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Arts and culture calendar (December 2024)

December 5, 2024
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Photo: entrance to the “Quilted Legacies: a patchwork of resilience” AIDS Memorial Quilt exhibit at Capitol Modern (Hawaiʻi State Art Museum).

This arts and culture calendar features SFCA grantees, partners, and Hawaiʻi state and local government programs and events. Questions regarding a particular program or event should be directed to the organization listed with the opportunity. Inclusion here should not be interpreted as an endorsement.

Festivals, Community Days, and Special Events

  • Honolulu City Lights events throughout the month of December:
    • Opening night celebration and Public Workers’ Electric Light Parade Saturday, December 7, 2024
    • Celtic Pipes Performance December 11, 7:00 p.m.
    • Milk and Cookies Night December 21, 6:00- 9:00 p.m.
    • For more information, please visit the Friends of Honolulu City Lights website: HonoluluCityLights.org.
  • Honolulu Museum of Art Community Day, Sunday December 22, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Admission is free for Hawaiʻi residents. Learn more on the HoMA website: HonoluluMuseum.org/events/117//community-day.
  • ʻIolani Palace Kamaʻāina Sunday, December 8, 2024, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Free audio tours, presentations, and activities. Learn more on the ʻIolani Palace website: IolaniPalace.org/visit/kamaaina-sundays.

Art Exhibitions

  • Bishop Museum
    • “Ka ʻUlu Wena: Oceanic Red” exhibition. Through January 12, 2025. For more information, please visit the Bishop Museum website: BishopMuseum.org/KUW.
    • “Kū a Lanakila! Expressions of Sovereignty in Early Territorial Hawaiʻi, 1900 – 1920” through August 10, 2025. For more information, please visit the Bishop Museum website: BishopMuseum.org/kualanakila.
  • Donkey Mill Art Center “Hānau Ka Moʻolelo” exhibit through December 14, 2024. For more information, please visit the DMAC website: DonkeyMillArtCenter.org/event/?event=5552.
  • 2024 Artists of Hawaiʻi Biennial exhibit at the Downtown Art Center November 1 – December 21, 2024. downtownarthi.org/artistsofhawaii.
  • East-West Center “Expressions of Gratitude: Works of Art from the East-West Center Collection” October 20, 2024 – January 22, 2025. For more information, please visit the East-West Center website:  www.eastwestcenter.org/education/arts-program/gallery-exhibition-expressions-gratitude-works-art-east-west-center.
  • Honolulu Museum of Art “Home of the Tigers: McKinley High and Modern Art” September 28, 2024 – January 12, 2025. Features work by seven artists who graduated from McKinley High School, one of Honolulu’s oldest and largest high schools. For more information, please visit the museum website: HonoluluMuseum.org/pQpDjCN/home-of-the-tigers–mckinley-high-and-modern-art
  • ʻIolani Palace “He Inoa No Kalākaua: Celebrating 150 Years of King Kalākaua” exhibit in the Bartels Gallery. IolaniPalace.org/.
  • Leeward Community College Hōʻikeākea Gallery “The Swell is Coming: Ke Hōʻea Nei Ka Nalu” through February 2, 2025. Bringing together artists from Hawaiʻi and around the world who have enriced surf culture. For more information please visit the gallery website: Leeward.hawaii.edu/hoikeakea.
  • Maui Arts and Cultural Center, Schaefer International Gallery, “Paths of Ink” November 12 – December 28, 2024.Features contemporary artists from Japan and Korea who pursue innovative new moments in calligraphy. For more information, please visit the MACC website: MauiArts.org/exhibits.php?filter=current.
  • Wailoa Arts Center Exhibits (Hilo, Hawaiʻi Island)
    • “16th Annual Hawaiʻi Nei” November 1 – December 12, 2024
    • “Muʻumuʻu + Moʻolelo” January 10 – 30, 2025
    • “Mokuhanga Dialogues” February 7 – March 27, 2025
    • “MANA” April 4 – May 1, 2025
    • “Lauhala: Weaving knowledges and practices” May 9 – June 19, 2025
  • University of Hawaiʻi-Mānoa Department of Art and Art History
  • Windward Community College Gallery ʻIolani “The OGs: Photographers of the Silver Gelatin Process” showcasing the work of 11 influential Hawaiʻi photographers. Exhibit open September 6 – December 6, 2024. https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2024/08/19/photogs-at-windward-gallery-iolani/

Performances and Presentations

  • Chamber Music Hawaiʻi 2024-25 Season
    • “HBQ Christmas” with Honolulu Brass Quintet at Blue Note Hawaii, 12/16, 6:30 p.m.
    • “Holiday Brass” at the Cathedral of St. Andrew, 12/21, 6:30 p.m.
    • “Reflections on Americana” with Galliard String Quartet, Doris Duke Theatre 01/25/2025, 7:00 p.m.; Palikū Theatre 12/26, 4:00 p.m.
  • Capitol Modern (Hawaiʻi State Art Museum) First Friday, all-ages evening of live music, December 6, 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. Friday Night Tempo, family-friendly evening of live music and Art+Flea urban market, December 20, 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. Free admission. More information on the State Art Museum website calendar: CapitolModern.org/events.
  • Castle High School Performing Arts Learning Center presents “Elf: the musical” December 6 – 15 at the Bright Theatre, Castle High School (Kaneohe). Tickets: cur8.com/65/project/127003.
  • Hawaiian Historical Society “Beaches of Hawaiʻi Photo Collection” presentation by John Clark. Thursday, December 5, 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. on Zoom. Free and open to the public. Register online: Beaches of Hawaii registration.
  • Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra
    • HAPA Holiday Extravaganza at Hawaiʻi Theatre, December 7
    • Tchaikovsky’s Pathétique at Hawaiʻi Theatre, December 8
    • How the Grinch Stole Christmas in Concert at Hawaiʻi Theatre, December 11 and 12
  • Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra
    • HAPA Holiday Extravaganza at Hawaiʻi Theatre, December 7
    • Tchaikovsky’s Pathétique at Hawaiʻi Theatre, December 8
    • How the Grinch Stole Christmas in Concert at Hawaiʻi Theatre, December 11 and 12
    • For more information, please visit the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra website: myhso.org/concerts.
  • Honolulu Theatre for Youth (HTY)
  • ʻIolani Palace Kamaʻāina Sunday, December 8. 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., performances, activities, and food vendors. https://www.iolanipalace.org/visit/kamaaina-sundays/
  • Kona Choral Society
    • “Joy to the World” concert, Friday December 6, 7:00 p.m. at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church.
    • “The Messiah and More!” concert, Sunday December 22, 4:00 p.m. at Kaleiopapa Convention Center, Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa.
    • For more information, please visit the Kona Choral Society website: KonaChoralSociety.org.
  • Kumu Kahua Theatre, “Kimo the Waiter”December 6, 7, and 8. For more information, please visit the Kumu Kahua website: KumuKahua.org/54th-season.
  • Manoa Valley Theatre: “Once on this Island” November 14 – December 8. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit the Manoa Valley Theatre website: https://www.manoavalleytheatre.com/
  • Royal Hawaiian Band free lunchtime concerts at ʻIolani Palace every Friday at noon.  For more information call 808-522-0822 or visit www.IolaniPalace.org.
  • Kapiʻolani Community College “Exhibition Design: Concept, Planning and Design” presentation by Professor Emeritus Tom Klobe, Wednesday, December 4, 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. in the Koa Gallery. kapiolani.hawaii.edu/support-and-campus-life/koa-gallery.
  • West Hawaiʻi County Band Holiday Concert, Sunday December 8, 4:00 p.m. at Hale Hālāwai County Park (Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi Island). For more information, please visit the West Hawaiʻi County Band website: WestHawaiiBand.com.
  • University of Hawaiʻi Better Tomorrow Speaker Series
    • The Power of Outdoor Places: Nature’s role in shaping our lives and communities. Presentation with Carissa Moore and Bianca Clarke. Thursday December 5, 6:30 p.m. at the John F. Kennedy Theatre, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa campus. Register on the UHM website: manoa.hawaii.edu/speakers/carissa-moore.
    • Getting to the heart of the story: Lessons on climate communication. Presentation by Rosanna Xia. Tuesday, January 16, 2025, 6:30 p.m. Location on University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa campus to be announced. Register on the UHM website: manoa.hawaii.edu/speakers/rosanna-xia/.
  • University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Kennedy Theatre
    • “Gothmass in Waikiki and other Femme FaTALES” Late Night Theatre Company production, Saturday December 7 and Sunday December 8 at 8:30 p.m. Interactive, experimental theatre.
    • MFA/BFA Dance Concert, January 29-31 and February 1-2, 2025. Program director: Sami L.A. Akuna. Dance concert of original Master of Fine Arts (MFA) Creative Projects and Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) Senior Projects choreography.
  • University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Department of Art and Art History
    • Panel discussion on Satoru Abe’s exhibits at HoMA and UHM: Sunday, December 8, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Art Building Art Auditorium, room 132. Discussion of “Satoru Abe: 100 New Paintings” at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Art Gallery and “Satoru Abe: Reaching for the Sun” at the Honolulu Museum of Art (HoMA).
    • Closing celebration for “Satoru Abe: 100 New Paintings” at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Art Gallery, Sunday December 8, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.

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