and to take part in environmental preservation. This series of murals can be admired on Oahu, Maui, Los Angeles, Houston, Miami, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, at Sentosa Island, in Singapore and Ashkelon, in Israel. Total of 38 murals painted by date.”

“With the goal to paint 101 murals depicting perfect waves around the world, the Brazilian artist Hilton Alves successfully completed his third mural in Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii. Using about 40 gallons of paint, Hilton started on August 14th and finished the 2,044 square feet mural in three days on the 16th. This mural depicts the perfect waves and the magic of Honolua Bay, on the island of Maui. According to the artist, “Most important was the positive response we got from the local community of Wailuku. People loved this work and we have proposals to paint other murals on the same avenue to revitalize the place,” the
Ocean Artists Society says.

“This mural is part of a project that the artist created in 2013 called 101 Perfect Waves International Mural Project and the project already includes a world record. In October 2013, Hilton painted the largest wave mural in the world, located in Kalihi on the island of Oahu. To paint the building five stories high by 180 meters wide, the artist used 150 gallons of paint and took five days of painting to complete. The second mural was painted in January this year at Ibirapuera Park in Sao Paulo, and was delivered exactly on the 460th anniversary of the city and included in the festivities.

“As an artist and surfer, Hilton wants to share the inspiration that comes from the sea and waves in cities and countries around the world. Through the mural project events and activities for local communities, Hilton hopes to inspire people to have a greater relationship with art and environmental preservation. “My goal with these murals is to raise awareness and inspire people about towards the preservation of nature, especially the oceans and marine life, as well as revitalize places with beautiful images inspired by the blue planet.” commented the artist.”