Culture & Art

New Artist in Residence

Thursday, January 16th, 2025

New Artist in Residence

Molokai Arts Center News Release

The Molokai Arts Center welcomes Artist in Residence Connie Lee Lynch from Jan. 13-31. Connie is a mixed media and fiber artist currently living in Pearl City, Hawaii. She has had crochet designs and articles featured in both crochet and spinning magazine publications. Most recently, her work was included in the Fiber Hawaii 2024 Exhibit at the Downtown Art Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. Through her art, Connie invites both makers and viewers alike to become seekers of beauty and joy, exploring texture and line and color, taking pause to notice the simple pleasures of life in the everyday world all around us.…

Lonoikamakahiki

Thursday, January 16th, 2025

Lonoikamakahiki

Mo’oLono o Molokai News Release

Throughout time, our kupuna have marked the transition of Makahiki season with observations, ceremonies, competitions and festivities. Today, we continue to evolve and pull forward the most meaningful and appropriate traditions of the generations before us, while ensuring we remain relevant, inspiring and profoundly grounded as kanaka to honor our pilina to our kupuna, akua and Molokai.

In that spirit, the Mo’oLono of Molokai will once again commence a ka’ahele across the island, carrying the ki’i of Lonomakua from Halawa to Kaluako’i, and all are invited to join in.

Our goal is to recognize the abundance of blessings in our community, to honor the health of the land, ocean, air and water, to assess the needs that require political, social or physical interventions or remedies, to build aloha between people in our community, and to celebrate Molokai Nui a Hina.…

Molokai Artists Shine at Biennial Exhibition 

Thursday, January 16th, 2025

Molokai Artists Shine at Biennial Exhibition 

Four Molokai artists were selected for the prestigious 2024 Artists of Hawaii Biennial. The exhibition, which ran at the Downtown Art Center in Honolulu from Nov. 1 to Dec. 21, was a showcase of about 200 works chosen from over 2,000 submissions statewide. For Molokai, artists Arabella Ark, Kim Markham, Nena Evans and Patti Golebieski had work selected. 

 

The Molokai artists submitted various forms of art. From pottery tablets to earthenware to tapestries, these women channeled their talents and years of practice to create unique, stunning works. 

 

“It was a really great honor,” said Kim Markham, who had two pieces accepted into the exhibition.…

Nativity Festival Brings Arts Opportunities for Keiki

Thursday, December 12th, 2024

Nativity Festival Brings Arts Opportunities for Keiki

Molokai keiki got into the Christmas spirit on stage during a two-day Christmas Nativity Festival. It was put on by the Hokulani Children’s Theater of Molokai (CTOM), which was established almost two years ago and has continued to generate performing arts opportunities for Molokai kids. Last week, Hokulani CTOM teamed up with other Molokai artists for the inaugural festival.

Featuring a nativity play by the Hokulani CTOM actors, the festival also included performances by the CTOM choir, local singers, the Molokai Middle School Hawaiian Immersion students, and the Molokai Strings Quartet.

“We wanted to highlight all of the things that make Molokai special,” said Vicki Boswell, founder and director of Hokulani CTOM.…

La Ku’oko’a

Thursday, December 5th, 2024

La Ku’oko’a

Last week, Molokai residents had an opportunity to celebrate La Ku’oko’a, or Independence Day for the Kingdom of Hawaii. Honored annually on Nov. 28, the day marks the 1843 recognition of the Kingdom of Hawaii’s sovereignty by England and France, and the work of figures like Timoteo Haʻalilio, William Richards, and George Simpson. 

 

This year, residents celebrated at the Molokai Community Health Center on Nov. 29 with varieties of cultural demonstrations, live entertainment, silk screen printing and more. 

Earlier in the week, a program series dedicated towards Hawaiian history met outside the Molokai Public Library for an afternoon of oli, mele and education about this historic time period.…

Bennett Pottery Annual Open House

Thursday, November 21st, 2024

Bennett Pottery Annual Open House

Bennett Pottery News Release

Bennett Pottery will present its annual show and sale open house from Saturday,
Nov. 30 to Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at his Kala’e studio. The
show will feature finely crafted high-fired functional stoneware and porcelain. These items
are made for home and garden use, such as mugs, bowls, plates and platters, planters, salt
jars, soap dispensers, sponge holders, tea pots, and much more. The objects for sale are
durable for daily use, and are safe in the oven, dishwasher and microwave. You are
invited to come and discover a wide variety of unique quality ceramics found nowhere
else in Hawaii, right here on Molokai.…

Making Art Out of Your Own Backyard

Thursday, November 21st, 2024

Making Art Out of Your Own Backyard

Several Molokai artists put their talents to use teaching residents how to create artful arrangements out of the plants growing in their own backyards. Kala’e Tangonan, Scarlett Ritte and Mokihana Paleka led workshops at the Molokai Land Trust on Nov. 2 geared towards making fun, homemade gifts for the upcoming holidays.

Using koa, pohinahina, eucalyptus, ironwood pines and more, attendees were led through holiday designs, bouquets, and crafts like keychains. The two-hour workshop was accompanied by a plant giveaway from the Molokai Land Trust.…

National Arts Prize Winner Credits Molokai Roots 

Thursday, November 21st, 2024

National Arts Prize Winner Credits Molokai Roots 

One of the most prestigious awards for the arts, the Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize, was recently awarded to Vicky Holt Takamine of Oahu, for her work as a kumu hula and executive director of the PA’I Foundation. With the prize, which includes a cash amount of $450,000, Takamine joins the likes of Robert Redford, Bob Dylan, Spike Lee and more. 

 

While she lives and works over on Oahu, Holt Takamine explained that it was time spent on Molokai as a girl during which she was first exposed to many of the Hawaiian cultural arts she champions today. 

 

Holt Takamine’s family would spend their summers with the Place ‘ohana on Molokai’s east end.…

Prince Kuhio Play Brings History to Life 

Thursday, November 21st, 2024

Prince Kuhio Play Brings History to Life 

As part of the Hawaii Pono’i Coalition, a play honoring the late Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana’ole Pi’ikoi came to Molokai for a special performance at Kulana ‘Oiwi. In collaboration with the Ho’olehua Homesteaders Association, the play sought to educate audiences on the biography and character of one of Hawaii’s most famous leaders. 

 

Written by Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl and directed by Sammie Choy, the play covers the life of Prince Kuhio. Starting with his early years in Hawaii and adoption by his aunt and uncle Queen Kapi’olani and King Kalakaua, the play follows Kuhio’s journey throughout the turbulent years of the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii, subsequent rebellion, imprisonment, and eventual career as Hawaii’s delegate to the U.S.…

Play Honoring Prince Kuhio Coming to Molokai

Thursday, November 7th, 2024

Play Honoring Prince Kuhio Coming to Molokai

Hawaii Pono’i Coalition News Release

The Hawaii Ponoʻi Coalition proudly presents Ke Kaua o Ka Lahui: The Life of Prince
Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana‘ole Pi‘ikoi, a compelling living history play that captures the essence and
accomplishments of Prince Kuhio. Written by acclaimed playwright Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl and
directed by Sammie Choy, this moving production brings to life the impactful legacy of one of
Hawaii’s most significant leaders and cultural advocates. Originally debuted at ‘Iolani Palace in
September 2022 as part of Hawaiian History Month, this performance returns to deepen
connections to Kuhio’s enduring influence on Hawaiian identity, leadership, and civic
responsibility.
Ke Kaua o Ka Lahui traces the journey of Prince Kuhio from his early years as a young royal to
his lifelong dedication to Hawaii’s people.…