Aug 05 Wednesday
Spam can harps, rice bag drums, tin can gongs, and other musical instruments made from repurposed rubbish are on display at Hamilton Library Bridge Gallery now through mid-August. All instruments were custom built by Benjamin Fairfield, author of the illustrated children's book Kani Ka 'Opala: How can garbage sing? Fairfield (lecturer at UH and Hawai'i Pacific University) was featured last October on the Conversation as a climate-action-artist-in-residence with the State Commission on Climate Change in 2025. Come view, play, and listen to an assortment of rubbish instruments. A great way to celebrate Earth Day and aloha 'aina.
Do You Love Sushi?
“I Love Sushi,” a traveling exhibition sponsored by the internationally renowned Japan Foundation, opens on June 27 at the Hawaii Japanese Center in Hilo.
The world-traveling exhibit pays recognition to sushi’s immense popularity all over the world, dating back to its introduction to Japan over 1,000 years ago. “I Love Sushi” artfully tells the story of sushi’s key transformations over time and offers visitors a look into how sushi evolved from its ancient origins into a global culinary phenomenon.
The exhibition is produced by the prestigious Japan Foundation headquartered in Tokyo. The exhibit’s showing in Hawaii is coordinated by the Consulate General of Japan in Honolulu in coordination with the Hawaii Japanese Center. The visually stunning presentation includes ukiyo-e paintings, woodblock prints, video installations, and scale models of realistically depicted seafood, reproductions of sushi, and even a replica of a Japanese sushi restaurant.
“I Love Sushi” also touches on broader aspects of Japanese history and culture, as sushi has undergone many transformations as it adapted to the environment, climate, and lifestyle of Japan. Nigirizushi, for example, a small mound of rice topped with raw fish or other ingredients originated about 200 years ago in Edo (Tokyo). Hawaii itself is of course no stranger to its own multiethnic traditions involving raw fish and rice.
“I Love Sushi” opens Saturday, June 27 and closes Saturday, August 22 at the Hawaii Japanese Center (HJC), located at 751 Kanoelehua Avenue. HJC is open Wednesday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Admission is free. For more information, email HJC at info@hawaiijapanesecenter.com or call (808) 934-9611.
Call for Artists: Hawaii Watercolor Society 2026 Open Exhibit, “Flow & Fire: Imagination Flows when Fired by Inspiration.”
Exhibition Dates: September 29 – October 24, 2026Location: Downtown Art Center (DAC), 2nd Floor Gallery, 1041 Nu’uanu Ave., Honolulu, HI 96817Gallery Hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.Eligible Art Media: Water-soluble media (including transparent watercolor, gouache, casein, acrylics, water-soluble crayons, and water-soluble pencils).Exhibition Juror: Frank Eber, an award-winning artist and Signature Member of the American Impressionist Society (AIS) and the American Watercolor Society (AWS) in New York, and a juried Artist Member of the California Art Club.
Aug 06 Thursday
Aug 07 Friday
Join us for the First Friday Opening of Hawaii’s Woodshow — an inspiring evening celebrating the beauty, craftsmanship, and innovation of Hawaii’s finest wood artists. Explore stunning works handcrafted from locally sourced woods, meet the makers behind the masterpieces, and experience an unforgettable night of art, culture, and community. From traditional techniques to contemporary designs, Hawaii’s Woodshow showcases the extraordinary talent rooted in the islands. Don’t miss this one-night celebration of creativity and aloha.