5 Reasons to Visit Capitol Modern in March

Photo: Courtesy of Aly Ishikuni

63rd Annual Hawai‘i Regional Scholastic Student Art Awards

On view til March 21, second floor, Lē‘ahi Gallery

This highly anticipated exhibition features more than 160 works of art and is the largest art competition in the state for students grades 7–12. The winners were selected from more than 2,500 entries in 16 different categories in a wide variety of mediums, ranging from drawing and painting to digital collage and installation art. The Gold Key awarded artworks on display were carefully chosen by a panel of judges invited from the local art community.

“This year’s competition marks our first private-public partnership with Lexus Hawai‘i, who has generously donated 20 $200 scholarships as part of their Takumi Awards,” says Kamakani Konia, Program Director of Capitol Modern and Art in Public Places. The awards are named after Japanese master artisans who perfect their craft through dedication, patience and attention to detail.

Konia adds, “Lexus Hawai‘i will also award two $4,000 scholarship awards to deserving students as well as a $4,000 grant to their schools’ art programs.” See all of the extraordinary creativity from the next generation of Hawai‘i artists in this exhibition.

SEE ALSO: Things to Do on O‘ahu in March 2026

Photos: Lisa Shiroma

Woven in the Wind: A Community Celebration of Manu-o-Kū

On view til April 4, ground floor

On the ground floor in the glass cases adjacent to the Mori gift shop is the first-ever group exhibition themed around the native seabird manu-o-kū (white tern). Named the official bird of the City and County of Honolulu in 2007 by Mayor Mufi Hannemann, manu-o-kū thrive in our city as their population continues to grow. Presented in partnership with Hui Manu-o-Kū, this exhibit features works by local artists and elementary school students inspired by these precious seabirds.

Photo: Courtesy of the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts

Schaefer Portrait Challenge

On view til July 4, second floor, ‘Ewa Gallery

Held by the esteemed Maui Arts and Cultural Center as a triennial since 2003, this statewide juried exhibition is now on loan to experience at Capitol Modern. With its goal of “encouraging Hawai‘i artists to present the people of their island communities through explorations in portraiture,” it requires that the portrait subject must be a person living in Hawai‘i and has a direct relationship with the artist. The result is a beautiful assemblage of portraits capturing honest and vulnerable human moments.

Photo: Courtesy of the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts

Contemporary Portraiture

On view til July 4, second floor, ‘Ewa Gallery

Alongside the Schaefer Portrait Challenge is a selection of captivating portraits from the Art in Public Places (APP) collection that complements the adjoining gallery space. Discover the fascinating stories behind each of these enigmatic portraits.

Photo: Courtesy of the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts

Trifecta

On view til July 4, second floor, Lē‘ahi Gallery

This exhibition brings together the unique voices of 21 curators invited from the Hawai‘i art community. After searching through the massive Art in Public Places collection of the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, each curator was tasked to select three for viewers to engage with. Learn more about the curators’ diverse points of view and thought processes behind the artworks they have chosen to share with you.

Free admission, open Wednesday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed Sunday to Tuesday and state holidays, Capitol Modern, 250 S. Hotel St., capitolmodern.org, @capitolmodern

Lisa Shiroma is a correspondent for Capitol Modern and an artist. She is the former owner of the Capitol Modern Museum Gallery Shop, which she ran with partners Aly Ishikuni and Travis Sasaki from Mori by Art + Flea.