Artists are busy in Honolulu

Contemporary Hawaiian Art at 3 Different Locations

Over the next month three Hawaiian art exhibitions will be showing at ii gallery in Kaka’ako, Hawaii Pacific University’s Art Gallery on the Hawaii Loa Campus, and the Maoli Art in Real Time POP UP gallery at the Hawai‘i Convention Center. 

  Opening Friday, September 28 from 6P - 8P and running through October 28, Set in Paradise at ii gallery, located at 687 Auahi Street in Kaka’ako, brings together “artists of Hawai‘i” from different generations and backgrounds who challenge the historical, sociopolitical, and aesthetic preconceptions of this place, the exhibition presents works by Drew Broderick, Kaili Chun, Peter Shepard Cole, Trisha Lagaso Goldberg, John Koga, Kapulani Landgraf, Meleanna Meyer, Carl F. K. Pao, Joe Rohde, Lawrence Seward, and Jerry Vasconcellos. 

Opening Sunday, September 30, from 6P - 8P at the Art Gallery at Hawai‘i Loa Campus of HPU, Maoli, Art and Pedagogy (MAP) is about the intersections of art, teaching and learning through kanaka maoli aesthetics. The artists include Carl F.K. Pao, Meleanna Meyer, Al Lagunero, Harnani Orme, Kahi Ching and Pete Britos. The show runs through November 16. 

On Wednesday, October 3, from 6P-8P the opening reception of the fourth annual Maoli Art in Real Time (MAiRT) POP UP gallery of 5,000 s.f. In the Molokai Room of the Hawai‘i Convention Center gets underway. Open for three days only, from Tuesday, October 2nd through Thursday October 4th, the MAiRT will feature new works from close to twenty maoli artists including Bernice Akamine, Kawai Aona-Ueoka, Na Alakai, Kahiau Beamer, Mealaaloha Bishop, Kahi Ching, Charlie Dickson, Solomon Enos, John Hina (PRIME), Bob Freitas, Henry Ha‘o, Hanale Hopfe, Imaikalani Kalahele, Kai‘ili Kaulukukui, Brook Parker, Pat Pine, Mapuana Schneider, Jordan Souza, Cory Taum and Jerry Vasconcellos.

All three shows are a testimony to the robust nature of native aboriginal creative work happening in Honolulu today. A relatively recent phenomena, community efforts on the part of the PA’I Foundation through the Maoli Arts Month (MAMo), the grassroots organization Maoli Arts Alliance (MA’A), OHA through funding for the Hawai‘i Kakou Community Mural and the continued support of Native Books/Na Mea Hawai’i has brought native Hawaiian art to the forefront in Hawai‘i today. Expect to see Hawaiian art flourishing in Hawai’i nei.

For more information

Maile Meyer 808-783-2786