Protocol is performed prior to the opening of the exhibit to the public. Photo: T. Ilihia Gionson

Over 50 Hawaiian artists exhibit

By T. Ilihia Gionson / Ka Wai Ola Loa

Hundreds of art aficionados, curious passerby, and 'ohana of the artists inside streamed into the Big Island Native Hawaiian Art Exhibition as it opened on April 10. The exhibit in the Prince Kūhiō Plaza in Pana'ewa, Hilo, Hawai'i gathers the work of over 50 Native Hawaiian artists in media ranging from carving, featherwork, kapa, and lauhala to photography, paintings, sculpture and weaponry.

The event is about giving Native Hawaiian artists more exposure outside of the art world. The majority of the artists with work in the exhibit have never shown their work in public before. Several people familiar with the Hawaiian art community said that this was the largest exhibition of all Hawaiian artists yet.

"As a Hawaiian, when someone tells you that you do good work, you shrug it off. But we wouldn't do justice to our kūpuna without putting our work out there," said Lehua Waipā Ah Nee, a photographer and organizer of the exhibition. "Whatever the medium is, we're perpetuating what was given to us."

Art aficionados, curious passerby, friends and 'ohana packed the Big Island Native Hawaiian Art Exhibition on its opening day. Photo: T. Ilihia Gionson

The exhibition came out of a conversation just four months ago. Organizer Terri Napeahi, an artist from Keaukaha, heard from a gallery owner that in her gallery's 15 years, no Native Hawaiian artists had ever approached her about their art. This concerned Napeahi, who along with fellow artists and supporters from the Hawaiian community aligned efforts that culminated in PIHA, a grassroots organization dedicated to perpetuating indigenous Hawaiian arts.

Kim Shimabuku, manager of Prince Kūhiō Plaza, said that the exhibition is a total win-win for all involved. Shimabuku, herself a Native Hawaiian, heard about PIHA through an assistant who was looking for something unique to bring visitors to the mall during Merrie Monarch week. "It's become bigger than any of us thought it would be," she said. "It's a great way to support the Hawaiian community, and for the Plaza to give back," Shimabuku said of the shopping center located on Hawaiian Home Lands.

This is PIHA's first major endeavor, and with no budget and a lot of aloha, they pulled it off. The work was collected and the space was set up in only three days, thanks to the tireless work of the artists and organizers with lots of kōkua from friends and 'ohana.

Many people, visitors, artists and organizers alike, were moved to tears during the exhibition's opening. "The energy is amazing, coming together, staying up until 3 in the morning to make this happen," Waipā Ah Nee said.

"I said I wasn't going to cry," Napeahi said, "but how can I not cry beholding the talent of our people?"

After this exhibit closes, the space – which was most recently a Pictures Plus store – will house another exhibit on recycling by the public schools before becoming available to the community.

The Big Island Native Hawaiian Art Exhibition will be up until April 19.