The Hawaiʻi State Foundation on Culture and the Arts (SFCA) announces Kamakani Konia as SFCA Art in Public Places Program Director. As program director, Konia is also the Director of Capitol Modern (the Hawaiʻi State Art Museum).
“I’m looking forward to expanding on the extraordinary work that the public art programs have been doing. Art is a public resource, and I want to make it more accessible for everyone to participate in.”
“The State Art Museum is a ‘third space’ – a setting for public life, like public parks and libraries. It’s a place for community building. As a project manager I had the privilege of working with staff from the Nānākuli Public Library and was inspired by their dedication to provide a place for the community to gather, share, and learn. Together we were able to provide artwork from the SFCA’s Art in Public Places Collection for the building and commission a beautiful permanent sculpture for the interior (“Mānaiakalani” by Scott Fitzel). What we ended up with was a place that features readily accessible information and a complete contemporary art gallery experience.”
Kamakani Konia is a Kamehameha Schools and University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa alumn (BFA, Printmaking), and an MPA candidate in Public Administration at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa College of Social Sciences. 2025 marks his tenth year of working for the State of Hawaiʻi; eight of those years have been at the SFCA, first as an Exhibits Specialist and then as an Art in Public Places Project Manager.
Press release: State arts agency announces Art in Public Places Program Director / Hawaiʻi State Art Museum Director