Share this story

Nelson and Kainoa Makua of Nä Mäkua will be presenting their annual MANA 2026 Invitational Art Show starting this week.

The art exhibit will showcase artwork by 25 noted Big Island artists and will be held at the Wailoa Center in Hilo from this Saturday to May 7.

ADVERTISING


There will be an opening reception from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday.

MANA 2025 is not a juried show, and all of the artwork is selected by the artists themselves, giving them an opportunity to submit art that they personally felt represented their mana.

The artists could also submit older pieces as well as art that had been previously shown.

“We wanted our show to be a more personal exchange between the artist and the viewer, and what better judge than the artists themselves,” producer Nelson Makua said in a press release.

The Makuas invite artists based on the appeal of their artwork, while considering different mediums that would make the show as dynamic and diverse as possible.

“Having our show every year around Merrie Monarch week lets our artists share their mana and art with visitors from all around the world,” Nelson Makua said.

Artists invited to participate in the exhibit include Christine Ahia, Terry Bensch, Cody Yamaguchi, Jelena Clay, Stephen Davies, Scott Gorrell, Bonnie Sol Hahn, Patti Pease Johnson, Beau Jack Key, Tom Kuali‘i, Kira Kamamalu, James Kanani Kaulukukui, Edwin Kayton, Nelson Makua, Kainoa Makua, Sott Manley, Craig Neff, Carl Pao, Pat Shopbell, Linda Rowell Stevens, David Gallegos, Jane Word Taylor, Stephen Freedman, Robert Weiss and Vivian Ursula Stevens.

Every year in the Fountain Gallery, the Makuas alternate exhibits, with a seasoned artist one year and student artwork the next.

This year’s exhibit will feature a collection of artwork by Nelson Makua. He has been an artist and designer on the Big Island for nearly 50 years, and as a designer, he is known throughout 91直播, the mainland and Japan, according to the press release.

He is the only artist to have created eight years of Merrie Monarch Festival posters with his limited edition “Pele” series.

MANA 2026 art show gallery hours at Wailoa Center are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays.

For more information, contact Nelson or Kainoa Makua, (808) 969-7985, and email namakuaevents@hawaiiantel.net.