FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 10, 2025
Media contacts
Lesa Griffith
808-532-8712
lgriffith@honolulumuseum.org
Matt Serrao
808-532-8785
mserrao@honolulumuseum.org
OBSERVE HAWAIIAN HISTORY MONTH WITH ART AT HoMA
From royal portraits to bygone landscapes, art is a great way to connect with Hawaiian history; new digital self-guided tour available
HONOLULU, HAWAI‘I—This month marks the first official Hawaiian History Month, which Gov. Josh Green signed into law in June. The Honolulu Museum of Art is a great place to connect with the history of the islands through art—from an 18th-century ‘ahu ‘ula (feather cape) to Kanaka Maoli artist Kapulani Landgraf’s contemporary photographic collage “Ho‘opa‘a āpa‘a.”
On view in the Arts of Hawai‘i Gallery is “Reframing the Landscapes of Hawai‘i.” Visitors can discover the islands’ complex social, political, cultural and geographical layers through the framework of landscapes. Six new works have been added to the installation, including Charles Bartlett’s iconic print “Surf-Riders. Honolulu,” which features Duke Kahanamoku riding a wave with friends in Waikīkī.
Kamehameha III, 1825, oil on canvas
The Museum’s new digital guide available on the Bloomberg Connects app includes a self-guided tour of works that take visitors on a journey through Hawaiian history, highlighting people, places and issues, from Robert Dampier’s familiar portrait of a young Kamehameha III to Maori artist Brett Graham’s contemporary statement on Polynesian culture in his sculpture “snitch,” based on the animated Disney character Stitch. People can simply download the Bloomberg Connects app and follow the mapped out tour of 11 works.
"snitch," 2014, carved foam, tar, feathers
Also on view are three historic paintings on loan from Kamehameha Schools—a portrait of Governor of O‘ahu Boki and his wife Liliha, a portrait of Queen Kamāmalu, and Joseph Nāwahiʻs landscape of Hilo Bay, famou for its 2006 appearance on “Antiques Roadshow” after it was “discovered in an antique shop on Hawai‘i Island. This is a rare chance for the public to see these works, which are normally displayed at Kamehameha Schools’s Kapālama campus.
In addition, visitors can see modern Hawaiian history unfold in Franco Salmoiraghi: Photographs of Hawai‘i from the 70s, 80s, and 90s, which closes on Oct. 12.
Images available on request.
About the Honolulu Museum of Art
The Honolulu Museum of Art is Hawai‘i’s premier art institution, inspiring and uplifting the community through transformative art experiences. Founded in 1927 to reflect Hawai‘i’s multicultural makeup, today HoMA’s extraordinary collection of more than 55,000 works of art from across the globe spans 5,000 years.
Through its collection, innovative exhibitions, and programs, the museum is able to tell stories relevant to Hawai‘i and the world at large. It serves as a gathering place of learning and discovery, where visitors can encounter new ideas, explore diverse perspectives, develop empathy, and contribute to their well-being through art. Home to an art school, Honolulu’s last art house theater, two cafes, and a shop—just 10 minutes from Waikīkī—HoMA is a vital part of Hawai‘i’s cultural landscape committed to access for all.
Hours: Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday 10am–6pm; Friday 10am–9pm
Admission: Adults $25; residents $15; free for youth 18 and under; free for SNAP beneficiaries and college students enrolled at any Hawai‘i state university or college.
Honolulu Museum of Art
900 S Beretania St
Honolulu, HI 96814
Honolulu Museum of Art School
1111 Victoria St
Honolulu, HI 96814
Communications: 808-532-8712
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