Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top art class sources in Honolulu. Here's a rundown of top classes in the city, with ratings, photos and more.

Looking for fun, entertaining events and activities to check out in Honolulu this weekend? Here are top picks with dates, times, locations, and ticket links.

Looking for fun, entertaining events and activities to check out in Honolulu this weekend? Here are top picks with dates, times, locations and ticket links.

Teresa Bright, an influential Hawaiian singer, died at 64, leaving a legacy of award-winning music that extended international appeal, particularly in Japan.

Honolulu prepares for the 76th Annual Aloha Festivals Floral Parade, featuring floats, cultural displays, and the 2024 Royal Court, celebrating Hawaiian hula traditions.

Singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson passed away at 88, leaving behind a legacy of influential music and profound connections with fans and fellow artists.

New video series highlights Hawaii's traditional natural resource management and cultural practices, featuring local experts sharing personal stories and cultural teachings related to ecological health and sustainability.

An art exhibit on Kaua‘i showcases native forest birds to raise awareness about species on the edge of extinction, featuring works from local and mainland artists.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa's English Department selected "future" as Hawaii's Word of the Year for 2024, reflecting a mix of hope and concern for what lies ahead.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo's College of Hawaiian Language has chosen 'mākia' as the 2024 word of the year to inspire intentional action and resilience.

The Hawaiʻi State Archives exhibit documents from the Pacific War Memorial Commission, highlighting efforts to commemorate WWII casualties, funding challenges, and the role of community support, including a fundraiser by Elvis Presley.

Hawai‘i's DLNR is accepting entries for its Wildlife Conservation and Game Bird Stamp art contest, with the 2025-26 stamp featuring Erckel’s Francolin and Manu-o-Kū. Winners receive $1,000 and contribute to conservation efforts.

Community and traditional craftsmanship converge in Hawaii as a new 44-foot canoe, the Nāleilehua, is being built by Timothy Gilliom and team with donated koa wood following the loss of the Mo‘olele in the Lahaina wildfires.

Hawaiʻi State Archives launches "Builder’s Spotlight," showcasing 'ukulele craftsmanship and Hawaiian music tradition, combining live instrument-making demonstrations with performances.

Aloha Stadium is launching an art contest asking local artists to create a sculpture from the stadium's salvaged metal, offering a stipend and a $1,000 prize.

The Hawaii State Legislature granted $565,000 to six arts and culture nonprofits for the fiscal year 2025, supporting their operations and contributions to the community.

Hawaiʻi's June arts scene boasts a plethora of events, including dance festivals, late museum nights, outdoor concerts, and free cultural activities, supported by local government and the SFCA.

Kaua‘i's Office of Economic Development has announced the winners of the 2025 Cultural Programs and Events Grant, celebrating cultural diversity and supporting the local economy.

Hawai‘i State Library's Summer Reading Program includes a charitable event to donate musical instruments to the Music For Life Foundation for young musicians.

The Hawaiʻi State Art Museum will host an exhibition called "The Spark Within" featuring artworks by Hawaiʻi's public school art teachers from July 1-25, 2025, with an opening reception on July 4.

The Hawaiʻi State Art Museum is reducing its open days to four per week starting August 1, 2025, but will maintain its free admission and special events.

Oʻahu's First Circuit Court celebrated its annual Law Day Art Contest winners, themed "The Constitution’s Promise: Out of Many, One," featuring works by talented students depicting the nation's unity.

Kaua'i County seeks artist submissions for a monument commemorating the 1924 Battle of Hanapēpē, honoring lives lost in the labor dispute. Deadlines for entries are until September 1.

The Hawaiʻi State Archives is featuring local luthier Eric DeVine in their Builder's Spotlight series, offering a live demonstration and insights into his craftsmanship.

Winners of the Second Annual Law Day Art Contest in Kauaʻi were honored for their work reflecting the theme "The Constitution’s Promise: Out of Many, One."

Maui High School students displayed their marine life paintings at a sanctuary, combining art with marine science, under the Artists in the Schools grant initiative.

The State Foundation on Culture and the Arts in Hawaiʻi struggles with a $1 million funding gap, despite federal support, due to legislative changes in fund utilization.

Ancient Hawaiian petroglyphs on an Oʻahu beach were revealed by shifting tides, as reported by Civil Beat and Hawaiʻi Public Radio, with cultural significance highlighted by local practitioners.

Honolulu celebrated the 183rd Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea, marking when sovereignty was restored to the Hawaiian monarchy, with cultural events and advocacy for Hawaiian independence.

The SFCA is inviting Hawaiian artists and nonprofits to apply for the Community Arts Grants for fiscal year 2027 starting August 1, 2025, to support arts and culture initiatives.

Preschoolers at 'Alani Strode Montessori exhibit art exploring the Hawaiian water cycle at a museum until August 4, 2025, showcasing their understanding of the environment.

The Hawaiʻi State Foundation on Culture and the Arts guides artists on how to get their works into public collections through juried exhibits, AASC nominations, and by responding to Calls for Entry.

The article is about a Hawai‘i State Archives event featuring Moloka‘i luthier Eric DeVine and ‘Ukulele player Mika Kane, celebrating the craftsmanship of stringed instruments.

The State Foundation on Culture and the Arts in Hawaiʻi has several calls for artist submissions, with deadlines approaching for a range of exhibitions from recycled art to native species themes.

The Renkon Project transformed the shuttered Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium into a powerful canvas for Hiroshima remembrance, featuring film projections and live performances by renowned artists.

Downtown Honolulu's historic Hawaii Theatre Center battles for survival as insurance premiums skyrocket 4,500%, forcing cuts to programs while celebrities step up to help.

Hawaii is digitizing 90,000 historic maps to offer a searchable online map service, easing access to cartographic data and saving time and money for the public.

The Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia canoes arrived in Rarotonga for the first time since 1992, engaging in cultural exchanges and events involving local leaders, communities, and schools, and emphasizing Polynesian seafaring traditions.

Kaua‘i's Planning Department is seeking proposals for a public art monument at the 1924 Battle of Hanapēpē site, with a submission deadline of September 1.

Maui's Kūʻihēlani Highway features two new murals created in collaboration with HDOT and Maui Economic Opportunity’s Youth Services, celebrating the island's natural beauty and fostering community pride.

"Hawaiʻi State Art Museum's 'Technique and Texture' exhibit showcases traditional printmaking and collage evolution, highlighting pieces from the Art in Public Places Collection."

Hawaiʻi celebrates Filipino-American History Month with various events, including a mini-exhibit, cultural showcases, and workshops at the Hawaiʻi State Art Museum.

The official portrait of former Hawaii Governor David Ige, created by artist Kirk Kurokawa, was unveiled at the Hawaii State Capitol, reflecting Ige's legacy and challenges during his tenure.

Hawaiʻi State Art Museum hosts "Kaiāulu: Rising Together" in October, featuring local artists' work on climate change impacts, aligned with traditional Hawaiian land stewardship values.

The State Art Museum is hosting "Broken Cassette, Vol. 1," a mini-concert and video installation, featuring experimental music by various artists, at the Capitol Modern's Pō Amphitheatre.

"Hawaiʻi State Art Museum exhibits 'Kaiāulu: Rising Together' with climate-focused art by local artists, starting October 3, combining cultural narrative with sustainability goals."

Hawaiʻi's Scholastic Art Awards are accepting submissions from students in grades 7-12 until December 12, 2025, with an exhibition for winners at Capitol Modern in 2026.

The deadline for Hawaii's SFCA Community Arts Grants Program applications has been extended, offering extra time for local artists and nonprofits to apply for funds up to $15,000.

Hawai'i State Art Museum is hosting free events including music nights, workshops, and festivities for all ages this fall, as per the SFCA news release.

The SFCA has purchased fourteen artworks from local exhibits, including a significant sculpture "Kanaloa" by Rocky Jensen and works by other Hawaiian artists, enriching their collection focused on native culture and artistry.

SFCA's AITS program reaches over 100 Hawaii schools, enhancing arts education and facilitating student engagement and attendance, integrating arts with core subjects, and promoting personal and communal growth.

Wahiawā's Taste the Town event celebrates local food and culture with live music and a special appearance by chef Alan Wong. It features a large number of local businesses, trolley rides, and history tours.

Production work in Hawaii has plunged since the pandemic as tax‑credit battles leave crews and studios idle. Lawmakers and a new film coalition are pushing fixes.

Hilo’s Palace Theater celebrated its centennial with concerts and a silent‑film matinee while launching a renewed fundraising and volunteer push to restore the auditorium.

The DAGS invites the public to paint a community mural at the Kalanimoku Building's parking garage, led by artist-in-residence Solomon Enos, on Nov. 29.

Hawai‘i's Ki‘i Kon Art Contest invites teens to reimagine their favorite book covers for a chance to win prizes, including a trip to meet a famous artist.

The Honolulu Theatre for Youth presents "Line, Circle, Sphere," an educational show promoting creativity at the Capitol Modern, with additional educational resources and performances for children with disabilities.

Runners carried a sanctified Lono staff around Hawaiʻi Island this week, pausing for prayers and feasts as communities welcomed the Makahiki season.

Hawaiʻi's Division of Forestry and Wildlife is accepting submissions for their 2026-27 Conservation and Game Bird Stamp Art Contest, focusing on the wild pig and California quail.

A new exhibition, titled "Relics of War," opened at the Judiciary History Center in Hawaiʻi, exploring the state's martial law era and the impact of WWII on local communities.

Hawaiʻi's State Poet Laureate Dr. Brandy Nālani McDougall will perform at a free literary event in Hale Līhuʻe with local writers on November 21, promoting poetry and community unity.

Hawaii's Art Acquisition Selection Committees have been identifying local artwork for potential public display, pending the SFCA Board's approval, to enrich environmental and cultural experiences.

Members of the Hawaiʻi Youth Symphony recorded the score for The Arrangements, and a limited 12" vinyl — with proceeds for Kalihi nonprofits — accompanies the release.

Kalapana takes the Nā Mele stage for an hourlong PBS Hawai‘i tribute, mixing rare archival footage with new renditions.

Students at Lahaina’s Princess Nāhiʻenaʻena Elementary designed ornaments that will be displayed around the National Christmas Tree in Washington, D.C., when the lighting opens later this week.

Christine Kuehn's Family of Spies argues that relatives spied on Oʻahu before Pearl Harbor, adding new documents and local testimony to a long-hidden wartime record.

Broadway star Scarlett Strallen headlines the Maui Pops Holiday Pops at MACC this Sunday, performing holiday standards with the island orchestra. Tickets range from $37 to $80.

The "Miracle House" in Lahaina, surviving the 2023 Maui wildfires, has been added to the National Register of Historic Places, honoring its architectural and historical significance.

Lukas Nelson and Paul Simon will play Lōkahi at the MACC on Jan. 10, with proceeds supporting Housing for Healthcare and Maui’s healthcare workforce.

Tom Coffman, author of Nation Within and Inclusion, died Dec. 15 at 83. Colleagues remember his rigorous research and decades of films that reshaped Hawaiʻi history.

The Schaefer Portrait Challenge exhibit arrives at Capitol Modern: the Hawaiʻi State Art Museum, featuring a diverse collection of Hawaiian portraits from various islands and artists.

Community volunteers transformed the Kalanimoku Building's parking garage with a colorful mural, turning a maintenance task into an artistic initiative.

Nālani Kanakaʻole, a fifth‑generation kumu hula who taught chant and pre‑contact hula for nearly seven decades, has died at 79. Her family and Hālau o Kekuhi will announce memorial plans.

The SFCA will hold its Board of Commissioners meeting on January 9, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. in person or via Zoom to discuss grants and artwork for Hawaii's culture.

A new black-box theater opened in Wailuku last week after a multimillion-dollar campaign anchored by a $1 million pledge from Susan Naylor. MAPA still needs about $200K to finish outfitting the space.

Lā Kūkahekahe event on February 14, 2026, celebrates Hawaiian culture and language with competitions, music, and cuisine in Honolulu. Registration is open until February 6.

The SFCA provides government sites in Hawaiʻi the opportunity to host site-specific, fully funded artworks, with a detailed application process outlined on their website.

Disney’s Moana and Moana 2 have been translated into ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi; the ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi version of Moana 2 will have a free community premiere at Bishop Museum in Honolulu on Feb. 7.

Josh Groban kicks off the Gems World Tour in Honolulu this Saturday with local guests, orchestral backing and a career-spanning set.

Honolulu’s Chinatown Festival & Parade returns Feb. 14 for its 50th year with lion dances, keiki zones, 40+ vendors and a 4:30 p.m. parade led by Sen. Karl Rhoads.

HSO musicians performed free Valentine pop‑ups across Honolulu while the orchestra pushes lawmakers to back HB1764 to expand concerts and education statewide.

The Honolulu Festival marks its 30th year March 13–15 with a Grand Parade on Kalakaua Avenue and the Nagaoka fireworks over Waikīkī Beach.

Nine‑year‑old Jeaven Maeva — the 'Ipu Baby' — sang with vocal coach Cheryl Porter in Waikiki after an Instagram push brought the pair together.

OHA has tapped AEA Consulting to run a six‑month feasibility study for a proposed Native Hawaiian cultural center on its Kakaʻako Makai land. The review will map program needs, costs and community outreach.

Hawaiian artists say a Japan promoter failed to pay them after multiple shows, prompting cancellations and legal action.

A Senate plan to fund planning for a new Hawaiʻi State Archives stalled this session, leaving fragile documents, recordings and vintage instruments vulnerable. Archivists warn immediate fixes and digitization are now urgent.

A $200,000 Harold K. L. Castle Foundation grant is funding CREATE Hawaiʻi, a pilot that will give Kealakehe High School students paid apprenticeships in creative media. The inaugural cohort will include eight students and offers college credit, certifications and stipends.

Earth, Wind & Fire will play a one-night benefit at Neal S. Blaisdell Arena on June 13 to support Kona low flood recovery. Presales for residents start April 3.

HNL quietly added AI-generated island songs to its terminal soundtrack. Travelers, musicians and lawmakers are split over whether the tracks reflect Hawaiian culture or undercut local artists.

Honolulu's 98th Lei Day returns to Kapiʻolani Park this Friday with the Lei Court investiture, Royal Hawaiian Band, lei contests and workshops.

EA (SOVEREIGN) follows the Kapu family’s decadeslong fight over Kauaʻula Valley and will have its international premiere at imagineNATIVE in Toronto.

Mōʻiliʻili Summer Fest, home to Honolulu’s largest bon dance, returns July 4 to the old Varsity parking lot with food, taiko and family activities. Organizers expect a big crowd and will offer shuttles and vendor food.

New Yorkased Vilcek Foundation paid $15M for 614 Kapahulu Ave, the former Locations Hawaii headquarters, and plans to open a Hawaii-focused gallery in the building. The deal brings a national arts funder to the Kapahulu corridor near Waikiki.

The 43rd Pan‑Pacific Festival returns to Waikīkī this weekend with free hula, taiko, food vendors and a sunset parade.

Hong Kong‑born singer David Wong, 61, died suddenly in Honolulu. His family issued a lawyer's statement and named an agency to handle his music estate amid a manager dispute.