Community Calendar

Create a fresh floral lei poʻo with Cee Cee Simmons. Learn traditional weaving and binding techniques in this hands-on workshop.

Learn how to create a fresh floral lei po'o with The Garden Club of Honolulu's own Cee Cee Simmons. Using fresh flowers, greenery, and natural materials, you will discover the techniques of weaving and binding this beautiful adornment. Whether celebrating a special occasion or simply embracing the beauty of Hawaiian culture, this workshop is a wonderful opportunity to connect with nature and creativity.

The Hawaii Sustainability Expo and Electric Home Show celebrates Earth Day 2026 at the Blaisdell center! Attendees can test drive up to 10 EVs without having to go dealer to dealer to dealer, ride e-bikes/skate/hoverboards, eat at the farm-to-expo food court, play cornhole at the all-electric tailgate and BBQ, see the latest in induction cookstoves technology, heat pump technology, solar portable power stations, and all sorts of other climate-friendly advances of the clean tech revolution.

Bestselling author Bill McKibben headlines an amazing lineup of speakers, panels, and workshops throughout the weekend and homeowners will have a chance to see all the greatest home improvement technologies available and meet qualified contractors who can help them get their home all-electric and solar powered.

April 4-30, 2026
Opening Reception Sunday, April 5, 2026, 6-8pm

We’re excited to present Stillness in Motion: An Exploration in Pinhole Photography, a group film photography exhibition curated by Jana Uyeda. Experience a collection of dreamy, imaginative images captured through long exposures—where time, light, and motion come together in beautifully unexpected ways. Come immerse yourself in this unique visual journey.

Photographers include:
Alex Yates @pinholista
Brendan Comey @thatdarkroomlife
Greg Malais @blobmatters
Jana Uyeda @jana_obscura
LisaMarie Brems
Monica Smith @monismithphotography
T E Schlemmer @the_schlem

A pinhole camera is a simple, lensless device that uses a tiny aperture—known as a pinhole—to create an image. Essentially, it’s a lightproof box with a small hole on one side. Light from a scene passes through this opening and projects an inverted image onto the opposite surface, a phenomenon known as the camera obscura effect. The size of the projected image depends on both the distance between the subject and the pinhole, and the distance between the pinhole and the surface where the image appears.

A Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day is observed on the last Sunday of April, every year.

Come see for yourself the Beauty of Pastel in an exhibit sponsored by Pastel Artists of Hawaii (PAH). The exhibit, open to all pastel artists statewide, will be juried by Terrilynn Dubreuil, She is an internationally recognized “Master Circle
Pastellist with IAPS (International Association of Pastel Societies), a juried Signature Member of the Pastel Society of America (PSA), Signature member of Pastel Society of Maine,” among others…

PAH is a Hawaii-wide group of artists who produce works using soft, sometimes known as dry, pastels. The pieces must consist of at least 80% soft pastel. Used for hundreds of years by the likes of Mary Cassatt, Edgar Degas, Pablo Picasso, and Pierre-August Renoir, soft pastels are nothing more than pigment (or color) held in a stick form by a minimum amount of binder, allowing the artists many ways of applying and manipulating the color.

Scenes from Hawaii tend to feature prominently in PAH paintings, but you can also see portraits, still life, and maybe even a few abstracts. Come see some views of the islands and more through the loving eyes of these local artists.

Painters and ceramicists collide in "Forms of Voids." Two local artists—painter Kloe Kang and ceramicist Suzanne Wolfe—explore the symbolic power of the bowl, bridging the gap between ethereal painting and tactile clay.

After first collaborating in 2007 at the Honolulu Academy of Arts (Linekona), Kang and Wolfe reunite for a shared investigation of one of humanity's most elemental objects. The exhibit uses the simple form of a "bowl" to explore complex themes of identity and physical reality.

In this renewed partnership, the artists transition from sharing a studio to sharing a conceptual anchor. Kang’s paintings function as "visual pronouns" exploring the ephemeral state of being, while Wolfe’s ceramic forms remain rooted in material reality, layered with intricate text and imagery. It is a compelling look at how local artists collaborate and evolve across different mediums over decades.

Learn the art of lei making at the Hawaii State Library on the 2nd Floor, Art, Music & Recreation Section.
We will be making tī leaf lei just in time for your next graduation celebration or family lūʻau.

All supplies will be provided, just bring yourself and/or a friend or family member.

Space is limited, reserve your space by calling (808)586-3520.

Anyone who requires an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication, or a modification of policies or procedures to participate in a program, service, or activity should contact library staff as soon as possible. Advance requests 48 hours or more before the event are encouraged, but not required. All programs are subject to change.

Balinese Wayang Listrik (giant shadow puppets in combination with live action and gamelan orchestra)
April 17-26, 2026
*Pre-Show Chats at 6:45pm before Saturday performances

Co-Directed by Kristin Pauka and I Madé Moja
Adapted from a traditional Balinese folktale by Ketut Wirtawan and Madé Moja

Panji and the Lost Princess is a large-scale Balinese shadow puppetry performance in the tradition of wayang listrik. The story is based on the Balinese interpretation of a traditional Javanese story, and adapted to the genre of wayang listrik by Balinese master artists I Ketut Wirtawan and I Madé Moja. The show is dynamically staged with giant shadow puppetry, actors, dancers, special lighting effects, and is accompanied by a live gamelan ensemble, led by master musician I Madé Widana. The style of the production, wayang listrik (Indonesian for “electric shadows”), is a recent development in Balinese shadow puppetry that emerged in the late 1990s. What distinguishes this art form from others is the inclusion of giant screens, paintings, complex lighting, 3-dimensional effects, and dancers, as well as actors behind the screen, wearing shadow masks carved in a similar manner as traditional kulit (“leather”) puppets. Moja has staged two previous wayang listrik productions at Kennedy Theatre: Subali-Sugriwa – Battle of the Monkey Kings and The Last King of Bali. We are thrilled that he will return this season to serve as the master designer and co-director of this production.

Friday, Apr. 17 at 7:30pm
Saturday, Apr. 18 at 7:30pm*
Friday, Apr. 24 at 7:30pm
Saturday, Apr. 25 at 7:30pm*
Sunday, Apr. 26 at 2:00pm
*pre-show chat 4/18 & 4/25 at 6:45pm

WeTouchGrass Presents: Anime Rave at The Republik as the Convention Afterparty on Saturday, April 25, 2026. This is an 18+ event.

The Hawaii Sustainability Expo and Electric Home Show celebrates Earth Day 2026 at the Blaisdell center! Attendees can test drive up to 10 EVs without having to go dealer to dealer to dealer, ride e-bikes/skate/hoverboards, eat at the farm-to-expo food court, play cornhole at the all-electric tailgate and BBQ, see the latest in induction cookstoves technology, heat pump technology, solar portable power stations, and all sorts of other climate-friendly advances of the clean tech revolution.

Bestselling author Bill McKibben headlines an amazing lineup of speakers, panels, and workshops throughout the weekend and homeowners will have a chance to see all the greatest home improvement technologies available and meet qualified contractors who can help them get their home all-electric and solar powered.

April 4-30, 2026
Opening Reception Sunday, April 5, 2026, 6-8pm

We’re excited to present Stillness in Motion: An Exploration in Pinhole Photography, a group film photography exhibition curated by Jana Uyeda. Experience a collection of dreamy, imaginative images captured through long exposures—where time, light, and motion come together in beautifully unexpected ways. Come immerse yourself in this unique visual journey.

Photographers include:
Alex Yates @pinholista
Brendan Comey @thatdarkroomlife
Greg Malais @blobmatters
Jana Uyeda @jana_obscura
LisaMarie Brems
Monica Smith @monismithphotography
T E Schlemmer @the_schlem

A pinhole camera is a simple, lensless device that uses a tiny aperture—known as a pinhole—to create an image. Essentially, it’s a lightproof box with a small hole on one side. Light from a scene passes through this opening and projects an inverted image onto the opposite surface, a phenomenon known as the camera obscura effect. The size of the projected image depends on both the distance between the subject and the pinhole, and the distance between the pinhole and the surface where the image appears.

A Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day is observed on the last Sunday of April, every year.