Kahilu Exhibits at Kahilu Theatre is proud to present He waʻa he moku. He moku he waʻa. a group exhibition featuring the artwork of 34 artists with strong ties to Hawaiʻi. This year’s exhibition was juried by Kahilu’s gallery director, Andy Behrle, who invited submissions from artists of all media and experience levels. All of the artwork selected was created since March 2020, and represents the vast spectrum of experiences the artists have faced in these trying times. He waʻa he moku. He moku he waʻa. opens with a public reception on Thursday, November 10 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. There is no admission fee, and all are invited to attend.

“He waʻa he moku. He moku he waʻa” is a traditional ʻōlelo noʻeau (proverb) that translates as, “A canoe is an island. An island is a canoe.” This speaks to the need of a community to get the best from its members, for everyone to do their part for the whole, and to use what is on hand to survive and thrive. Since March 2020, we have been on a collective journey, at times in isolation from one another. He waʻa he moku. He moku he waʻa. brings together seemingly disparate works of art created by artists with varying ties to Hawaiʻi so that we may view the past three years through each other's eyes.

Behrle explains: “It has been a difficult few years, and we have all processed them differently. Our time in isolation forced us to reevaluate everything and altered how we see the world, interact with each other, and create art. The work in this exhibition presents the creativity born from this difficult shared, yet separated, experience.”

While the majority of the selected artworks were created here on Hawaiʻi Island, some was created by artists living and working off-island. Artists on Oʻahu and Maui are represented, as well as artists currently in California, Chicago, New York, and Oregon.

The exhibiting artists:

Amber Aguirre (Kailua-Kona, HI)

Jill Backus (Kapaau, HI)

Christi Barrow (Keaau, HI)

Richard Bodien (Hawi, HI)

Rosie Connelly (Honolulu, HI)

Debby Dernberger Ryan (South San Francisco, CA)

Bob Danhieux Douglas (Hilo, HI)

Margaret Elliott (Haiku, HI)

Lynn Martin Graton (Waimea, HI)

Jennifer Haro (Chicago, IL)

Jani Hoberg (Lake Oswego, OR)
Ming Li Jiang (Honolulu, HI)

Kristen Jordan (Kapaau, HI)

Amy Justen (Lahaina, HI)

Marne Lucas (Portland, OR)

Kainoa Makua (Hilo, HI)

Nelson Makua (Hilo, HI)

Susan Mori (Kamuela, HI)

Patrick OKiersey (Honokaa, HI)

Rachel Orr (Pahoa, HI)

Ernest and Lois Rich (Keaau, HI)

Joseph Ruesing (Hilo, HI)

Georgia Sartoris (Honaunau, HI)

Michelle Schwengel-Regala (Mililani, HI)

Tom Hooper Seaman (New York, NY)

Vera Sprunt (Sandia Park, NM)

Irene Stawicki (Kealakekua, HI)

Lexi Strickland (Corvallis, OR)

Laurie Tompkins (Laupahoehoe, HI)
Jan Welda (Kailua, HI)

J. Jay West (Kamuela, HI)

Lawrence Yager (Laupahoehoe, HI)

Mia Zheng (Honolulu, HI)

The galleries are open and free to the public every Wednesday and Friday from 10am - 2pm, as well as for ticket holders before and after performances in the theatre, or by appointment.