By Kayla Lee

Copyright hoodline

Honolulu is about to get a little more colorful and a lot more climate-conscious with the opening of the “Kaiāulu: Rising Together” exhibit at the Hawaiʻi State Art Museum. The Hawaii State Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission is rolling out the green carpet for this event, which starts on the first Saturday of October. The exhibit is not just a pretty space; it’s a platform for four local artists who have something to say, loudly and clearly, about the state’s climate issues.

According to the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, from October 3 to 31, 2025, visitors can immerse themselves in original artworks that aim to fully engage and creatively educate on Climate Action Pathways in Hawai‘i. The opening event, set for October 4 from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m., includes a chance to meet and to question the masterminds behind the canvases. Brace yourselves for a healthy dose of cultural strategy mixed with climate-neutral aspirations, all wrapped in the vibrant hues of Hawaiian storytelling.

The featured artists – Gillian Dueñas, Benjamin Fairfield, Keisha Tanaka, and Erin Voss – were handpicked for the prestigious Climate Artist in Residence program, a collaboration between the State Commission, Capitol Modern: the Hawaiʻi State Art Museum, and the University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program. The significance? Each artist brings a unique lens to the climate conversation, all while keeping the dialogue as local and personal as the islands themselves.

Art, of course, is meant to be accessible, which is why the exhibit will also swing its doors open for the free, all-ages First Friday event on October 3, from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. It’s a chance for all to come and to see first-hand the intersection of creativity and sustainability. For more details or a digital deep dive into the “Kaiāulu: Rising Together” exhibit, reach out to Udi Mandel Butler, the Climate Action Program Manager, at udi.butler.contractor@hawaii.gov.