An Art Lover’s Guide to Hawaii

With its 55,000 pieces, the Honolulu Museum of Art is without a doubt one of the best things to do in Hawaii for art lovers. While the museum features pieces from across the globe and the centuries, its Asian art collection is particularly impressive—more specifically, don’t miss the incredible collection of Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock prints.

And if you’re looking for one of the best art tours in Hawaii, look no further than the museum’s Highlights Tour (included with admission), held every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday at 11am.

Did you know?: Children 18 and under get in free every day.

Less than a mile from the Honolulu Museum of Art lies the Capitol Modern (formerly the Hawaii State Art Museum), another must-visit for Hawaii art fans. While the former highlights artwork from across the globe, the latter brings contemporary local and native Hawaiian artists into the spotlight. With the exception of the small outdoor sculpture garden, the exhibits are all temporary, so there’s always new art to see and enjoy. Even better, the Capitol Modern is completely free for everyone to visit.

One of the most unique art museums in Hawaii, the Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design is a treasure trove of Islamic art from North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. Interestingly, all of the 4,000 art pieces are housed in the extravagant former home of billionaire tobacco heiress Doris Duke, who collected the works over 60 years. Don’t miss the 13th-century Iranian lusterware mihrab (a niche in a prayer wall that points to Mecca), which is one of only a few of its kind in the US.

If you’re looking for street art in Hawaii, look no further than the Honolulu neighborhood of Kaka’ako. Over the course of nearly a decade, artists from across the islands and the globe filled the area with stunning murals, in large part thanks to the annual Hawaii Walls event (formerly POW! WOW! Hawaii). Now, you can peek around just about every corner and come face-to-face with a stunning street art piece.

Insider tip: Hawaii Walls is held each September, now in the Kalihi/Palama district to further spread the artistry. For six full days, you can watch these artists bring these street art murals to life in person.

Located within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii, the Volcano Art Center showcases beautiful nature-inspired work from local artists. Check out delicate ceramic bowls and glass vases, ooh and ahh over dainty jewelry and eye-catching paintings, admire the detail of traditional quilts and textiles, and gaze in awe at volcanic eruptions caught on film.

Insider tip: The center frequently puts on native Hawaiian arts and culture classes, so you can learn how to dance hula, make lei, play the ukulele, or weave lauhala (hala leaves), just to start.

Taking place each June on the North Shore of Oahu, the Haleiwa Arts Festival is a two-day event that showcases over 120 visual artists—and in this case, the definition of “visual arts” is pretty wide-ranging. You’ll find your typical 2D artists such as painters, screen printers, and jewelers, but there’s a lot more to discover and enjoy. Watch musical acts and dance performances, hop from one food vendor to the next, or bring the kiddos to try creating something special in one of the keiki (children’s) art booths.

As the least populous of Hawaii’s four main islands, Kauai has more than its fair share of artists, many of which are clustered in the tiny town of Hanapepe. Within just one square mile (2.6 square kilometers), there are more than a half dozen art galleries, including Art and Soul, Troy Carney Art Gallery and longtime favorite Banana Patch Studios. Even better, every Friday evening, the little town puts on Hanapepe Art Night, complete with live music, food, and even more art vendors.

While not a local, Wyland made his mark (literally) on the Hawaiian Islands through his Whaling Wall murals. This 100-mural series was a global phenomenon, featuring a variety of life-sized marine animals that often covered entire sides of buildings. Now, Wyland makes his mark on Hawaii’s art scene with his galleries, with Wyland Galleries at Waikiki Beach Walk in Oahu being the biggest of the bunch. The space heavily features Wyland’s works, along with other island-inspired artists including Heather Brown, Erik Abel, and Walfrido.

Local contemporary artists are front and center at Greenroom Hawaii, a beloved Hawaii art gallery on Oahu’s North Shore. While some galleries can feel intimidating, Greenroom Hawaii does a great job of making the space feel welcoming and offering pieces at a wide array of price points so you can find a unique piece of art, no matter your budget. Find artwork by Hawaii artists such as Nick Kuchar, Jack Soren, Punky Aloha, Aloha de Mele, and more at this creativity-filled local gem.