Submission window closes: Friday, October 15, at 6:00 PM (HST).

Artist notification: Monday, October 18

Accepted artwork drop off:

Donkey Mill Art Center, Friday, October 29 at 10:00 AM. 

Wailoa Center, Saturday, October 30 between 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM.

Residents of the Island of Hawai‘i are eligible to participate. All works must be original (no prints or giclèe), have been created in the last two years and must not have been previously shown in any other exhibition, gallery, or website. Artwork in any medium or combination of media is welcome.

Subject:

The main subject(s) of your piece(s) must be a species native to Hawai‘i Island (arrived naturally without the help of humans) either endemic or indigenous. All native species found from ridge to reef on Hawaiʻi Island are acceptable. Artwork highlighting non-native species, including Polynesian introductions, as well as native species found exclusively on other islands will not be accepted. Artwork made from endangered native species is strongly discouraged and will not be accepted.

If a native species is used as a medium in an art piece, we strongly suggest to consider the purpose of using the native species or consider if there is a possible alternative. Please consider the place from which the species will be gathered from - is there a healthy population from which to gather? We also encourage to request permission - from the land owner and species itself. And, in picking be sure not to introduce invasive species into the area, only to take what is needed, minimize damage to surrounding species, and show gratitude. If you have questions about whether your subject fits these parameters, please email Hawaii.Nei.Art@gmail.com.

The exhibition opens: Friday, Nov. 5

Open House: Friday, Nov. 5 from 1:00pm-6:00pm

The exhibition closes: Thursday Dec. 16 

Artists must pick-up work: 

Wailoa Center Friday, Dec. 17, between 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Donkey Mill Art Center Friday, Dec. 17, at 10:00 AM 

Note: Maximum of five entries per artist, with $15 non-refundable entry fee for each submittal. 

Prizes: Monetary prizes will be awarded.

Sales: All selected adult entries are required to be for sale; youth entries are not. If artwork is sold during the exhibition, 60% goes to the artist and 40% will go to the Hawai‘i Island Art Alliance and the Three Mountain Alliance Foundation, which will help support fine arts in the community as well as native species protection and environmental education. Minimum sale price for artwork is $20. Artists may also donate their portion of the sale as a tax-deductible gift.

Adult Division Jurors: 

Marilyn Nicholson

Marilyn Nicholson is a weaver and fiber artist from Volcano. Her past work experience includes working for the Bishop Museum, overseeing its arts and crafts programs, and working for the Hawai'i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. She was Executive Director of the Sedona Arts Center in Sedona, Arizona, and long-time Executive Director of the Volcano Art Center. For the past 12 years she has volunteered in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, removing invasive plants in the Park's Special Ecological Areas. She has spent her pandemic time somewhat fruitlessly teaching herself how to cook and master a second language. 

Sierra McDaniel 

Sierra McDaniel is a part of the Natural Resources Program at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. After graduating from UH Hilo, Sierra started a two-month position evaluating fire effects at the Park. Nearly 20 years later she serves as a Botanist leading a team focusing on forest restoration following cattle grazing, rare and endangered plant recovery and post fire rehabilitation. She holds a bachelor's degree in Biology and Master of Science in Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science. She is also a learner in Hālau ʻŌhiʻa under Kekuhi Kealiʻikanakaʻoleohaililani and member of Hālau Ulu Lehua I ʻŌlaʻa. 

Brandy Serikaku

Brandy-Alia Serikaku was born in Waikīkī, Oʻahualua and moved to Kaiwiki, Moku o Keawe when she was four years old. She began dancing hula under the direction of Kumu hula Johnny Lum Ho with Hālau O Ka Ua Kani Lehua, which turned into a lifelong commitment with over 31 years of experience, cultural exchanges between Hawaiʻi and Iāpana, and personal insight on the creative compositions and choreographic style of Johnny Lum Ho. Her love of the Hawaiian language is rooted in mele Hawaiʻi which led to her B.A. in Hawaiian Language at Ka Haka ʻUla o Keʻelikōlani, 2007. During this time she was also refining her art style with art history classes and studio classes also at UHH. Art has always been a natural talent and passion for her. With over ten years of pursuing a Master’s degree in Hawaiian Language and Literature, her artistic career had taken off, and she left the program in 2019. At Sig Zane Designs, she was the design department art director from 2014-2020, starting in 2005 as a sales concierge and moving up to a graphic designer a year later. She has helped curate and create clothing collections, collaborations, and create award-winning marketing campaigns. She has also created designs for brands like Salt Liko Hawaiʻi, ʻOluKai, and a muralist for shops like Louis Vuitton Waikīkī, HanaHou, Palikū Surf, Pacific Tsunami Museum and The Hilo Seaside Hotel. Her works are Hawaiian expressions of art connecting time and space, reframing and reclaiming our Hawaiian environment. She is a mother of three keiki kaiapuni, dedicated to raising mana wahine who can perpetuate, preserve and protect the beauty of our home.

Application Requirements

Application Requirements:

The main subject(s) of your piece(s) must be a species native to Hawai‘i Island which can include both indigenous (naturally occurs in other places) and endemic (specific to one place) species. Native species found exclusively ONLY on other islands will not be accepted. All species found from ridge to reef on the island are acceptable. Artwork highlighting non-native species, including Polynesian introductions, will not be accepted.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility:

Only residents of the Island of Hawai‘i (Big Island) are eligible to participate. All works must be original (no prints or giclèe), have been created in the last two years and must not have been previously shown in any other exhibition, gallery, or website. Artwork in any medium or combination of media is welcome.