Contact Us Subscribe
  1. Back
  2. Current News
  3. News Archive
Capitol Modern - September 2026 Events

VISIT WEBSITE
SEPTEMBER 2026




LOOK & LISTEN

Celebrate poetry, storytelling, and book art at Capitol Modern!
Keiki storytime and book art display, hands-on art activities, and pop-up bookstore. A partnership of the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, Hawaiʻi Council for the Humanities, Hawaiʻi State Public Library System, and Bess Press.

Saturday September 19, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Free admission, all ages welcome.

LOOK & LISTEN AT CAPITOL MODERN

PRESS RELEASE
HONOLULU - Capitol Modern and Bess Press invite the public to a family-friendly day of poetry, storytelling and creative activities for all ages. The event will feature poetry readings, keiki story time, art activities, a book art exhibit and a pop-up bookstore of local literature.

Event: “Listen and Learn”
Where: Capitol Modern: The Hawaiʻi State Art Museum, 250 South Hotel Street, downtown Honolulu
When: Saturday, September 19, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Activities:
Poetry Readings

•   Poetry readings with local poets Lyz Soto, Arielle Taitano Lowe, Brandy Nālani McDougall, D. Kealiʻi MacKenzie and Donovan Kūhiō (11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)

•   Pidgin Poets poetry readings with local poets Lee A. Tonouchi (Hawaiʻi Poet Laureate), Noelle Kahanu, Normie Salvador, Ryan Oishi and Misty-Lynn Sanico (1:00 – 2:00 p.m.)

Keiki Read-Aloud

•   Honolulu Theatre for Youth read-aloud with Junior Tesoro (10:00 – 11:00 a.m.)

•   Keiki read-aloud with Lee A. Tonouchi and his book “Okinawan Princess” (11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)

•   Keiki read-aloud with Mama Inno and Pacific Voices featuring the books “Piafe, New Land” and “Mwa Machang – Hey Birdy” (12:00 – 1:00 p.m.)

•   Keiki read-aloud with Tamara Mongomery from the book “When the Cassowary Pooped” (1:00 – 2:00 p.m.)

Interactive Art Activity

•   Art and poetry activity with Laurel Nakanishi (10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.)

Pop-up Book Sale

•   Bess Press Books (10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.)

Book Art Exhibit

•   Artwork by local artists Mariko Merritt (Island Toes, Hush Little Keiki, LIR books), Lauren Trangmar (An Illustrated Map Book of Hawaiʻi), Kelsie Dayna (From Aloha to Zippy's), Solomon Enos (Island Tales, Polyfantastica) and Erzsi Palko (Under the ʻŌhiʻa Tree) (10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.)
Photos and Social Media Graphics: Dropbox - Capitol Modern Press Kit for Media
Website: CapitolModern.org
Social Media: @CapitolModern on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok







DA KINE PIDGIN POETS LI’DAT
Saturday September 19, 2026
1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

Poetry readings with Normie Salvador, Noelle Kahanu, Ryan Oishi, Misty Sanico, and Hawaiʻi Poet Laureate Lee Tonouchi. 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. during the "Look & Listen" event. Free, all ages welcome.

LOOK & LISTEN AT CAPITOL MODERN






FILM SCREENING
Saturday September 12, 2026
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Film screening for “Remathau: People of the Ocean” documentary following the journey of Nicole Yamase, a young marine biologist from Micronesia. Free, all ages welcome.

FREE TICKETS ON EVENTBRITE






ISLAND PULSE
Friday September 18, 2026
5:30 - 9:30 p.m.

Island roots and reggae music night featuring Ooklah the Moc, Sharp Left Works producer showcase, and Valley Rockers featuring Nick Kurosawa. Hosted by Miss Lulu. Free, all ages welcome.

ISLAND PULSE


 
EXHIBITS CLOSING SOON




CONTEMPORARY PORTRAITURE: ART IN PUBLIC PLACES
Last day to view: Saturday, September 19

Portraits from the Art in Public Places Collection of the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts.

Artwork in image: detail from “Morning Breath, My Breath” by Mayumi Oda, screenprint, 1983.

CONTEMPORARY PORTRAITURE


SCHAEFER PORTRAIT CHALLENGE
Last day to view: Saturday September 19

Film screening for “Remathau: People of the Ocean” documentary following the journey of Nicole Yamase, a young marine biologist from Micronesia. Free, all ages welcome.

SCHAEFER PORTRAIT CHALLENGE






Copyright (C) 2026 Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. All rights reserved.



  1. Back
  2. Current News
  3. News Archive

Like Our Facebook

  • RELATED LINKS
  • Capitol Modern - The Hawai‘i State Art Museum
    The free, contemporary public art gallery of Hawai‘i has evolved and rebranded, debuting a new name, creative gathering spaces and calendar of events. Formerly called the Hawai‘i State Art Museum (HISAM), the name Capitol Modern is meant to better reflect its location in Honolulu’s historic Capitol District and the vibrant modern art experience people have come to love.

    Capitol Modern is eager for the public to experience this next chapter in their evolution as the people’s museum, and the opportunity to reach diverse audiences in all Hawai‘i communities.
    250 South Hotel Street, 2nd Floor, Honolulu, HI (View Map)
Please send questions about this website to webmaster
Copyright© 2006 - 2026 FirstFridayHawaii.com. All rights reserved.
Terms of Use / Legal Disclaimer / Privacy Statement
Site Designed and Managed by MacBusiness Consulting