Call to Artists

The Art of Gaman written by Delphine Hirasuna

Join Honouliuli National Historic Site’s 10th Anniversary Commemoration!

2025 marks ten years since President Barack Obama established Honouliuli National Historic Site as a national park. This park preserves the largest and longest used WWII incarceration site in Hawaii. Those who were incarcerated here created arts and crafts to keep their spirits up. The National Park Service (NPS) invites our Hawai’i based artists to help commemorate this anniversary through a community art exhibit which will be held at the Downtown Art Center (DAC) in early January 2026. Be inspired by the strength of the human spirit to persevere and endure and help educate the public about this important history by joining in this exhibit. Whether you are inspired by the history itself, the personal stories, or the Hono‘uli‘uli ahupua‘a where the park is located, we invite our communities to engage in preserving history and inspiring reflection.

Who is eligible?

Hawai‘i based artists (including performance), craft guilds, and literary organizations of all ages, professional and amateur, working in any medium.

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Is there an entry fee?

There is no entry fee.

Will there be a jury or will all pieces be accepted?

There is no jury as the intent is to include all pieces submitted. However the size of the gallery space itself or other factors may restrict the organizers from doing so. As such, submission of artwork does not guarantee acceptance or inclusion in the event, exhibition, or related activities and selection of pieces will be at the discretion of the organizers.

When are submissions due and how can I submit?

Submissions are now open and due by December 1, 2025. Please send your submissions to the email [e-mail]. Please provide a title, media, dimensions (please see below for further information), artwork statement, and 1-2 images/audio/video with your submission. For video and audio, if the file is large, please provide a link to review versus an attachment.
Any digital art created or significantly altered using AI tools will not be accepted.

Will there be sales opportunities?

This community art exhibit is for educational purposes and no sales will be conducted.

Will there be awards?

As this is a community art exhibit and for educational purposes, there are no awards.

What are some other dates and times I should be aware of?

Mail-in entries need to be received by Sunday, Dec. 21. For shipping, artists should use reusable packing materials with prepaid return postage provided.

Mail to: Honouliuli NHS Exhibit c/o Downtown Art Center 1041 Nuuanu Avenue, 2nd floor, Honolulu, HI 96817.

Drop-off entries need to be received by Monday, December 22 between 10 am – 2 pm at the Downtown Art Center. There is a loading dock available, but it is shared so other vehicles may be occupying the space. If this is the case, there is parking under the building that can be entered from Bethel Street (not validated and paid) or metered street parking.

Artwork should be clearly labeled with the artist’s name and title of work. It should be ready to hang with hanging hardware already installed. If there are special instructions for hanging/installation, it should be attached to the piece as well.

Installation is from Monday, December 22 through Friday, January 2.
Artwork must be picked up on Sunday, January 18 from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. Artists will be required to sign for their pieces as they are picked up. If artwork is not picked up by this date it will be up to the discretion of DAC and NPS to decide what to do with the artwork.

Exhibit opening and reception is on Friday, January 2 from 5:30 pm -8:00 pm.

Can I visit the park?

The park is not open to the general public as the park does not own any lands that connect it to public roads. However, there are other ways to learn about the park. For inspiration you can:

• Visit the park’s website where you can find historical information, personal stories, recommended readings, and more
• Join our 10th anniversary events where each month is dedicated to an aspect of the park, including virtual speakers and in-person activities
• Explore the Plan Your Visit page to experience places outside the park that have direct connections to its history and stories
• See videos and photos of the park as well as read past media stories that also include video footage.

What else do I need to know?

Shipping as well as insurance while on exhibit and during installation/de-installation will be the responsibility of the submitter. Extreme care will be taken in handling all submitted pieces; however, the NPS and DAC assumes no responsibility for loss or damage to pieces on display or in transit or during installation/de-installation. The artist assumes full responsibility for their artwork.

For multi-media, film or video, the artist must provide their own equipment and software.

By exhibiting at DAC, artists and art organizations grant DAC and the NPS permission to photograph and/or film the artwork being exhibited/submitted. This material may be released for use in news, webcasts, inclusion on websites, social media, or any other purpose by DAC and its representatives. Images and/or videos may be used to promote similar DAC events in the future, highlight the event and exhibit the capabilities of DAC. The NPS would use the photograph and/or film for education and outreach purposes.

If I have questions, who do I contact?

Please email us at [e-mail].