Hawaiʻi hosts hundreds of classical and contemporary art events that range from gallery crawls with vivid paintings, to DIY ceramic molding classes, to exhibitions of 300-year-old Hawaiian artifacts.
As the backdrop of Hollywood blockbusters like Jurassic Park, Pearl Harbor and The Descendants, the Islands also put together the annual Hawaiian International Film Festival (HIFF) in Honolulu.
As a visitor, you can be an appreciative observer or dive right in with nature photography tours, sketching classes at a local museum, or lei-making and traditional palm weaving tutorials at participating Aqua-Aston hotels.
Explore galleries in Kauaʻi during Hanapepe and Old Kapaʻa Town’s 1st Saturday art walks. Live bands and food trucks make for a festive evening while you discover artists old and new. More extensive painting collections are on display at the Honolulu Museum of Art (Oʻahu), Hawaiʻi Museum of Contemporary Art (Hawaiʻi Island), and Maui Arts and Culture Center (Maui).
Catch world premieres, short films, and homegrown emerging talent at the Hawaiʻi International Film Festival (Oʻahu), the Waimea Ocean Film Festival (Hawaiʻi Island), and classic films at the ʻOhana Film Festival (Kauaʻi).
Head to Downtown Honolulu to explore Capitol Modern, Hawaiʻi's State Art Museum, for a free, ever-changing collection of contemporary Hawaiian art and 3D sculpture. Bishop Museum is a revered place to experience historic artifacts alongside contemporary artistic expressions. See other great works of art at Na Aina Kai (Kauaʻi), the Volcano Art Center (Hawaiʻi Island), and Hui Noʻeau Visual Arts Center and Gallery (Maui).
Oʻahu is Hawaiʻi’s most popular art destination and rivals some mainland cities. The island is packed with unique galleries, free museum exhibitions, and marquee events like Art After Dark at the Honolulu Museum of Art and the Hawaiʻi International Film Festival. Be sure to visit the free Capitol Modern (Hawaiʻi State Art Museum) in the historic Capitol District, and don’t miss the Bishop Museum, a premier cultural institution showcasing the world’s largest collection of Hawaiian and Pacific treasures.
April is Art Month on Maui when jurors select the works of over 100 Maui-based visual artists, and visitors get the chance to browse the galleries and take home an original piece. Hui Noʻeau Visual Arts Center in Upcountry Makawao is worth a visit any time of year for its rotating exhibitions and beautiful historic estate grounds.
In Hawaiʻi, volcanos serve as artistic muses. Hawaiʻi Island’s Volcano Art Center is dedicated to traditional Hawaiian art forms and sculptures made with local raw materials, like volcanic lava. The Art Center regularly hosts live music and movie nights in the summer months.
Learn how to craft quilts and fishing nets at the Kauaʻi Museum in Līhuʻe. Afterwards, browse the gallery floors to see painting, beads, and other Hawaiian artifacts. Nearby, the sprawling Naʻāina Kai Botanical Gardens & Sculpture Park is home to over 200 bronze sculptures across 240 acres bringing the best of art and nature together.
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This is not an endorsement of or recommendation for any of the activities, events, or providers. Aqua-Aston Hospitality, LLC or its affiliates (collectively, “Aqua-Aston”) assumes no liability for the products or services furnished by the independent service providers who have no affiliation with the Aqua-Aston business. Additional fees and costs may apply. Activities and events are subject to change. Some activities or events may require the participant to be in good health and have a certain level of skill.