Call Description

The 2025 Trash Show: Hawaiʻi Island Recycles 

Jurors: Ira Ono & Ashley Lehualani Kierkiewicz
 

Hawaiʻi Island artists are invited to disrupt the refuse cycle and make art from trash. All artworks must be made from post-consumer recycled materials, discards, throwaways, accrual, etc.

Large 3-D pieces can be accommodated and are encouraged. Artists must be available for installation of large or difficult works. 

Sponsored by Hawaiʻi Island Art Alliance (HIAA) and the Hawai’i State Parks.

First entry free for Hawaii Island Students.

Important Dates

Exhibition Dates: October 3 - 30, 2025 at Wailoa Center

Submission deadline: Friday, September 12, at 5:00 PM HST.
 

Artist notification: Monday, September 15
 

Accepted Artwork Drop-off:

• Hilo - Wailoa Center:  Saturday, September 27 between 10:00am - 1:00pm.
   
• Kona - Kona Frame Shop Parking Lot*: Friday, September 26, at 10:00am. Artworks must be less than 40" x 40", with packaging, to be eligible to be dropped off in Kona . 

The exhibition opens: Friday, October 3
Opening Reception: Friday, October 3, 5:00 - 7:00 pm.
The exhibition closes: Thursday, October 30
 

Artwork Pick-up:

• Hilo - Wailoa Center : Friday, October 31, between 10:00am - 1:00pm.
• Kona - Kona Frame Shop Parking Lot*: Friday, October 31, 10:00am

*Kona pick-ups and drop-offs are in parking lot outside of Kona Frame Shop (73-5619 Kauhola St.) DO NOT contact the folks at Kona Frame Shop to make arrangements. Please contact Wailoa Center. More info upon acceptance to the exhibit. 
 

Submitting Artwork

To enter participants must have or create a Café account. All images to be uploaded to their portfolio in Café. The maximum file size that will be accepted is 5 MB. For this call we highly recommend submitting high quality images with the longest edge at 1200 pixels, sRGB, jpeg.

To better showcase your 3D works, you can:

1. Submit a collage of multiple photographs of your artwork. This will allow the juror to see the work from all angles.
2. Submit a short video of the artwork. Take a video of artwork as you walk around the piece or from a variety of angles. (Please note in the video description that the video is not the submission, but the 3D object is.)

Need help? Check out these helpful vidoes from CaFE:

Image Requirements: https://www.callforentry.org/artist-help-cafe/uploading-media/

Preparing Images for Download: https://www.callforentry.org/preparing-your-image-files-for-upload/

Photographing your work: https://www.callforentry.org/photographing-artwork/

When completing portfolio on CAFE, a bio and artist statement is highly recommended, 200 word limit. They will be included in the exhibit documentation.

Still need help? Contact Wailoa Center for more information CAFE Help Days, (808) 933-0416.

Entry Fees: 

$20 non-refundable entry fee per each submission. Maximum of five entries per artist. All images or videos must be submitted digitally and will be judged by jurors based upon files submitted.

Hawaii Island Student Discount. To encourage more local students to participate in the shows at Wailoa, HIAA offers a free first entry student discount for all HIAA-sponsored calls. This discount is available to all full time Hawaii Island students grade school through college, and can be redeemed using code 'HIStudent'. We hope this initiative will increase student participation in the shows.
 

Acceptance:

Artists will be notified by Monday September 15, 2025 . Please make sure your CAFE account is updated with your current contact information to ensure you are receiving communication from Wailoa Center or HIAA. 

Sales:

For any work sold, 75% of sales goes to the artist and 25% goes to HIAA for support of artists, art opportunities and exhibitions at Wailoa Center. 
 

Juror Information: 

Ira Ono & Ashley Lehualani Kierkiewicz
 

Bios and Juror Statements coming soon!

Prizes: 

Monetary prizes will be awarded.

Disclaimer: All entries will be handled with utmost care. The Wailoa Center and HIAA will not be held responsible for damage, theft or loss of work submitted or exhibited. Artists are encouraged to insure their works for duration of exhibit. Submission of artwork implies acceptance of all conditions.

All artwork is displayed at the discretion of the Gallery Committee and decisions are final.

About Wailoa Center:

Located in Piʻopiʻo and the Wailoa River State Recreation Area, Wailoa Center is Hawai’i Island’s largest venue for showcasing the work of local and international artists. With exhibits that change monthly, the two galleries within Wailoa Center offer opportunities that provide inspiration and exposure to artists and community members alike. The Wailoa Center is free and open to the public.
 

About Hawaiʻi Island Art Alliance: 

Founded in 2015, Hawai`i Island Art Alliance (HIAA) is a non-profit organization supporting and inspiring art and culture in our community. HIAA is a completely volunteer-driven, whose current Mission is to concentrate on the support and production of a variety of happenings at the Wailoa Center. 

HIAA sponsors juried and non-juried exhibits, educational and cultural programming at Wailoa Center throughout the year.  Through itʻs contributions at Wailoa Center, HIAA hopes to positively impact the art and cultural community on Hawaiʻi Island. 

Please click the "Legal Terms" button below to read all rules for entry.

Application Requirements

• Completed Portfolio on CAFE with 1 - 5 artwork samples.
• Submission fee: $20 per entry (non-refundable).
• Artist Biography and Statement.

Eligibility Criteria

• Open to Hawaii Island residents.
• All artworks must be made from post-consumer recycled materials, discards, throwaways, accrual, etc.
• For large artworks (i.e. 2D works larger than 7’ tall x 9’ wide’ or 3D works taller than 10' or wider 6' feet) please contact Wailoa Center to discuss if artwork can be accommodated in the the space.
• Artwork must have been created in the past four years.
• Artwork can NOT have been previously exhibited at Wailoa Center.
• This exhibit will be displayed in a State Parks facility, thus artwork with sensitive subject matter (i.e. nudity, offensive religious or political statements, and or violence) may be juried out.
• If accepted, all work MUST be gallery quality installation ready to hang or be easily installed.
• If you have any questions regarding you or your artwork's eligibility, please contact Wailoa Center at (808) 933-0416 or dlnr.sp.wailoacenter@hawaii.gov