Exhibits

November 12, 2026 – January 3, 2027

Nā Wahine O Paniolo:

Celebrating Women on Horseback

Join us for the Opening Reception of Nā Wahine O Paniolo in our Simperman and Suli T. Go Galleries on Thursday, November 12 from 5-7pm as we honor the contributions women have made to the preservation and perpetuation of paniolo culture.

Historical items will accompany contemporary works made by this generation of makers and artists. Special thanks to Paniolo Preservation Society, Parker Ranch, and Anna Ranch Heritage Center for loaning items from their collections. Participating artists include: Brynly Brown, Taira Barron Cran, Val Hanohano, Nancy Erger, Kapulei Flores, Kathy Long, Nicole Naone, Katherine Pomeroy, Arwen Potochney, Krista Skehan, and more…

…with a special tribute to Barbara Nobriga

Kahilu’s Simperman & Suli T. Go Galleries are Open:

-Before and After performances on Kahilu’s mainstage

–New Gallery Hours: Thursdays noon-4pm & Fridays 3-5pm

-By Appointment: call (808) 345-6690 or email gallery@kahilu.org

*appointments are encouraged! please reach out a day before your proposed visit*

Recent Exhibits

GALLERY HOURS: Thursdays 12-4pm / Fridays 3-5pm

& 2 hours before every performance on Kahilu’s mainstage!

or make an appointment by calling (808) 885-6868 or email gallery@kahilu.org

Galleries showcase patterned quilts on the walls, textile art pieces on mannequins, and framed photographs displayed on white walls with dark wood flooring.

Exhibit at Kahilu

Call for Art: 2027 Juried Art Exhibition

Kahilu Exhibits seeks artwork for our 2027 Juried Art Exhibition, Ephemeral Beauty. This exhibition will be on view January 14, 2027 through February 28, 2027 in Kahilu’s Simperman and Suli T. Go Galleries in Waimea, Hawaiʻi Island.

Guest Juror, Andrzej Kramarz (Gallery Director – East Hawaiʻi Cultural Center, Hilo), invites artists to submit artworks that investigate the quiet paradox at the heart of our relationship with flowers.

Deadline to Apply: December 7, 2026

For more information, visit: https://opportunities.wearecreativewest.org/opportunity/18176/CAFE

Each year, Kahilu solicits exhibition proposals through an online Call for Exhibition Proposals. In Spring 2027, we open a call seeking proposals for exhibitions in the second half of 2028.

Kahilu Exhibits is the visual arts program at Kahilu Theatre, featuring 10-12 exhibitions each year. The program is anchored by our annual community exhibitions including a Juried Art Exhibition (January – February), Hawaiʻi Island Luminaries Solo Exhibition Series (March-April), Waimea All Schools Art Exhibition (April-May), and an annual Cultural Heritage Exhibition.

Each year, Kahilu welcomes proposals from solo artists, artist groups, curators, cultural practitioners, and community organizations for exhibitions in our two galleries through callforentry.org. Kahilu’s Simperman Gallery and Suli T. Go Gallery offer different opportunities for large-scale artworks or more intimate exhibitions. Proposals can be made to use both galleries, or focus on one gallery in particular. As many as six proposals will be selected by Kahilu’s Exhibits Committee to fill open exhibition slots in 2027.

Kahilu’s Simperman Gallery is a large open space that features two 38 foot long exhibition walls that stretch 10 feet tall under a slanted wooden ceiling that begins 4 feet above the exhibition walls. It is tailor made for large wall mounted artworks, hanging installations, and large sculptures. This space is often used to showcase the artwork of established mid-career artists on Hawaiʻi Island and beyond.

The Suli T. Go Gallery offers a more intimate exhibition experience, with 6-7 walls of various sizes. This space has proved to be wonderful for smaller wall mounted artworks and experimental installations. Kahilu’s Exhibitions Committee has made it a point to consider first-time solo exhibitions for this gallery space, offering the expertise of our staff to help shape an emerging artists’ first solo exhibition.

Kahilu’s staff offers museum-quality support to artists and curators in the preparation of exhibition materials, designing layouts, and creating special displays to deliver the highest quality exhibitions possible.

Exhibits featuring all media are encouraged to apply, including, by not limited to: painting, drawing, photography, fibers, mixed media, sculpture, ceramics, video, sound art, installation, new media, fashion, and traditional crafts.

Join the Kahilu Exhibits mailing list to receive updates on what is happening in the galleries and to stay informed about our exhibition opportunities.

E Ola Ke Kahua O Ka Hana Kapa - The Foundation of Kapa Making Thrives

E Ola Ke Kahua o Ka Hana Kapa: The Foundation of Kapa Making Thrives November 14, 2024 - January 6, 2025 Simperman Gallery and Suli T. Go Gallery Curated by kumu kapa Roen Hufford, recipient of a 2023 National Heritage Fellowship from the National En...

Surrounded by Water – August 2023

Kahilu Exhibits was pleased to welcome back Hawaiʻi Handweavers’ Hui’s Biennial Juried Exhibition. Surrounded by Water is an international exhibition juried by Stacie Robinson, a Research Ecologist with NOAA’s Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program. Thi...

Legacies: Paniolo of Waimea – June 2023

It may seem as though the legacy of paniolo (cowboys) in Waimea is a lost or fading tradition- a vestige of a time now past. Many things have changed regarding life in Waimea over the years, but the legacy set forth by our ancestors and forebears con...

Peter Durst Ceramic Connections - March 2022

Peter Durst has been a potter, ceramicist, and sculptor for almost 50 years and has exhibited his work nationally in galleries, art centers, museums, private collections and public spaces. After receiving a BA from Allegheny College and a JD from NYU...

Patricia Uehara ...perceptions... June 2022

Kahilu Exhibits, at Kahilu Theatre, is proud to present a solo exhibition of recent works by local multimedia artist and photographer, PATRICIA UEHARA. Uehara’s exhibition, ...perceptions..., opens with a public reception on Thursday, June 23 from 5 ...

Bailey Ferguson Blue Mind - September 2022

Bailey Ferguson presents abstract paintings that explore her connection to the ocean in Blue Mind. Inspired by author Wallace J. Nichols’ book of the same title and her passion for surfing, Ferguson is a keen observer of the movement of water and its...

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.

New Gallery Hours: Thursdays noon-4pm & Fridays 3-5pm

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.

Latest Exhibits

Discover the latest exhibits at Kahilu, featuring a captivating array of visual art from talented local and global artists, sure to spark inspiration and ignite your imagination.