Wayfinders
Explore the exhibit to meet inspirational leaders and teachers who have led the charge in the revival of these ancient traditions. Through interactive displays, you will learn how the Hawaiian Star Compass, or Kukuluokalani, and other navigation tools are used to chart a course across the Pacific, using the stars, waves, and wildlife to guide voyagers on their journeys.
Bishop Museum’s After Hours: 2nd Friday Monthly
Need a place to pau hana? We’ve got you covered! Explore Historic Hawaiian Hall, experience unique changing exhibitions, hear about the latest scientific discoveries, and engage with Hawaiian cultural practitioners all at Bishop Museum’s After Hours events. This monthly evening event welcomes kamaʻāina and visitors to explore Hawaiʻi’s unique and unparalleled cultural and natural history. See Kalaniʻōpuʻu’s feather ʻahu ʻula (cape) and mahiole (helmet) in Hawaiian Hall; check out Hawaiʻi’s animal and plant biodiversity in the Science Adventure Center; explore the newest exhibitions in the Castle Memorial Building and J.M. Long Gallery; or spend your evening under Honolulu’s star-lit sky on the Great Lawn with food and drinks for sale by local vendors.
Kama‘āina Sundays (second Sundays of the month)
Kamaʻāina Sunday | 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
ʻIolani Palace welcomes all residents to Kamaʻāina Sunday when guests can explore the Palace, immerse themselves in Hawaiian culture, taste ‘ono food, support local vendors, enjoy lively entertainment, and more. The free event is held on the second Sunday of every month.
Self-led audio tours will be available for the first 500 attendees. A valid Hawaiʻi State ID, Hawaiʻi driver’s license, or proof of Hawaiʻi residency is required for each complimentary ticket. One complimentary ticket per Hawaiʻi resident. Kamaʻāina are encouraged to come early!
Kamaʻāina Sunday’s entertainment and workshops are supported by Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority through the Kūkulu Ola Program.
HoMA Nights - Every Friday Evening
Join us for HoMA Nights, every Friday until 9pm, to explore the galleries, stargaze in the courtyards, enjoy art experiences and music, and connect with the museum community.
HoMA Café and Coffee Bar
The HoMA Café and Coffee Bar are open for bar service with a selection of cocktails, beer, wine, non-alcoholic refreshments, dinner, and grab-and-go menu items.
Café: 5–8:30pm (Food served until 7:30pm)
Coffee Bar: 5–8pm
Music
Hear performances from some of Hawai‘i’s best musicians and DJs every Friday from 6-8pm.
Interactive art experiences and activities
From lawn games to scavenger hunts to art talks, guests will enjoy engaging and interactive art experiences and activities as part of HoMA Nights.
MOCA Call For Exhibitions - Honolulu Hale and Kapolei Hale
The Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts (MOCA) oversees civic exhibition spaces at Honolulu Hale and Kapolei Hale, providing a platform for local visual artists, nonprofit organizations, and schools to showcase their creative work. Through partnerships with community organizations, the program presents a rotating selection of exhibitions throughout the year, featuring a wide range of artwork and perspectives from across our diverse community. All exhibitions are free and open to the public.
Click below for details and application form.
First Friday at Downtown Art Center (every 1st Friday of the month)
Every First Friday evening of the month, DAC joins other creative organizations in the Chinatown Arts District with special art activities, performances, make & take crafting projects, exhibition opening receptions, artist meet & greets, and more!
Photo: IONA Contemporary Dance Theatre
Divine Disruption: The Art of Tsherin Sherpa
Acclaimed Nepalese artist Tsherin Sherpa boldly explores the complexities of some of the most pressing social issues of the 21st century, including migration and the ways in which traditional cultures respond to the challenges and opportunities of internationalization. He does this by recontextualizing tradition Himalayan Buddhist art with a new contemporary relevance.
This major solo exhibition includes more than twenty paintings, sculptures, and a carpet, some of which are well-known artworks that established Sherpa as a significant voice in the world of contemporary art, as well as new pieces on public view for the first time.
Bon Dances & Obon Festivals 2026 on Oahu
IT’S BON DANCE SEASON 2026 ON OAHU!
Click on the links below to learn more about individual Bon Dances and Festivals taking place on Oahu in 2025.
JUNE 6, 2026
Obon Dance Workshop presented by Hawaii State Library
JUNE 6, 2026
36th Annual Obon Celebration at Hawaii Plantation Village
JUNE 12, 2026
Bon Dance at Pan-Pacific Festival Hoolaulea
JUNE 12, 2026
Bon Dance at Wahiawa Hongwanji
JUNE 13, 2026
Bon Dance at Wahiawa Hongwanji
JUNE 20, 2026
Bon Dance at Ewa Hongwanji Mission
JUNE 26, 2026
Bon Dance at Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin
JUNE 27, 2026
Bon Dance at Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin
JULY 4, 2026
Bon Dance at Waipahu Hongwanji Buddhist Temple
JULY 4, 2026
13th Annual Moiliili Summer Fest & Bon Dance
JULY 10, 2026
Obon Bon Dance at Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist Church of Hawaii
Bon Dance at Haleiwa Shingon Mission
Bon Dance at Koboji Shingon Mission
Bon Dance at Higashi Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin
JULY 11, 2026
Obon Bon Dance at Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist Church of Hawaii
Bon Dance at Haleiwa Shingon Mission
Bon Dance at Koboji Shingon Mission
Bon Dance at Higashi Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin
Bon Dance at Windward Buddhist Temple
JULY 17, 2026
Bon Dance at Shinshu Kyokai Mission
Bon Dance at Wahiawa Ryusenji Soto Mission
Bon Dance at Haleiwa Jodo Mission
JULY 18, 2026
Bon Dance at Jikoen Hongwanji Buddhist Temple
Bon Dance at Wahiawa Ryusenji Soto Mission
Bon Dance at Shinshu Kyokai Mission
Bon Dance at Haleiwa Jodo Mission
JULY 24, 2026
JULY 25, 2026
JULY 31, 2026
Bon Dance at Waipahu Soto Zen Temple Taiyoji
AUGUST 1, 2026
Bon Dance at Waipahu Soto Zen Temple Taiyoji
AUGUST 7, 2026
Bon Dance at Waipahu Soto Mission of Aiea
AUGUST 8, 2026
Bon Dance at Waipahu Soto Mission of Aiea
SEPTEMBER 5, 2026
SEPTEMBER 12, 2026
4th Annual Megabon
More bon dance dates to come.
E Mālama i ke Kai: Hawaiʻi Sea Grant's Youth Ocean Art Exhibit
The University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program (Hawaiʻi Sea Grant) is proud to present its annual sci-art exhibit featuring youth ocean art. Running concurrently at three locations across Honolulu, this inspiring multi-venue gallery showcase highlights the creativity, deep cultural ties, and ecological understanding of local keiki (grades 3–12) expressing their unique relationships with the ocean.
The exhibition is a direct community extension of the "Symphony of the Hawaiʻi Seas". The Symphony began as a one-of-a-kind collaboration among cultural practitioners, marine science researchers, animators, educators, and composers who transformed stories based on observations and understanding of the ocean into a symphonic experience. Seeking to amplify the voices of the next generation, students across Oʻahu were invited to share their own voices, understandings, and visions for the future of Hawaiʻi’s ocean.
The resulting exhibition is centered entirely around the theme: "E mālama i ke kai, a mālama ke kai iā ʻoe" (Care for the ocean and the ocean will care for you). Through the eyes of Hawaiʻi’s youth, visitors will be reminded that our connection to the sea is not only ecological, but also cultural, emotional, and deeply personal.
Please visit seagrant.soest.hawaii.edu/symphony-of-hawaii-seas-art for more information.
First Friday at Capitol Modern (every 1st Friday of the month)
An evening of art and music at Capitol Modern: the Hawai'i State Art Museum! Free admission, all ages welcome. This event will feature the annual Producer Showcase with Slapp Good. Please note that the museum is closed during the day (Fourth of July state holiday observed) and will open at 5:00 p.m. for the First Friday event.
Island Pulse at Capitol Modern (Every 3rd Friday of the month)
Free, all-ages evening of island roots and reggae music. Museum galleries are open and the Art + Flea urban market will include local artists and food/beverage vendors.
Imagined Flora: Ralph Iwamoto’s Surrealist Beginnings
In Hawaiʻi, Ralph Iwamoto is well known for his later minimalist abstractions. This summer, the Honolulu Museum of Art presents a rare look at an earlier moment in his career, with seven paintings from 1955 on loan from the Vilcek Foundation.
These works reveal a brief but compelling engagement with Surrealism. During this period, Iwamoto worked in New York City at a shop that sold objects and flowers from Hawaiʻi. His paintings are replete with floral reminders of his native land, combining heliconia, orchids, and other plant forms with skeletal components, set against flat backgrounds reminiscent of Japanese prints. The hybrid creatures are similar to those found in Cuban artist Wifredo Lam’s The Jungle (1942–43).
Arts of Oceania Mini-Exhibit
Juried works of traditional and contemporary craft selected from across the state of Hawaiʻi.
Street Nihonga - The Art of Jimmy Tsutomu Mirikitani
Street Nihonga sheds light on Mirikitani’s creative practice, intertwining artmaking, life narration, and street activism through the largest assembly of his works to date. The exhibition unfolds through six thematic sections: Sidewalk Stories, Street Nihonga, Tule Lake Memory-Scape, Multiple Ground Zeros, Affinities and Connections, and Entangled Memories. Traveling across Sacramento, Hiroshima, Tule Lake, and New York—and fusing Japanese painting aesthetics with street materials in collaboration with passersby and neighbors—Mirikitani’s art invites us to engage with his extraordinary life stories beyond national divides, emphasizing artmaking’s power as a means of survival, political expression, and cross-cultural dialogue.
Address: Earth - ArtistBooks in a Suitcase, An International Traveling Exhibition
Address: Earth – ArtistBooks in a Suitcase is a global artistic exchange project organized by the Inspiration Art Group International, a New York–based collective dedicated to fostering cross-cultural collaboration and unity. It brings together fifty artists from around the world, each contributing a one-of-a-kind artist’s book, housed collectively in a single suitcase. The mobile exhibition travels across cities and countries, connecting diverse artistic voices while fostering meaningful local community engagement. The project explores pressing environmental and social challenges, encouraging dialogue, reflection, and awareness. Address: Earth - ArtistBooks in a Suitcase bridges cultures and perspectives through the shared language of art.
Honor Thy Mother and Father: Depictions of Filial Piety in Japan
In the gallery devoted to woodblock prints, explore illustrations of literary works that discuss the concept of filial piety—respectful behavior towards those in positions of authority, particularly one’s own parents.
On view are prints by Okumura Masanobu, Utagawa Hiroshige, and Utagawa Kuniyoshi illustrating The Twenty-four Paragons of Filial Piety (1730s), The Tale of the Soga Brothers (1644), and Kanadehon Chūshingura (The Treasury of Loyal Retainers), 1748.
MADE POSSIBLE BY THE ROBERT F. LANGE FOUNDATION
TOP BANNER
Okumura Masanobu (1686–1764). Twenty-Four Paragons of Filial Piety: Guo Ju. Japan, Edo period (1615–1868), early 1730s . Woodblock print; ink on paper with hand-coloring . Gift of James A. Michener, 1991 (21665) .
Vital Connections: Art & the Brain
Discover how experiencing and making art enhances well-being and brain function through a wide array of artists and media and the latest findings in neuroscience. Developed in collaboration with clinicians and neuroscientists at Honolulu’s Brain Health Applied Research Institute (B+HARI), Vital Connections: Art & the Brain unites the fields of art and neuroscience to offer an immersive, restorative space where you will learn what art is doing to your brain and body as you experience it.
Ocean of Peace Exhibition
Inspired by the historic 2025 declaration by Pacific Island leaders, Ocean of Peace anchors a vision of the future in the enduring harmony, cooperation, and ancestral wisdom of Pacific peoples. Pacific Island leaders declared the Blue Pacific Continent as an Ocean of Peace:
Recognising Pacific peoples as custodians of the Blue Pacific Continent, and recalling that peace is integral to the Pacific Way in guiding interactions within and beyond the region through dialogue, consensus, respect for national sovereignty, and cultural traditions;
Acknowledging the critical role of inclusive approaches to peace that recognise the unique contributions of Indigenous Peoples, local communities, civil society, faith-based organisations, the private sector, women and girls in all their diversity, persons with disabilities, youth, and other marginalised or vulnerable groups in building and sustaining peace and resolving conflict across our Blue Pacific Continent;
Positioning the Blue Pacific Ocean of Peace as a statement of our Pacific worldview, where peace, security and development are interconnected and mutually reinforcing, and where our priorities, including economic, social, cultural, environmental, and human wellbeing, are defined on our terms and advanced in alignment with our values, interests and aspirations.
Ocean of Peace features eleven contemporary artists whose visual storytelling spans carving, painting, drawing, photography, poetry, sculpture, weaving, and digital rendering. Exhibited alongside select treasures from the East-West Center Collection, these dynamic offerings bridge cultures and communities, inviting us all to look beyond geopolitical divisions and collectively realize a unified ocean of peace.
This collaborative exhibition is organized into thematic areas of Story, Restoring and Re-story-ing; Generations, Responsibility to Community; Renewal, Resilience, and Protection.
Featured artists: James C. Bamba, Carol Ann Carl, Manny Crisostomo, Gillian Dueñas, Kainoa Gruspe, Amber Khan, Marques Hanalei Marzan, Kalany Omengkar, Saumolia Puapuaga, Anthony Watson, and Lissette Yamase
Waimanalo Country Farms 2026 Fall Harvest Festival
Hours: Monday - Friday: 1pm-4pm | Saturday - Sunday: 9am-4pm
Come and enjoy the day at the farm! Take a breath of fresh air in our pumpkin patch, beautiful sunflower fields, and don’t forget to stop by our country market and grub stand for our famous fresh squeezed lemonade, farm honey, handmade gifts, our yummy cornbread and so much more! Feel free to walk around on the designated paths as well as throughout the fields and other photo op areas to snap your photos. (We ask that you are mindful of others around you and ask that you quickly take your photos and move on). Thank you for understanding. (Please note that there is a 9 1/2 foot vehicle height clearance.)
Fellow Travelers: Joseph E. Yoakum & Ray Yoshida
Born on Kauaʻi, Yoshida became one of the most influential artists and teachers in postwar Chicago. Yoakum, who was of African American and Native American descent, traveled widely with the circus after running away from home as a child. The self-described “hobo and stowaway” began drawing at the age of seventy and showed his vibrant, swelling landscapes in a Chicago storefront. These works, informed by memory, spirituality, and personal mythology, quickly drew the attention of key figures in the postwar Chicago art scene, including Yoshida, who became an important supporter of Yoakum’s work. Drawing from the Honolulu Museum of Art’s collection, this exhibition reunites works by both artists to explore their shared journey. Explore these two the artists’ shared connections, distinctive visions, and postwar Chicago art scene at HoMA.
Kupua by Hailiʻopua Baker
WRITTEN BY Hailiʻopua Baker
October 29 – November 29, 2026
Kupua presents two traditional stories: “Ka ʻEnuhe” and “Ka Puhi a me Ka Loli,” that explore the perilous allure of hidden appetites that masquerade as love or comfort while quietly consuming the life of the ʻohana. In each story, kupua embody forces that drain sustenance and vitality under cover of night, and it is only through vigilance and decisive action that balance is restored. Together, the plays suggest that survival depends on seeing clearly, confronting deception, and protecting the bonds of family and community from what would quietly devour them.
The Land Has Spoken – Tales of Indigenous Horror
Immerse yourself in a chilling radio-style drama with stories brought to life by an all Indigenous cast of seasoned theater/TV/Film actors, such as Laura Bowen, Kalani Queypo and Andrew Roa. Their haunting performances will be underscored by the spectral compositions of Chantil Dukart, T’simshian and Sugpiaq (Aluutiq) and eerie radio-style sound effects by Olympia sound designer Tuesday Mosshall.
Prepare to journey into the dark depth of Indigenous folklore with “The Land Has Spoken”. The only question that remains is… “Will you return?”
Who’s Bad: Thriller Nights - The Ultimate Michael Jackson Experience
A high-energy, live concert celebration of the music, movement, and spirit of Michael Jackson. Founded in 2003, Who’s Bad is the longest-running Michael Jackson tribute in the world, performing over 2,500 shows worldwide and captivating audiences across the U.S., Europe, Asia, and beyond.
Inspired by Michael’s legendary live tours, the show features a full live band, dynamic dancers, iconic choreography, and the unforgettable hits that defined generations — from Billie Jean and Smooth Criminal to Thriller and beyond. Fronted by the electrifying vocals and pinpoint dance of Taalib York, the performance delivers the energy, precision, and emotional connection fans expect from an MJ concert experience.
HSO presents Rachmaninoff and Copland
Dane Lam, conductor
Anthony McGill, clarinet
Salina Fisher - Kintsugi (Hawai’i Premiere)
Aaron Copland - Clarinet Concerto
Sergei Rachmaninoff - Symphony No. 2, Op. 27, E minor
Enter a world of lush melodies, radiant colors, and sweeping emotion as the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra presents an evening of musical beauty and discovery.
Artists of Hawaiʻi Biennial 2026
The state’s largest and longest-running all-media juried exhibition, designed to showcase the best of Hawaiʻi’s contemporary art.
Exhibition - David Takagi: A Retrospective of 60 Years
DAC is delighted to host "David Takagi: A Retrospective of 60 years," on view in the Courtyard Gallery November 6-14, 2026. Respected Oahu-born-and-raised photographer, financial and insurance professional, and longtime arts supporter David Takagi presents a selection of his photographs from the past 60 years, in this special exhibition.
Opening reception: 5-8 p.m. First Friday, November 6
First Friday at Capitol Modern
An evening of art and music at Capitol Modern: the Hawai'i State Art Museum! Free admission, all ages welcome. This event will feature the annual Producer Showcase with Slapp Good. Please note that the museum is closed during the day (Fourth of July state holiday observed) and will open at 5:00 p.m. for the First Friday event.
The Epic Tale of the Ramayana
A Hawaii Theatre production in partnership with the Still & Moving Meditation Fellowship + Still & Moving Community Center
For nearly two decades, Still & Moving has marked Diwali, the Indian festival of lights, with a living retelling the world's oldest epic: the Ramayana. What began as a small community gathering — a story shared among students and teachers — has grown into a full theatrical production, drawing dozens of performers ranging in age from 5 to 85. This year, for the first time, that story steps onto one of the most storied stages in the Pacific: the Hawaiʻi Theatre.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show Original Cast Spooktacular - Featuring Barry Bostwick
Join the original 'Brad Majors' - BARRY BOSTWICK - for a screening of the movie in a new 4k restoration with a live shadow cast and audience participation!
Plus a memorabilia display with artifacts and an actual costume from the movie, a costume contest, and more!
VIP Meet & Greet Available!
Honolulu Theatre for Youth presents According to Coyote
by John Kauffman, A Collaboration with Spokane Ensemble Theatre
Directed by Josephine Keefe
According to Coyote was created by the late HTY Artistic Director, John Kauffman, who performed this vibrant anthology of trickster tales worldwide. This production is directed by John’s niece and performed by indigenous actor Kellen Lewis, who is a member of the Nez Perce tribe. The production showcases some of the most popular characters in Native American mythology through traditional music, dance, and storytelling.
PUBLIC PERFORMANCE DATES
Sat Nov 7 @ 7pm
Sun Nov 15 @ 2pm
Sun Nov 22 @ 2pm
Imaginary Homelands: The Concert
In his essay, “Imaginary Homelands,” Salman Rushdie describes our remembrances of homelands as like a broken mirror, with some of its fragments lost forever. Revisiting the cultural past, he writes, is more about memory and forgetting than recreating precisely what once was. Visited by ancestors from their Asian heritage and guided by traditions from distant, imagined, but vivid and personally inspiring pasts, these artists live and work in the multicultural environment of Hawai‘i, sharing a common vision of how art can respond to the challenges and possibilities posed by our urgent need for a more inclusive and interdependent world.
In 2019, Yukie Shiroma invited Kenny Endo and Norman Kaneshiro on a journey to explore the intersections of Japanese taiko, Okinawan sanshin, Okinawan and modern dance to create new music and choreography to tell contemporary stories. Musicians Derek Fujio, Brandon Ing and Jesse Shiroma soon joined the ensemble, and the Imaginary Homelands Band was formed. Collaborating with Shiroma and eight dancers, their collaborations were presented at Palikū Theatre on February 2022, Leeward Theatre in April 2024, and UH Hilo Performing Arts Center in October 2024. Without the dancers this time, the musicians return to the stage to present selections from recent shows and some new solos.
The Art & Science of Longevity: Creativity and Healthy Aging
New studies have found a link between experiencing the arts and longevity. As part of programming for Vital Connections: Art & the Brain, the Queen's Medical Center neuro-specialists Dr. Kazuma Nakagawa, chief of neurology, and Dr. Brita Aramaki, chief of geriatrics, and Dr. Courtnee Nunokawa of B+HARI (Brain Health Applied Research Institute), specializing in neuro-rehab, plasticity, and lifestyle medicine, discuss the science behind why art is a critical tool to optimize brain health for longevity.
This talk examines how making art, experiencing it, and engaging with it can regularly strengthen the cognitive capacities most protective of long-term brain health: curiosity, emotional intelligence, creative thinking, empathy, and the ability to find meaning. Grounded in science and the realities of aging in Hawai‘i, this talk offers an honest, hopeful, and practical vision of the capabilities of the aging brain.
Godfrey
Godfrey is one of the hottest comedians on the circuit. Growing up in Chicago, he constantly got in trouble for misbehaving and being an all-‐around class clown. Godfrey’s Nigerian parents unknowingly encouraged his bad behavior by showing him classic comedy films from an early age. While performing impressions of his college football teammates, Godfrey realized his irreverent style of comedy might be more than just a hobby.
Peter Pan Goes Wrong
BY JONATHAN SAYER, HENRY LEWIS, AND HENRY SHIELDS
BRACE YOURSELVES FOR AN AWFULLY BIG ADVENTURE WHEN THE INEPT AND ACCIDENT-PRONE CORNLEY DRAMA SOCIETY SET OUT TO PRESENT J.M. BARRIE’S MUCH-LOVED CLASSIC TALE OF PETER PAN, THEIR MOST AUDACIOUS PRODUCTION TO DATE. FLYING? PYROTECHNICS? SHARP HOOKS? WHAT ENSUES IS TWO ACTS OF HILARIOUS DISASTER, BATTLING TECHNICAL HITCHES, FLYING MISHAPS AND CAST DISPUTES. BUT WILL THEY EVER MAKE IT TO NEVERLAND?
CONTAINS THE SAME POTENT BLEND OF HILARITY THAT FEATURES IN THEIR AWARD-WINNING THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG.
Lei Poʻo Workshop with Kumu Kuhi
Poʻo means "head" in Hawaiian, and a lei poʻo is a head lei or flower crown, often worn to celebrate special occasions such as weddings, graduations and hula performances.
Often made with ferns, flowers, and foliage, a lei poʻo can be made using various methods, including wili (wrapping) or haku (braiding), making all haku leis lei poʻo, but not all lei poʻo haku leis.
Your instructor, Kuhi Rowland of "Lei Poʻo Slay by Kuhi," grounds her teaching in aloha ʻāina (love for the land) and ʻike kūpuna (ancestral knowledge), guiding students to create, learn, and connect with Hawaiian culture.
Lucy Darling - Simply Darling
Award-winning performer Carisa Hendrix stars as charming socialite and cocktail enthusiast Lucy Darling as she continues her vivacious vagabond voyages with Simply Darling, a touring variety show featuring her razor-sharp wit, unquestionable advice, and skillful magic.
DAC Walking Tour: Art, History & Architecture in the HEART of Honolulu
Downtown Art Center (DAC) offers a unique way to experience the historical and artistic heritage of the HEART district of downtown Honolulu with this walking tour, led by Historian Gary R. Coover, author of "Pocket Walking Tour of Honolulu's Royal Mile,” and veteran artist and educator Susan Hogan.
Your guides will lead you on a lively 1.5 to 2-hour walk through streets layered with cultural, architectural and historical backstory. Pivotal events, locations and commemorative artworks will be pointed out and discussed. Don’t miss this chance to experience the artistic and historical heritage of Downtown Honolulu!
HEART is an acronym that stands for Heritage, Entertainment, Arts & Culture, Restaurants, and Theatre & Performing Arts. Together, these elements make up the core of the vibrant creative community that exists in the Bethel and Nuʻuanu Avenue district, between King Street and Beretania Avenue.
Moolelo Christmas Spectacular 2026
Specific dates and details to come.
WATCH A HEARTWARMING AND FUN CHRISTMAS MUSICAL
FEEL THE THRILL OF THE SNOW AND LIGHT SHOW
TAKE A FAMILY PHOTO WITH SANTA
WRITE A LETTER TO SANTA
ROAST S'MORES OVER COZY FIRE PITS
ENJOY LIVE MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT
WATCH A HOLIDAY MOVIE UNDER THE STARS
GRIND HOLIDAY TREATS AND 'ONO PLATES FEATURING YOUR FAVORITE LOCAL BUSINESS
Kaimuki Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting
Approximately 40 Kaimuki businesses, schools bands, and community groups participating this year.
Lighting of the Kaimuki Christmas tree on top Pu'u O Kaimuki (also known as Menehune Hill.
First Friday at Capitol Modern
An evening of art and music at Capitol Modern: the Hawai'i State Art Museum! Free admission, all ages welcome. This event will feature the annual Producer Showcase with Slapp Good. Please note that the museum is closed during the day (Fourth of July state holiday observed) and will open at 5:00 p.m. for the First Friday event.
DAC Walking Tour: Art, History & Architecture in the HEART of Honolulu
Downtown Art Center (DAC) offers a unique way to experience the historical and artistic heritage of the HEART district of downtown Honolulu with this walking tour, led by Historian Gary R. Coover, author of "Pocket Walking Tour of Honolulu's Royal Mile,” and veteran artist and educator Susan Hogan.
Your guides will lead you on a lively 1.5 to 2-hour walk through streets layered with cultural, architectural and historical backstory. Pivotal events, locations and commemorative artworks will be pointed out and discussed. Don’t miss this chance to experience the artistic and historical heritage of Downtown Honolulu!
HEART is an acronym that stands for Heritage, Entertainment, Arts & Culture, Restaurants, and Theatre & Performing Arts. Together, these elements make up the core of the vibrant creative community that exists in the Bethel and Nuʻuanu Avenue district, between King Street and Beretania Avenue.
Lei Poʻo Workshop with Kumu Kuhi
Poʻo means "head" in Hawaiian, and a lei poʻo is a head lei or flower crown, often worn to celebrate special occasions such as weddings, graduations and hula performances.
Often made with ferns, flowers, and foliage, a lei poʻo can be made using various methods, including wili (wrapping) or haku (braiding), making all haku leis lei poʻo, but not all lei poʻo haku leis.
Your instructor, Kuhi Rowland of "Lei Poʻo Slay by Kuhi," grounds her teaching in aloha ʻāina (love for the land) and ʻike kūpuna (ancestral knowledge), guiding students to create, learn, and connect with Hawaiian culture.
HSO presents Hapa Holiday Extravaganza
The Hapa Holiday Extravaganza is back — and it's the most wonderful night of the year. Maestro Dane Lam and the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra bring their signature energy to Blaisdell Concert Hall for an evening of timeless holiday classics, local flair, and pure festive joy. Bring your ʻohana and celebrate the season the Hawaiʻi way.
HSO presents Elf in Concert
Buddy was accidentally transported to the North Pole as a toddler and raised to adulthood among Santa’s elves. Unable to shake the feeling that he doesn’t fit in, the adult Buddy travels to New York, in full elf uniform, in search of his real father. This holiday season, relive this heartwarming holiday classic on a giant screen as every note of John Debney’s wonderful score is played live to picture in: Elf in Concert!
ELF and all related characters and elements © & ™ New Line Productions, Inc.
HSO presents Elf in Concert
Buddy was accidentally transported to the North Pole as a toddler and raised to adulthood among Santa’s elves. Unable to shake the feeling that he doesn’t fit in, the adult Buddy travels to New York, in full elf uniform, in search of his real father. This holiday season, relive this heartwarming holiday classic on a giant screen as every note of John Debney’s wonderful score is played live to picture in: Elf in Concert!
ELF and all related characters and elements © & ™ New Line Productions, Inc.
Honolulu Theatre for Youth presents Tales of the Sun & Moon
By Reiko Ho
No matter where or when you live, all people look at the same sun and the same moon and every culture has their own tale about the heavens. This epic steampunk adventure celebrates celestial myths and legends from Hawai‘i, China, and Korea, as well as astronomy and movement inspired by traditional Asian theatre forms. Returning to Tenney for a limited run before heading out on a national tour.
PUBLIC PERFORMANCE DATE
Sunday January 10, 2027 @ 2:00pm
All Buss Up in a HI State: A Trilogy of Hawaiʻi Plays
WRITTEN BY Hannah Ii-Epstein
January 21 - February 21, 2027
Hannah Ii-Epstein’s All Buss Up Trilogy reveals how personal choices are shaped by historical forces, and how cycles of loss can echo through families as powerfully as love. Yet even in their darkest moments, these stories insist on the resilience of ʻohana and the enduring connection to the ʻāina. Spanning generations, these three plays offer a lyrical and unflinching portrait of a community confronting colonization, commodification, and addiction — while searching for healing in the land, in memory, and in each other.
Purpose
BY BRANDEN JACOBS-JENKINS
THIS ELECTRIFYING PRODUCTION IS AN INTIMATE AND INTRIGUING
BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK AT THE INFLUENTIAL JASPER FAMILY. AND LIKE ALL FAMILIES, THERE ARE CRACKS BENEATH THE SURFACE. WHEN THE SON RETURNS HOME WITH AN UNINVITED FRIEND, THE FAMILY IS FORCED INTO A RECKONING WITH ITSELF, ITS FAITH, AND ITS LEGACY.
WINNER OF THE 2025 PULITZER PRIZE FOR DRAMA.
Honolulu Theatre for Youth presents Listen
by Jarren Amian and Mattea Mazzella
What is that?! Sound? Music? Come play and explore the grooves and sounds of Hawaiʻi in this original interactive experience created and performed by two of HTY’s resident composer-musicians and built specifically for our youngest audience members. Listening will never feel so fun!
PUBLIC PERFORMANCE DATES
Sat Jan 23 @ 10:30am
Sun Jan 31 @ 2pm
Sun Feb 7 @ 2pm
Honolulu Theatre for Youth presents Heart Strings
by Lee Cataluna
Set in the territorial days of old Hawaiʻi, two hānai sisters face a big storm, a clash of cultures, and the knots of sibling rivalry. The story is told through the use of hei, traditional Hawaiian string games. The sisters must untangle what it means to be family and learn about the kuleana that comes with loving someone.
PUBLIC PERFORMANCE DATES
Sat Feb 20 @ 7pm
Sun Feb 28 @ 2pm
Sun Mar 7 @ 2pm
Sun Mar 14 @ 2pm
The Producers A Mel Brooks Musical
BOOK BY MEL BROOKS AND THOMAS MEEHAN
MUSIC AND LYRICS BY MEL BROOKS
A DOWN-ON-HIS-LUCK BROADWAY PRODUCER AND HIS MILD-MANNERED ACCOUNTANT HATCH A SCHEME TO PRODUCE THE MOST NOTORIOUS FLOP IN HISTORY, BILKING THEIR BACKERS—“LITTLE OLD LADIES”—OUT OF MILLIONS. ONLY ONE THING GOES WRONG: THE SHOW IS A SMASH HIT! MAX BIALYSTOCK AND LEO BLOOM FECKLESSLY NAVIGATE FINDING A SHOW, HIRING A DIRECTOR, RAISING MONEY, AND FACING PRISON. WITH A TRULY HYSTERICAL BOOK BY MEL BROOKS AND THOMAS MEEHAN (ANNIE) AND MUSIC/LYRICS BY BROOKS, THE PRODUCERS SKEWERS BROADWAY TRADITIONS AS AN EQUAL-OPPORTUNITY OFFENDER!
Honolulu Theatre for Youth presents The Mālama Musical
by The HTY Ensemble
How do we build empathy and choose kindness for those around us? How can we support others and show gratitude for the support we receive? This new musical is inspired by episodes of HTY’s Emmy® award-winning television series, The HI WAY. Created over a three-year collaboration with leaders in violence prevention and homeless services, the show focuses on the small actions we can take to bring more aloha to our communities and connects to the “Choose Love” curriculum.
PUBLIC PERFORMANCE DATES
Sat Apr 17 @ 7pm
Sun Apr 25 @ 2pm
Sun May 2 @ 2pm
Sun May 9 @ 2pm
Folks You Meet in Longs
BY LEE CATALUNA
IN A COMMUNITY AS DIVERSE AS HAWAIIʻS, THERE IS ONE THING WE ALL SHARE: WE ALL GO TO LONGS. WE GO FOR OUR LIFE-AND-DEATH NEEDS, OUR EVERYDAY SUPPLIES, AND SOMETIMES, JUST TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE AND TALK TO SOMEONE. THIS PLAY INTRODUCES US TO A VARIETY OF RECOGNIZABLE, LOCAL CHARACTERS AND HAS BEEN A PERENNIAL FAVORITE FOR HAWAII AUDIENCES AND ACTORS ALIKE. IT HAS EVEN BEEN ASSIGNED READING IN COLLEGE COURSES. THIS UPDATED VERSION INCLUDES TRIBUTES TO OUR VERY OWN MANOA LONGS, RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER FROM THE THEATRE.
Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii
Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaiʻi is a ceremony conducted annually on Memorial Day at Ala Moana Beach in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi.
Candle-lit lanterns are set afloat on the water to carry our gratitude and prayers for all spirits and forms of life that have supported our existence since the beginning of time.
Lisa Matsumoto’s Once Upon One Kapakahi Time
AT KAIMUKI PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
MUSIC AND LYRICS BY ROSLYN CATRACCHIA
ADDITIONAL LYRICS BY LISA MATSUMOTO
ADDITIONAL MUSIC BY PAUL PALMORE
FEATURING SONGS FROM THE ONCE UPON ONE TIME TRILOGY
EXPERIENCE THE CRAZY LOCAL FAIRYTALE WORLD OF THE ENTIRE ONCE UPON ONE TIME TRILOGY! SET IN THE FOREST OF A MAGICAL FAIRYTALE KINGDOM, OUTRAGEOUS CHARACTERS MEET AND THE CRAZY “KAPAKAHI” (MIXED UP) ADVENTURE BEGINS! ENJOY NEW SURPRISES ALONG WITH THE MAGIC AND ALOHA OF THESE POPULAR MUSICALS ALL IN ONE SHOW. WITH BELOVED CHARACTERS AND STORY BY LISA MATSUMOTO, AND MUSIC AND LYRICS BY ROSLYN CATRACCHIA, THIS FEATURES THE BEST OF THE BEST OF THE TRILOGY AND PROMISES FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!
Shakespeare in Love - The Play
MĀNOA VALLEY THEATRE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HAWAII SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL
BASED ON THE SCREENPLAY BY MARC NORMAN AND TOM STOPPARD
ADAPTED FOR THE STAGE BY LEE HALL. MUSIC BY PADDY CUNNEEN
ORIGINALLY PRODUCED ON THE WEST END BY DISNEY THEATRICAL GROUP & SONIA FRIEDMAN PRODUCTIONS, DIRECTED BY DECLAN DONNELLAN, AND DESIGNED BY NICK ORMEROD
YOUNG WILL SHAKESPEARE HAS WRITER’S BLOCK. THE DEADLINE FOR HIS NEW PLAY IS FAST APPROACHING, BUT HE’S IN DESPERATE NEED OF INSPIRATION. THAT IS, UNTIL HE FINDS HIS MUSE... THE FEISTY, BRILLIANT AND BEAUTIFUL VIOLA. THIS CRAFTY YOUNG WOMAN, WILL’S GREATEST ADMIRER, WILL STOP AT NOTHING—INCLUDING BREAKING THE LAW—TO APPEAR IN HIS NEXT PLAY. AGAINST A BUSTLING BACKDROP OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY, RUTHLESS SCHEMING, AND BACKSTAGE THEATRICS, WILL’S LOVE FOR VIOLA BLOSSOMS, INSPIRING HIM TO WRITE HIS GREATEST ROMANTIC MASTERPIECE.
Paula Poundstone
Iconic comedian Paula Poundstone is known for her smart, observational humor and a spontaneous wit that has become the stuff of legend. She regularly plays theaters across the country, hosts a weekly comedy podcast, Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone, and is a regular panelist on NPR’s Wait, Wait… Don’t Tell Me. She also voiced the character ‘Forgetter Paula’ in the feature films Inside Out and Inside Out 2.
Felipe Esparaza - Laughter Will Save Us Comedy Tour
Comedian Felipe Esparza brings his signature storytelling, sharp observations, and hilarious take on everyday life to the Hawaii Theatre. Best known for winning NBC's Last Comic Standing, Felipe continues to entertain audiences nationwide with his unique style and unforgettable humor.
Chicken Skin Ghost Stories
Drawing from generations of oral tradition and decades spent collecting firsthand accounts, Lopaka Kapanui shares some of the most chilling legends and ghost stories that have become part of our islands’ folklore.
Whether you’re a lifelong believer or simply intrigued by a good tale, join us for an unforgettable night of storytelling that will stay with you long after the lights come up.
Lani Wahine
A morning of protocol, artist talks, and interactive workshops honoring the moʻolelo of Laniwahine— a shape-shifting water guardian, and her three servants who reside and sustain the sacred ʻUkoʻa and Loko Ea fishponds of Waialua.
Set within the remains of a 1930s pavilion, this installation features 48 sculptural works by Wahi Pana artists.
This event is free + open to the public. Registration is requested via QR code or link in bio by 9/2. Light refreshments will be provided.
HSO presents Lea Salonga in Concert
From Princess Jasmine to Miss Saigon, Tony Award-winning icon Lea Salonga joins the Hawai’i Symphony for an unforgettable night of Broadway favorites, Disney classics, and timeless hits brought to life by her luminous voice and symphonic splendor.
Our Okinawan ʻOhana Stories We Share fromHawaiʻi’s Uchinānchu Community
By Lee A. Tonouchi
Based on stories gathered by PlayBuilders Volunteers
Directed by Harry Wong III
Born from story circles and interviews with members of Hawaiʻi’s Okinawan community, Our Okinawan ʻOhana brings stories of family, immigration, culture, humor, resilience, and belonging to the stage.
Preview Show
Hawaii United Okinawan Ballroom
Sunday, September 27 at 4 pm (Free)
Paliku Theatre, Windward Community College
October 17, 2026 (6 p.m.)
October 18, 2026 (2 p.m. )
(Possible 3rd performance on Oct. 17 may be added at 2 pm)
HSO presents Lea Salonga in Concert
From Princess Jasmine to Miss Saigon, Tony Award-winning icon Lea Salonga joins the Hawai’i Symphony for an unforgettable night of Broadway favorites, Disney classics, and timeless hits brought to life by her luminous voice and symphonic splendor.
Our Okinawan ʻOhana Stories We Share fromHawaiʻi’s Uchinānchu Community
By Lee A. Tonouchi
Based on stories gathered by PlayBuilders Volunteers
Directed by Harry Wong III
Born from story circles and interviews with members of Hawaiʻi’s Okinawan community, Our Okinawan ʻOhana brings stories of family, immigration, culture, humor, resilience, and belonging to the stage.
Preview Show
Hawaii United Okinawan Ballroom
Sunday, September 27 at 4 pm (Free)
Paliku Theatre, Windward Community College
October 17, 2026 (6 p.m.)
October 18, 2026 (2 p.m. )
(Possible 3rd performance on Oct. 17 may be added at 2 pm)
Aloha Nuʻuanu - Celebrating 50 Years of A Day at Hānaiakamalama
As it celebrates 50 years of aloha, heritage, and community, Daughters of Hawaiʻi are honored to introduce Aloha Nuʻuanu as the new name of their beloved annual gathering at Hānaiakamalama (Queen Emma Summer Palace). Rooted in the spirit of Nuʻuanu, this inoa reflects a deeper pilina to this wahi pana- place of refuge, renewal, and aloha, and the shared kuleana to preserving its legacy for generations to come.
Join them for a day of mele, hula, hana noʻeau, ʻono food, local artisans, and meaningful connections as they hoʻi hou, returning once again to celebrate Queen Emma’s enduring legacy in the uplands of Nuʻuanu.
Save the date, and stay tuned as they share more exciting announcements in the weeks ahead.
Kelli O’hara
Kelli O'Hara has established herself as one of Broadway's greatest leading ladies. The Tony Award winner, Emmy, SAG, and Grammy-nominated actress has appeared in twelve Broadway shows for which she has garnered eight Tony Award nominations.
She won the 2015 Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical, along with Grammy, Drama League and Outer Critics nominations for her portrayal of Anna Leonowens in The King and I. O’Hara’s other Broadway credits include Kiss Me Kate, The Bridges of Madison County, Nice Work if You Can Get It, South Pacific, The Pajama Game, The Light in the Piazza, Sweet Smell of Success, Follies, Dracula, and Jekyll & Hyde.
HSO presents JoAnn Conducts Beethoven's Triple
HSO Conductor Emeritus JoAnn Falletta returns to conduct Beethoven's Triple Concerto. Pianist Lisa Nakamichi, HSO Concert Master Ignace Jang, and cellist Julian Schwarz unite in an alliance of virtuosity for a program that includes the turbulent First Symphony of Sibelius and the Hawaiʻi Premiere of American composer Randall Svane’s super-colliding Quantum Flight.
Island Pulse at Capitol Modern
Free, all-ages evening of island roots and reggae music. Museum galleries are open and the Art + Flea urban market will include local artists and food/beverage vendors.
Big Freedia’s Honolulu Pride Concert
The larger-than-life ambassador of New Orleans Bounce music, Big Freedia, is a nationally recognized hip-hop artist, TV personality and cultural influencer. Known by her fans as the "Queen Diva," Big Freedia is a loud and proud advocate for racial and gender equality and LGBTQ+ rights.
Geoff Tate’s Operation: mindcrime - the final chapter
ALL AGES WELCOME!
Multi-platinum selling, Grammy nominated singer/songwriter Geoff Tate is best known for his 30-plus years as the creative and driving force behind the progressive metal band Queensryche. Since its inception with Geoff at the helm, Queensryche has sold over 20 million albums worldwide and has performed in upwards of fifty countries. Geoff is regarded as one of the most skilled vocalists in the genre with hundreds of modern, popular artists citing him and his former band as a major influence. Combining social consciousness and expertly crafted lyrics with high-energy, melodically complex music, Queensryche with Geoff Tate at the forefront became internationally recognized as the thinking man's rock band. The band's first three albums -- their self-titled EP (1983), The Warning (1984) and Rage for Order (1986) -- all hit gold status selling over 500,000 units each.’
Brian Culbertson’s HIJG Hawaii Jazz Getaway
Brian Culbertson & Friends
Join award-winning jazz-fusion artist Brian Culbertson for two unforgettable nights at the Hawaii Theatre!
Friday, October 9, 2026: Brian Culbertson & Friends featuring David Benoit and Paul Taylor
Saturday, October 10, 2026: Brian Culbertson & Friends featuring Candy Dulfer and Keiko Matsui
Each evening showcases an all-star lineup of world-class musicians for a unique blend of smooth jazz, funk, and soulful grooves.
Mele Tūtū: Songs of our Grandparents
The Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives (HMH) invites the community to experience “Mele Tūtū: Songs of our Grandparents”, the next installment of HMH’s acclaimed Mele Program. “Mele Tūtū means to invite guests to look closely at the memories and songs of our grandparents or great-grandparents’ generation from the 1930s/1940s. Connection to our kūpuna, our elders, helps us to maintain the genealogies, histories, and mana of generations that we revere today. Expressed through mele (song), oli (chant), and hula (dance), Mele Tūtū embodies the enduring principle of Mālama Kūpuna: caring for our elders and those whose shoulders we all stand upon in our present-day lives.
In the 1930s and 1940s, during the time of our grandparents and great-grandparents, live music performances and radio broadcasts were important ways of sharing local music not only across the islands, but also to the Continental U.S. and further abroad. Radio shows like “Hawaiʻi Calls” and its descendant program in the 1970s and 1980s, “Territorial Airwaves” helped to broadcast Hawaiian music, mele, and culture to people otherwise unfamiliar with Hawaiʻi, its history, or its people. Orchestras playing hapahaole music, jazz, and other forms of popular Hawaiian music were instrumental in connecting people across the airwaves.
For many kamaʻāina, the mele and hula of the 1930s and 1940s are direct connections to their ancestors who danced hula, played in world-renowned touring Hawaiian bands, and kept the memory and music of previous generations alive in new contemporary ways for the time period. These mele and hula evoke memories of family musicians in the yard or on the lānai, at family gatherings, or times when kūpuna would share the knowledge and history of the family with the younger generations. It brings back memories of joy, happiness, fun, and genuine connection between family members.
Honolulu Theatre for Youth presents Joseph Kekuku and the Voice of the Steel Guitar
By Moses Goods in collaboration with Kealakai Center for Pacific Strings
Back for a limited run before heading out on a national tour! The multi-media production features live music, oli, and is based on the real life story of Joseph Kekuku. In 1889, Joseph, a student at Kamehameha Schools, fabricated a steel bar in the school’s machine shop, slid it across the strings of his guitar and created a new sound that would impact music across the globe.
PUBLIC PERFORMANCE DATE
Sat Oct 10 @ 4pm
DAC Walking Tour: Art, History & Architecture in the HEART of Honolulu
Downtown Art Center (DAC) offers a unique way to experience the historical and artistic heritage of the HEART district of downtown Honolulu with this walking tour, led by Historian Gary R. Coover, author of "Pocket Walking Tour of Honolulu's Royal Mile,” and veteran artist and educator Susan Hogan.
Your guides will lead you on a lively 1.5 to 2-hour walk through streets layered with cultural, architectural and historical backstory. Pivotal events, locations and commemorative artworks will be pointed out and discussed. Don’t miss this chance to experience the artistic and historical heritage of Downtown Honolulu!
HEART is an acronym that stands for Heritage, Entertainment, Arts & Culture, Restaurants, and Theatre & Performing Arts. Together, these elements make up the core of the vibrant creative community that exists in the Bethel and Nuʻuanu Avenue district, between King Street and Beretania Avenue.
Brian Culbertson’s HIJG Hawaii Jazz Getaway
Brian Culbertson & Friends
Join award-winning jazz-fusion artist Brian Culbertson for two unforgettable nights at the Hawaii Theatre!
Friday, October 9, 2026: Brian Culbertson & Friends featuring David Benoit and Paul Taylor
Saturday, October 10, 2026: Brian Culbertson & Friends featuring Candy Dulfer and Keiko Matsui
Each evening showcases an all-star lineup of world-class musicians for a unique blend of smooth jazz, funk, and soulful grooves.
A Taste of Ireland
Direct from Off-Broadway and London’s West End , the internationally acclaimed A Taste of Ireland Company brings its flagship production — ‘A Taste of Ireland — The Irish Music Dance Sensation’ to Hawaii for the first time. Laugh, cry, and jig into the night with production that is Celtic, for this generation.
Performed by former World Irish dance champions, and featuring dancers from Lord of the Dance, Riverdance, and the recent West End cast of Éireann, ‘A Taste of Ireland’ brings the spirit and energy of modern Ireland to life with a pint of Irish wit. Watch world-class performers blend melodic folk mash-ups, live jaw-dropping acapella tap battles, and heartfelt storytelling in a live celebration of Irish music and dance.
Honolulu Theatre for Youth presents Move
by Danica Rosengren, Reiko Ho and the HTY Ensemble
MOVE! is a celebration of our bodies and how they dance, squiggle, wiggle and giggle! How does the world around us affect our movement? How does our movement change our world? Join the creative team that brought you Line, Circle, Sphere and Under the Blue in an all new, interactive, creative adventure built for our littlest audience members.
Created in collaboration with Capitol Modern: The Hawai’i State Art Museum
PUBLIC PERFORMANCE DATES
Sat Oct 3 @ 10:30am
Sun Oct 11 @ 2pm
Sun Oct 25 @ 2pm
Lei Poʻo Workshop with Kumu Kuhi
Poʻo means "head" in Hawaiian, and a lei poʻo is a head lei or flower crown, often worn to celebrate special occasions such as weddings, graduations and hula performances.
Often made with ferns, flowers, and foliage, a lei poʻo can be made using various methods, including wili (wrapping) or haku (braiding), making all haku leis lei poʻo, but not all lei poʻo haku leis.
Your instructor, Kuhi Rowland of "Lei Poʻo Slay by Kuhi," grounds her teaching in aloha ʻāina (love for the land) and ʻike kūpuna (ancestral knowledge), guiding students to create, learn, and connect with Hawaiian culture.
Tightrope - Stories From the Brink
Join The Moth this fall for TIGHTROPE, an evening of extraordinary true stories about what happens when there's no clear path—only the courage to keep moving forward.
Stories of balancing without a net. Trusting your gut. Taking the leap before you know where you'll land. Of big gambles and near misses, quiet acts of bravery and glorious mistakes. Of sending the text, booking the flight, sharing the secret you've carried for years, and watching everything change.
The Mainstage tour is The Moth’s signature live show, featuring a carefully curated lineup of tellers—writers, artists, adventurers, community members, and unexpected voices—sharing true personal stories, told live and without notes.
First Friday at Capitol Modern
An evening of art and music at Capitol Modern: the Hawai'i State Art Museum! Free admission, all ages welcome. This event will feature the annual Producer Showcase with Slapp Good. Please note that the museum is closed during the day (Fourth of July state holiday observed) and will open at 5:00 p.m. for the First Friday event.
Opening Night - Hawaiʻi Watercolor Society: 2026 Open Exhibition - A First Friday Event!
Special Events
Free Demonstration by Frank Eber: Sunday, September 27, 2 PM at DAC
Opening Reception (First Friday): Friday, October 2, 5–8 PM
Closing Reception: Saturday, October 24, 4–6 PM
Juror: Frank Eber
Frank Eber is an award-winning painter and Signature Member of both the American Impressionist Society and the American Watercolor Society. He is also a juried Artist Member of the California Art Club. Born in Europe, Frank apprenticed with Italian master painter Renato Casaro and worked professionally as an illustrator in the 1980s and 1990s. His work in oil and water media reflects a loose, direct style influenced by Old World Masters and the Impressionists.
Hawaiʻi Watercolor Society: 2026 Open Exhibition :Flow & Fire: Imagination Flows When Fired by Inspiration!
Special Events
Free Demonstration by Frank Eber: Sunday, September 27, 2 PM at DAC
Opening Reception (First Friday): Friday, October 2, 5–8 PM
Closing Reception: Saturday, October 24, 4–6 PM
Juror: Frank Eber
Frank Eber is an award-winning painter and Signature Member of both the American Impressionist Society and the American Watercolor Society. He is also a juried Artist Member of the California Art Club. Born in Europe, Frank apprenticed with Italian master painter Renato Casaro and worked professionally as an illustrator in the 1980s and 1990s. His work in oil and water media reflects a loose, direct style influenced by Old World Masters and the Impressionists.
Our Okinawan ʻOhana Stories We Share fromHawaiʻi’s Uchinānchu Community - Preview Show
By Lee A. Tonouchi
Based on stories gathered by PlayBuilders Volunteers
Directed by Harry Wong III
Born from story circles and interviews with members of Hawaiʻi’s Okinawan community, Our Okinawan ʻOhana brings stories of family, immigration, culture, humor, resilience, and belonging to the stage.
Preview Show
Hawaii United Okinawan Ballroom
Sunday, September 27 at 4 pm (Free)
Paliku Theatre, Windward Community College
October 17, 2026 (6 p.m.)
October 18, 2026 (2 p.m. )
(Possible 3rd performance on Oct. 17 may be added at 2 pm)
Honouliuli - A History Awakened 80th Commemoration
A unique immersive theatrical experience bringing the history of the Honouliuli Internment Camp to life through a powerful fusion of dance, music, and poetry. The performance will illuminate the experiences, resilience, and humanity of those who were incarcerated — offering audiences an unforgettable and deeply moving journey into this important chapter of history.
Featuring, Jake Shimabukuro, Kenny Endo, Hawai’i Youth Symphony, Hui ʻIwa Academy, Jill Togawa’s Purple Moon Dance Project, Halla Huhm Korean Dance Studio, Will Espero and Sharon & Lauren Fujimoto-Johnson.
Hawaiʻi Watercolor Society presents Free Demo by Frank Eber
Frank grew up in Europe and apprenticed with the Italian master painter Renato Casaro in the ’90s. In the ’80s and ’90s, Frank worked as a professional illustrator for video cover sleeves.
He strives to create timeless art in both oil and water media, and works in a direct, loose style influenced by the Old World Masters and Impressionists. He lived for three years in the south of France and has painted on location in many countries around the world.
Frank is an award-winning artist and Signature Member of the American Impressionist Society (AIS) and the American Watercolor Society (AWS) in New York. He is a juried Artist member of the prestigious California Art Club. Frank conducts workshops and classes locally and at the national and international levels.
HSO presents Matt Catingub: From Samoa to Sinatra
The son of Mavis Rivers, “Polynesia's First Lady of Song,” and a proud Pacific Islander bestowed the Samoan chiefly title of La'auli, Matt Catingub has spent 50 years living at the intersection of two worlds. Saxophonist, pianist, vocalist, and award winning composer, he brings his landmark celebration to the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra. From the islands of Samoa to the stages of Carnegie Hall. From his mother's voice to Sinatra's legacy. 50 years in the making.