Exhibits

A Celebration of Artistic Expression and Creativity

Promotional graphic for Kahilu Exhibits featuring works by Emily Moores, "Undercurrent," and Tomiko Jones, "Hatsubon," on view June 7–July 27, 2025, with abstract and coastal imagery.

Emily Moores – Undercurrent      |     Tomiko Jones – Hatsubon
June 7 – July 27, 2025
Simperman & Suli T. Go Galleries
Kahilu presents two solo exhibitions by accomplished artists living outside of Hawaiʻi: Tomiko Jones and Emily Moores. Tomiko Jones’s Hatsubon will be on view in Kahilu’s Simperman Gallery, while Emily Moores’ installation, Undercurrent, will fill Kahilu’s Suli T. Go Gallery. 
 
Both exhibitions open with a free public reception on Saturday, June 7 from 5-7pm, and will remain on view through July 27.
 

 
Tomiko Jones is a multidisciplinary artist with roots here on Hawaiʻi Island. Hatsubon is an exhibition primarily of photographs that memorializes the Japanese ceremony of hatsubon, which marks the first anniversary of a loved one’s death and is traditionally held during the yearly ritual of Obon (or Bon), a Japanese Buddhist custom of honoring ancestors. The images in the exhibition delicately capture moments of grieving, healing, and saying goodbye through the ceremonies performed at three geographic sites of personal significance to the artist: along a river flowing through her father’s birthplace in Pennsylvania, the birthplace of her mother in Hawaiʻi (where her father is also buried), and California- the artist’s birthplace and the place where her parents met.

The daughter of former sugar can plantation workers in North Kohala, Tomiko Jones called the area home at various points in her early life- having attended elementary school here and returning in her early 20’s. Jones has been living in the diaspora throughout her adult life while earning her Master of Fine Arts degree in Photography at University of Arizona before taking positions in academia around the continental US. Jones is now an Associate Professor of Art at University of Wisconsin-Madison, and has recently showcased her artwork in a solo exhibition at Center for Visual Art (Denver, CO).
 


Emily Moores is an installation and multimedia artist who uses bright colors and dynamic textures to create large, immersive, abstract sculptures. Colorful and playful, each creation is carefully designed to transform the space it occupies and invite viewers to get lost in her manufactured world. For Undercurrent, Moores will be responding to the architecture of Kahilu’s Suli T. Go Gallery.

Moores explains, “By transforming physical surfaces into whimsical environments through colorful patterns, textures, and ornamentation, I seek to evoke a sense of wonder and curiosity in the audience. Drawing inspiration from everyday objects such as wallpaper, decorative china, and playgrounds, the installation offers a departure from the digital saturation of modern life, inviting viewers to engage with tactile sensations and visual stimuli.”

Moores lives and works in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her work has been featured in a dozen solo exhibitions since 2013, as well as numerous group exhibits at venues across the Midwest. This will be her first exhibition in Hawaiʻi.
 

 


Kahilu’s galleries are open on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM or by appointment. Appointments can be made by calling (808) 885-6868 or emailing the gallery. The galleries are also open before and after performances on Kahilu’s mainstage. Click to see What’

Kahilu Exhibits features thought-provoking solo and thematic group shows, highlighting both emerging and established visual artists from our local community and around the world. Our Exhibition Committee carefully curates each exhibit through a proposal and review process via CaFÉ (callforentry.org), ensuring a dynamic and engaging artistic experience for all visitors.

Committed to fostering creativity and growth, our educational outreach initiatives include school visits, artist talks, workshops, and publications that encourage the visual arts to be a catalyst for personal and community development. To stay informed about our calls for proposals and upcoming exhibitions, join our mailing list and connect with us at 808-885-6868 or gallery@kahilu.org.

For a unique and immersive experience, explore our virtual gallery and exhibition tours on Kahilu.TV, where you can appreciate the beauty of the arts from the comfort of your own home. Discover the captivating world of visual arts at Kahilu and let your imagination soar.

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