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
- 2024 Hawaiʻi Songwriting Festival, May 30 – June 1, 2024 at the Westin Hapuna Beach Resort (Kohala, Hawaiʻi Island). For more information, please visit the festival website: HawaiiSongwritingFestival.com.
- Celebrate Micronesia Festival 2024 at Bishop Museum, June 15, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The festival showcases traditional and contemporary art, dance, fashion, stories, poetry, food, and music of the people and cultures of the Republic of Palau, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, Guåhan (Guam), Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae, Kiribati and the Republic of the Marshall Islands. For more information, please visit the East-West Center website: EastWestCenter.org/events/celebrate-micronesia-festival-2024.
- Kauaʻi Steel Guitar Festival at Kukui Grove Center, Sunday, May 5, 11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Free and open to the public. For more information, please visit the Kauaʻi Steel Guitar Festival website: KauaiSteelGuitarFestival.com.
- Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Windward Mall (Kāneʻohe, Oʻahu), Saturday June 8, 2024, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The festival will also be livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube. https://hawaiiansteelguitarfestival.com/wm/hfwmindex.html
- Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Kahala Mall (Kahala, Oʻahu), Saturday August 17, 2024, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. https://hawaiiansteelguitarfestival.com/km/hfkmindex.html
- 2024 Hawaiʻi Songwriting Festival, May 30 – June 1, 2024 at the Westin Hapuna Beach Resort (Kohala, Hawaiʻi Island). For more information, please visit the festival website: HawaiiSongwritingFestival.com.
- 48th Annual Honolulu Intertribal Powwow, September 21-22, 2024 at Bishop Museum.
Art Exhibitions
- Bishop Museum “Ka ʻUlu Wena: Oceanic Red” exhibition. May 25, 2024 – January 12, 2025. For more information, please visit the Bishop Museum website: BishopMuseum.org/KUW.
- “Hoʻokahe Wai, Hoʻoulu ʻĀina: Kalo and Community” exhibition at the East-West Center Gallery (University of Hawaiʻi-Mānoa). A partnership between the East-West Center Arts Program and the ʻOhana of Ka Papa Loʻi o Kānewai, this exhibition shares the history, stories, and practice of kalo farming at Ka Papa Loʻi o Kānewai through works of art, video and sound installation, and photographs. May 19 – September 15, 2024. For more information, please visit the East-West Center website: EastWestCenter.org/education/arts.
- “Future Island Cultures” by Solomon Enos at the Hawaiʻi Theatre Center, through May 26, 2024. Artist talk story May 3, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. For more information, please visit the Manini Gallery website: beacons.ai/manini.
- “Happy Veggies” at the Donkey Mill Art Center (Holualoa, Hawaiʻi Island). On view through June 29, 2024. Studio and garden tour with artists Mayumi Oda, Saturday May 11, 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Drag storytime and artmaking, Saturday June 8, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. For additional information, please visit the Donkey Mill Art Center website: DonkeyMillArtCenter.org/event/?event=5452.
- Hawaiʻi Craftsmen “Fiber Hawaiʻi 2024” at the Downtown Arts Center, May 3 – June 1. Juror walkthrough and opening reception Friday May 3, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.Closing reception June 1, 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. For more information, please visit the Hawaiʻi Craftsmen website: HawaiiCraftsmen.org/Fiber-Hawaii-2024.
- Hawaiʻi Craftsmen “Raku Hoʻolauleʻa 2024” exhibition, Arts at Marks Garage, May 1 – 31, 2024. Opening reception Friday May 3, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. For more information, please visit the Hawaiʻi Craftsmen website: HawaiiCraftsmen.org/Raku2024.
- Kahilu Theatre “2024 Waimea All Schools Art Exhibition” through May 26, 2024. Featuring artwork from 10 school campuses in Waimea. For more information, please visit the Kahilu Theatre website events page: kahilu.org/exhibits.
- Kauaʻi Society of Artists, KSA Gallery.
- “Washed Up” June 8 – 28, 2024
- For more information, please visit the Kauaʻi Society of Artists website: KauaiSocietyOfArtists.org.
- 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.
- “Hōʻike Haumāna Ākea” student show at the Hōʻikeākea Gallery, Leeward Community College (Pearl City) through July 27, 2024. For more information, visit the gallery website: Leeward.hawaii.edu/hoikeakea.
- Wailoa Arts Center Exhibits (Hilo, Hawaiʻi Island)
- “One Heart: Korean Art and History Across the Pacific” 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
- Learn more on the Wailoa Arts Center website: WailoaCenter.com.
Performances and Presentations
- Bishop Museum After Hours: Traditions of the Pacific with Lloyd Kumulāʻau Sing Jr. And May Haunani Balino-Sing. Spotlight exhibit and panel discussion Friday, May 10, 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. Museum After Hours: Traditions of the Pacific – Bishop Museum
- First Friday at Capitol Modern (Hawaiʻi State Art Museum), Friday May 3, 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. Free admission, all ages welcome, family-friendly. Live music, food and beverage vendors, and the Art+Flea urban market vendors. For more information, please visit the Capitol Modern events page: CapitolModern.org/events.
- Friday Night Tempo at Capitol Modern (Hawaiʻi State Art Museum), Friday May 17, 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. Free admission, all ages welcome, family-friendly. Live music, food and beverage vendors, and the Art+Flea urban market vendors. For more information, please visit the Capitol Modern events page: CapitolModern.org/events.
- Chamber Music Hawaiʻi presents Billy Childs at Blue Note with Tresemble, Saturday May 11, 6:30 p.m. ChamberMusicHawaii.org.
- Honolulu First Friday May 3 artist talks and exhibit openings
- “Future Island Cultures” artist talk story with Solomon Enos, Hawaiʻi Theatre Center, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
- “Fiber Hawaiʻi 2024” juror walkthrough 5:00 p.m., opening reception 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Downtown Art Center.
- “Raku Hoʻolauleʻa 2024” opening reception 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Arts at Marks Garage.
- Find more First Friday events on the First Friday Hawaiʻi website: FirstFridayHawaii.com/calendar.html
- Honolulu Theatre for Youth (HTY)
- The Great Race: The Story of the Chinese Zodiac May 4, May 12
- For more information, visit the HTY website: membership.htyweb.org/2023-2024-season.
- 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.
Photo: The Elevations performing during the April 2024 Friday Night Tempo all-ages live music event at Capitol Modern (Hawaiʻi State Art Museum).