Photo: “Kanaloa” koa wood carving by Rocky Kaʻiouliokahihikoloʻehu Jensen (c. 1980) being photo-documented by Chris Rohrer (contractor). APP Exhibit Specialist José González assists.
On August 22, 2025 the SFCA Board of Commissioners approved the purchase of fourteen artworks from five exhibits. These include a koa wood sculpture, “Kanaloa”, by Native Hawaiian master carver Rocky Jensen (1944 – 2023), from the 2025 Hawaiʻi Triennial exhibit at the East Hawaiʻi Cultural Center in Hilo; a sculpture by Native Hawaiian artist Kahi Ching from the 2025 Hawaiʻi Triennial exhibit at the State Art Museum; and two paintings by Native Hawaiian artist Nanea Lum from the 2025 Hawaiʻi Triennial exhibit at the Hub in downtown Honolulu; and three paintings by Native Hawaiian artist Mealaaloha Bishop from the “Living Sovereign” exhibit at Aupuni Space in Honolulu.
Artworks
“Hawaiʻi Triennial: ALOHA NŌ” exhibit at East Hawaiʻi Cultural Center (Hilo, Hawaiʻi Island)
- Rocky KaʻiouliokahihikoloʻEhu Jensen, “Kanaloa” koa wood, c. 1980.
“Allegory II” exhibit at Bishop Square, Pauahi Tower Lobby (Honolulu, Oʻahu)
- Dieter Runge, “Double Stack” oil on canvas painting, 2024
- Kamran Samimi, “Channeled – Waterfall” stone pigment, watercolor paint, acrylic paint, cement on raw canvas, 2025
- Kenneth Nakamura, “Fear of Flying” oil on canvas painting, 2025
“Hawaiʻi Triennial: ALOHA NŌ” exhibit at Capitol Modern: the Hawaiʻi State Art Museum (Honolulu, Oʻahu)
- Nanea Lum, “Me ke ao” acrylic and oil on canvas painting, 2025
- Nanea Lum, “I ka pō” acrylic and oil on canvas painting, 2025
“Hala” exhibition at Wailoa Art Center (Hilo, Hawaiʻi Island)
- Kelly Teamey and Mary Babcock, “Hala Economies / Wayfinding Keaukaha” lauhala, plastic retail tags, receipt on paper diptych, 2025
- Dee Shimabukuro, “Moena Piko” lauhala weaving, 2025
- Yola Monakhov Stockton and Mei Li Wong-Gary, “Archiving Lauhala, Mei Lin Wong-Gary with Pūhala, Mamona Road, Hawaiʻi” woven glossy fiber gelatin silver print photographs from black and white 8×10″ negative, 2025
- Yola Monakhov Stockton and Mei Li Wong-Gary, “Archiving Lauhala, Hilo International Airport, Hawaiʻi” woven glossy fiber gelatin silver print photographs from black and white 8×10″ negative, 2025
“LIVING SOVEREIGN: a solo exhibition by Mealaaloha Bishop” at Aupuni Space (Honolulu, Oʻahu)
- Mealaaloha Bishop, “Kalaupapa, Molokaʻi” oil on canvas painting, 2024
- Mealaaloha Bishop, “Kalo 2” oil on canvas painting, 2024
- Mealaaloha Bishop, “Luluku Kaneohe” oil on canvas painting, 2024
Resources
- Meeting agendas and minutes are posted to the SFCA website: sfca.hawaii.gov/about/board-of-commissioners.
- Recent purchases and gifts are listed on the SFCA website: sfca.hawaii.gov/art-in-public-places-program/#recent-adds.
- Approved exhibit visits are also posted to the SFCA website: sfca.hawaii.gov/art-in-public-places-program/#aasc-visits.
- Artworks in the collection can be viewed in the SFCA Art in Public Places Collection online database: sfca.hawaii.gov/app-art (redirects to an Axiell site).
The next SFCA Board of Commissioners meeting is scheduled for Friday, November 21, 2025.