Arts and Culture Calendar (January 2024)

January 4, 2024
First Friday January 5 2024 promo graphic

Community Events

  • 2024 New Year’s ʻOhana Festival, January 13, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Family friendly community event featuring entertainment, food, and cultural activities at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi (JCC), 2454 South Beretania Street, Honolulu. For more information, please visit the JCC event page on their website: jcchawaii.org/events/nyof2024.
  • 2024 Night in Chinatown Festival and Lunar New Year Parade, February 3, 2024. chinatown808.com/nightinchinatown/
  • ʻIolani Palace Kamaʻāina Sundays 2024: Free event held on the second Sunday of every month. Hawaiʻi residents can explore the Palace, immerse themselves in Hawaiian culture, enjoy live entertainment, and more. For more information, please visit the ʻIolani Palace website at IolaniPalace.org/visit/kamaaina-sundays.
  • Paʻi Foundation Urban Makahiki Saturday January 13, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at ʻAʻala Park (downtown Honolulu). Celebrate the rich history of ʻAʻala Park and the Makahiki season with live music, cultural games, hula, moʻolelo and more. Free and open to the public.
  • Capitol Modern (Hawaiʻi State Art Museum)
    • First Friday family-friendly evening of live music, January 5, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Free admission.
    • Third Friday family-friendly evening of live music, January 19, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Free admission.
    • More information on the State Art Museum website calendar: CapitolModern.org/events.

Workshops and Classes

  • Hawaiʻi State Legislature Public Access Room (PAR) free online learning sessions introducing or refreshing participants in advocacy at the State Capitol. PAR will cover everything from pitching an idea for a new law to asking for hearings, testifying, and following bills through the legislative process. Learn more and register on the signup page on the PAR website: LRB.hawaii.gov/par/sign-up-for-a-training-session.
    • Get to Know the Legislature’s Website: Capitol.Hawaii.gov is a portal that provides useful tools for advocates. PAR will cover the website’s interactive features, some search tips, and more. Tuesday, January 2, 12:00 noon; Wednesday, January 10, 3:00 p.m.; Thursday, January 18, 6:00 p.m.
    • Legislative Calendar and Deadlines: learn to read the legislative calendar, get to know the deadlines, and see how they affect the legislation you’re following. Wednesday, January 3, 3:00 p.m.; Thursday, January 11, 6:00 p.m.; Tuesday, January 16, 12:00 noon.
  • Hawaiʻi State Public Library System free online education programs through public libraries include digital photography, graphic design, creative writing, and grant writing. Learn more about Gale Courses available through the Hawaiʻi State Public Library System: education.gale.com/l-hawaii.
  • US Small Business Administration (SBA) (Hawaiʻi Pacific Islands)
    • Government Contracting 101 online webinar, Wednesday December 6, 8:30 – 10:00 a.m. Register on the SBA website: sba.gov/event/38539.

Art Exhibitions

  • Bishop Museum “Project Banaba” exhibition through February 18, 2024.  For more information, please visit the Bishop Museum website: BishopMuseum.org.
  • East-West Center Art Gallery (University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa) “Storyboards of Palau: Artistry, Influence, Impact” gallery exhibition October 29, 2023 – January 7, 2024.
    • ʻOhana Day: family-friendly demonstrations and hands-on activities, Sunday January 7, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
    • For more information, please visit the East-West Center website: eastwestcenter.org/education/gallery-exhibition-storyboards-palau-artistry-influence-impact.
  • Capitol Modern (Hawaiʻi State Art Museum) current exhibits “Accession: new additions to the Art in Public Places Collection”, “Fear of the Unknown” and “Creatures and Characters”. First Friday, January 5, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Third Friday family-friendly evening of live music, January 19, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Free admission. More information on the State Art Museum website calendar: CapitolModern.org/events.
  • Downtown Art Center
    • “Architects as Artists 2024” January 5-27, 2024. Opening reception January 5, 5:30 – 8:00 p.m.
    • “Dreams of Waking: Mind-Bending Collage Art by Jeff Gere, January 5-27, 2024. Opening reception January 5, 5:30 – 8:00 p.m.
    • HEART of Honolulu Art Street Festival Saturday April 13, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
    • For more information, please visit the Downtown Art Center website: DowntownArtHI.org.
  • Hōʻikeākea Gallery (Leeward Community College) “Float On” Exhibition Opening Reception: 5:00 – 8:00 PM, Saturday, January 13, 2024. An exhibition featuring works by: Cole Barash, Kelly Ciurej, Ualani Davis, Alex Delapena, James Knudsen, Kenyatta Kelechi, Brendan George Ko, Shirley Lam, Brian Van Lau, Matt Mallams, Michelle Mishina, Chris Navarro, Atis Puampai, Nakemiah Williams & Kanoa Zimmerman. January 13 – March 23, 2024. For more information, please visit the gallery page on the Leeward Community College website: Leeward.hawaii.edu/hoikeakea.
  • Honolulu Museum of Art “Kapulani Landgraf: ‘Au’a” exhibit featuring large photographic portraits of 108 Kanaka ‘Ōiwi community leaders. Opens January 17, with a series of free talks and demonstrations starting February 18, 2024. On view until September 24, 2024. For more information, please visit the HoMA website at HonoluluMuseum.org/exhibitions/kapulani-landgraf-aua.
  • Honolulu Printmakers
  • Kauaʻi Society of Artists, KSA Gallery.
    • “Small Works Show” November 18-January 5, 2024
    • “Kauai Quilt Show” February 2 – 21, 2024
    • “Spring Show” March 2 – 29, 2024
    • “Washed Up” June 8 – 28, 2024
  • Kauaʻi Songwriters Music Festival 2024: June 7 and 8, 2024 at the Hilton Garden Inn at Wailua Bay. For additional information, please visit their website: KauaiSongwriters.com.
  • Lānaʻi Culture and Heritage Center “Kodomo no tame ni” (for the sake of the children) exhibit on view until March 2024. For more information, please visit the center’s website at LanaiCHC.org.
  • Maui Arts and Cultural Center “Sense of Place/Place of Sense” exhibition January 23 – March 16, 2024. Free public events include Maui Taiko performance, family day, and more. For more information, please visit the MACC website: MauiArts.org/exhibit-detail.php?id=126.
  • Viewpoints Gallery Maui “Emergence: honoring the past and looking toward the future of Maui” exhibition. The gallery stated that “a significant donation from this exhibit will go to sustain our efforts to support all the artists that saw their lives impacted by the recent Maui fires.” The exhibit is open through February 2, 2024. Additional information and a video of the exhibit can be viewed on the Viewpoints Gallery website: ViewpointsGalleryMaui.com/exhibits.
  • Wailoa Arts Center Exhibits (Hilo, Hawaiʻi Island)
    • “Plein Aire Perspectives” January 5 – 25, 2024
    • “Full Bleed, Art at the Edges: Anime, Manga and Urban Art” February 2 – March 21, 2024
    • “MANA” March 29 – April 25, 2024
    • “The Paths We Cross: Perspectives from the Korean Diaspora” May 3 – June 27, 2024
    • “Assemblage” July 5 – 25, 2024
    • “14th Annual Abstract Only!” August 2 – September 26, 204
    • “Hawaiʻi Surrealism Exhibit” October 4 – 24, 2024
    • “16th Annual Hawaiʻi Nei” November 1 – December 12, 2024
  • University of Hawaiʻi-Mānoa Department of Art and Art History
    • “Mai Nā Kūpuna Mai: From the Ancestors” in the The Art Gallery through February 11, 2024. Gallery walkthrough with artists Sean K.L. Browne, Abigail Kahilikia Romanchak, and Kupaʻa Hee, Sunday January 14, 2024, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Public lectures: Abigail Romanchak, Thursday January 18, 5:00 – 6:00 p.m., Art Building, Room 101. Puni Jackson, Thursday January 25, 5:00 – 6:00 p.m., Art Building, Room 101. For more information, please visit the UH Dept. of Art and Art History website: hawaii.edu/art/exhibitions-events-museum.
    • Learn more on the UHM Art and Art History Department website: hawaii.edu/art/exhibitions-events-museum.

Performances and Presentations

  • Mānoa Valley Theatre Henry Kapono Foundation On the Rise Concert Series. Premiere event January 17, featuring On the Rise artists Ryan Perez and Drew Henmi. For more information and tickets, please visit the MVT website at ManoaValleyTheatre.com.
  • Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra
    • Brahms Serenade No. 1, January 14, 4:00 p.m. at Hawaiʻi Theatre.
    • Tan Dun’s Crouching Tiger: Year of the Dragon, February 11, 4:00 p.m. at Hawaiʻi Theatre.
    • HapaSymphony: Paula Fuga, March 9, 7:30 p.m. at Hawaiʻi Theatre.
    • For more information, please myhso.org/concerts.
  • Honolulu Theatre for Youth “Super Aunty” January 19, January 28, February 4. For more information, please visit the HTY website: HTYweb.org.
  • Kahilu Theatre “OperAloha” celebration of the power and beauty of opera, January 14, 3:00 p.m. In-person and on demand viewing. For more information, please visit the Kahilu Theatre website: kahilu.org/events/operaloha.
  • Nānākuli High and Intermediate School Performing Arts Center “Believe” musical revue student showcase, February 17 and 18 at the Michael D. Nakasone Performing Arts Center Auditorium (Pearl City High School campus). For more information and tickets, please visit the performing arts center website at nhispac.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.
  • University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Kennedy Theatre
    • The Maiden Benten and the Bandits of the White Waves April 19-20 and 26-28, 2024. A popular kabuki play, The Maiden Benten and the Bandits of the White Waves, commonly known as Benten Kozō, features five distinctive thieves with a mastery of masquerade, and a command of language from the gutter to the poetically sublime. Together with a full array of colorful kabuki characters, their schemes and back stories lead to shocking revelations, surprising reunions, startling twists and ultimately result in the realization that one cannot escape karma—though in meeting it, one need not abandon spectacle or beauty.  
    • For more information, please visit the Kennedy Theatre website: manoa.hawaii.edu/liveonstage/kennedy-theatre/upcoming-season.
  • University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Outreach College, World Performance Series

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