Aug 13 Wednesday
The Hawaii Watercolor Society (HWS) 2025 Open Exhibition consists of artwork created by artists using water-soluble media such as transparent watercolor, gouache, casein, acrylics, water-soluble crayons, and water-soluble pencils. Juror of the show, Gary Tucker, has selected 62 paintings representing 51 artists from the 128 works submitted for the exhibit. The Exhibition will occur from July 29 to August 23, Tuesday - Sunday, 11 AM - 5 PM at the Downtown Art Center (DAC, 1041 Nu’uanu Ave., 2nd Floor in Honolulu). A free demonstration by Gary Tucker is on Sunday, July 27, 2-4 PM at the DAC. Opening Reception is Friday August 1, 5-8 PM.
“Yokai Parade: Supernatural Monsters from Japan” is a world-traveling exhibition produced by the prestigious Tokyo-based Japan Foundation. The exhibit presents Japan’s fascinating yokai culture through Japanese scrolls, woodblock prints, toys and films curated by Koichi Yumoto, regarded as one of Japan’s foremost experts on the subject. “Yokai Parade” traces the transformation of these supernatural beings from fearsome monsters to less scary – even charming – figures through contemporary media arts.
This exhibit is a collaboration between the renowned Japan Foundation, the Consulate General of Japan in Honolulu, and the Hawaii Japanese Center in Hilo.
A fascination with yokai traveled from Japan to Hawaii along with the thousands of Japanese immigrants who traversed the Pacific Ocean to work as laborers on Hawaii’s sugarcane plantations in the 1800s to the early 1900s. Taking on a form and identity of their own in Hawaii, yokai are better known in the islands as “obake.”
The importance of legends, myths, ghosts, and the supernatural in general was shared by the many ethnic groups in Hawaii, from the indigenous Hawaiians to Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, Korean, Puerto Rican, Filipino and other immigrants who settled in the islands.
“Yokai Parade: Supernatural Monsters from Japan” will run from August 2 to August 30 at the Hawaii Japanese Center, 751 Kanoelehua Avenue in Hilo. Public viewing hours are Wednesday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, email info@hawaiijapanesecenter.com or call (808) 934-9611.
Aug 14 Thursday
Aug 15 Friday
Aug 16 Saturday
Street parking is available, but this may be difficult since the Mission is located in a residential neighborhood. No RSVP required.
Honouliuli National Historic Site recognizes and honors the women imprisoned at the camp during wartime. In honor of Women's History Month, we are partnering with Konko Mission of Wahiawa, a mission founded in 1940 by Reverend Haruko Takahashi, a Honouliuli incarceree. The Konko Mission of Wahiawa will reflect upon the history, vision, and legacy of Takahashi and explain the mission's significant connection to Honouliuli, give an overview of the spiritual practices conducted, and even have a hands-on experience to write a prayer of gratitude. Haruko Takahashi's life story will be shared and there will also be a showcase of her memorabilia and photos.
Aug 17 Sunday