A community-based art exhibit in partnership with Hui Manu-o-Kū, celebrating the native Hawaiian seabird. On the ground floor, next to and across from the museum gift shop. February 4 – April 24, 2026. Free admission.
Capitol Modern: the Hawaiʻi State Art Museum
250 South Hotel Street (near ʻIolani Palace and the Hawaiʻi State Capitol Building)
Downtown Honolulu, HI 96813
Wednesday – Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Free admission
The Hawaiʻi State Art Museum is a part of the SFCA Art in Public Places Program.
About Hui Manu-o-Kū and what makes this bird special
[Rich Downs] “My name is Rich Downs. I’m the coordinator for the Hui Manu-o-Kū. So, first of all, the Hui Manu-o-Kū, we’re an organization dedicated to increasing public awareness of this amazing bird, and helping to understand why it’s important enough to pay attention to it. It is, after all, the official bird of Honolulu. Second, it has deep historical cultural significance, here in Hawaiʻi and elsewhere.
This is the one and only urban environment in the entire Pacific region where it comes ashore to breed and live amongst us. This is a great place – this is probably the best place on earth to connect with this bird. And the art exhibit is just one more way in which we hope to get more people who live here in Honolulu with this very special bird.”
[Interviewer] And where can people go to learn more about Hui Manu-o-Kū and the work that you do? [Rich Downs] “Well, we have a website w w w the White Tern, t e r n s, dot org, and we also have a Facebook group, White Tern Citizen Science.”
Learn more about the conservation and bird rescue work that Hui Manu-O-Kū does on their website: WhiteTerns.org.
Updates
This post was updated on February 20, 2026 with the addition of the About the Hui Manu-O-Kū section and video with Rich Downs. The transcript of the video was also added.