East Hawaiʻi Cultural Center

East Hawaiʻi Cultural Center A vibrant and thriving gathering place centered on art and culture. EHCC is also home to SPACE: a curated store.

Located across from Kalakaua Park in the Old Police Station of Downtown Hilo, the East Hawai'i Cultural Center is a non-profit organization largely run by volunteers, supporting the arts and culture in the Hilo community for over 50 years. Current programs include the Youth Arts Series, Kahua 'Elua Theatre, Gamelan of the Molten Blossom, and exhibitions featuring local and international artists.

A sneak peek of some of the pieces from our upcoming exhibition, E ʻAi: An Exhibition Exploring Island Intelligence, Foo...
09/02/2026

A sneak peek of some of the pieces from our upcoming exhibition, E ʻAi: An Exhibition Exploring Island Intelligence, Food, Memory, and Relationship⁣
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E‘Ai opens this Friday, September, 4 at 5:30pm⁣
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Can't make it to the opening? This exhibition will be on view September 4–November 27, 2026⁣
Curated by Kanani Daley⁣
Presented by East Hawai'i Cultural Center and Ola Nā Iwi⁣
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Made possible by funding from the County of Hawai'i and McInerny Foundation- Bank of Hawai'i, Trustee⁣
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⁣ 'ai
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Our galleries will be closed this week while we install the next exhibition. ⁣We will reopen this Friday, September 4th ...
08/31/2026

Our galleries will be closed this week while we install the next exhibition. ⁣
We will reopen this Friday, September 4th at 5:30pm for the opening reception of E‘Ai, Inhabiting Memories & Meanings of Food. ⁣
See you then!⁣
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E ʻAi: An Exhibition Exploring Island Intelligence, Food, Memory, and Relationship⁣September 4–November 27, 2026⁣Opening...
08/30/2026

E ʻAi: An Exhibition Exploring Island Intelligence, Food, Memory, and Relationship⁣
September 4–November 27, 2026⁣
Opening Reception: September 4, 2026, 5:30 p.m.⁣
Curated by Kanani Daley⁣ (Kanani Daley )
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EHCC and Ola Nā Iwi Gallery present E ʻAi, a group exhibition exploring how island intelligence and lived experiences of food are understood, embodied, remembered, and expressed.⁣
Opening September 4, 2026, E ʻAi brings together contemporary artists Apolonio “Apo” Kalani Aquino Sr., Kainoa Gruspe, Amber Khan, Carl Pao in collaboration with Kamehameha High School student, Hayden Pruette, Tali Alisa Hafoka, Ala Savio, Gary Eoff, and Mary Babcock. Their practices approach food not only as sustenance, but as a site of relationship—between people and ʻāina, memory and genealogy, systems and bodies, culture and economy, past and future.⁣
Through sculpture, painting, interactive installation, and handmade tools, the exhibition engages the systems and relationships that shape lifeways across Hawaiʻi while opening space for multiple forms of knowledge to coexist.⁣
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Artists ⁣
Apolonio “Apo” Kalani Aquino Sr.⁣
Kainoa Gruspe  ⁣
Kainoa Makua⁣
Amber Khan  ⁣
Carl Pao + Hayden Pruette⁣
Tali Alisa Hafoka ⁣
Ala Savio ⁣
Gary Eoff⁣
Mary Babcock ⁣
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Today is your last day to see 36 Views of Mauna Loa: Part 2 and Ola Nā Iwi's Appendix: Notes for a Painting a solo exhib...
08/28/2026

Today is your last day to see 36 Views of Mauna Loa: Part 2 and Ola Nā Iwi's Appendix: Notes for a Painting a solo exhibition from Nainoa Rosehill
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Gallery is open from 12:00-6:00pm today, then we'll be closed for a week to change out the exhibitions! ⁣
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Coming up next: E'Ai, curated by Kanani Daley , stay tuned for all the details...⁣
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The Call to Cooks continues!⁣⁣We are inviting: ⁣🍲 Anyone who has a tutu’s recipe and a story, memory, or just the desire...
08/26/2026

The Call to Cooks continues!⁣
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We are inviting: ⁣
🍲 Anyone who has a tutu’s recipe and a story, memory, or just the desire to share appreciation for this family gift of food. ⁣
🍲 Volunteers to assist with preparing the dish⁣
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Three recipes will be presented in the Ola Nā Iwi Gallery during the month of September and October, and the overflow of recipe stories will be available as an online recipe-share. If your recipe and story is presented in the gallery, volunteers will be there to help make it happen.  All you need is the love and spirit of your grandparent’s kitchen and the desire to share your experience with others. All ingredients will be provided!⁣
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This call is part of a work for the E ‘Ai Exhibition, an exhibition that speaks to the variety of ways that island intelligence and the experience of food is felt. As a part of the exhibition's equitable and accessibility mission, we have made a special invitation to Going Home Hawai'i for those who have been impacted by houselessness to participate in this food sharing event. ⁣
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All recipe submissions are due September 5 on https://calltocooks.artcall.org, and we will be accepting recipes in our gallery until September 14, 2026⁣
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There are only a few more days to check out our current exhibitions! ⁣Both 36 Views of Mauna Loa: Part 2 and Ola Nā Iwi'...
08/25/2026

There are only a few more days to check out our current exhibitions! ⁣
Both 36 Views of Mauna Loa: Part 2 and Ola Nā Iwi's Appendix: Notes for a Painting will close this Friday, August 28th. ⁣
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This week's gallery hours:⁣
⏰ Wednesday, 10:00-4:00⁣
⏰ Thursday, 10:00-4:00⁣
⏰ Friday, 12:00-6:00⁣
⁣📸 photos courtesy of Andrzej Kramarz
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⛈️ We will be closed this Saturday due to the incoming storm. ⁣We may also be closing early tomorrow, Friday, 8/14, out ...
08/13/2026

⛈️ We will be closed this Saturday due to the incoming storm. ⁣
We may also be closing early tomorrow, Friday, 8/14, out of caution. Stay tuned...⁣
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Wishing everyone a safe weekend! ⁣
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We're open today! ⁣On View until August 28:⁣🖼️ 36 Views of Mauna Kea: Part II⁣🖼️ Appendix: Notes for a Painting Nainoa R...
08/12/2026

We're open today! ⁣
On View until August 28:⁣
🖼️ 36 Views of Mauna Kea: Part II⁣
🖼️ Appendix: Notes for a Painting Nainoa Rosehill (Ola Nā Iwi) ⁣
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Upcoming calls:⁣
📋 Full Bleed: Anime, Manga and Urban Art exhibition Wailoa Center , all ages, entries due Aug. 28⁣
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📋 Call to Cooks: In Tutu's Kitchen, international submissions due September 5, local submissions due September 14, more info on Kanani Daley 's website ⁣
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📋Call for bakers, the Youth Arts Series (YAS) 's ⁣
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Upcoming events:⁣
📆 Hana No'eau Hawaiian Arts Festival, Saturday Aug 15, 9:00-4:00, Hilo Hawaiian Hotel Nelson Makua
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Submit your recipes! The Call to Cooks goes until September 5 on ArtCall.org for international submissions and September...
08/12/2026

Submit your recipes! The Call to Cooks goes until September 5 on ArtCall.org for international submissions and September 14 for local submissions in person. ⁣
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Ola Nā Iwi Curator, Kanani Daley and artist Mary Babcock invite anyone who has a tutu's recipe and a story, memory, or just the desire to share appreciation for this family gift of food. ⁣
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Only a couple weeks left to see 36 Views of Mauna Loa: Part II (main gallery) and Appendix: Notes for a Painting a solo ...
08/08/2026

Only a couple weeks left to see 36 Views of Mauna Loa: Part II (main gallery) and Appendix: Notes for a Painting a solo show by Nainoaikapoliokaehukai Rosehill (Ola Nā Iwi)⁣
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We'll be open today featuring the Youth Arts Series (YAS) 's YAS², second Saturday free keiki art activity on the front lanai. ⁣
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Come see us 10:00am-2:00pm!⁣
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⁣📸: Andrzej Kramarz

Address

141 Kalakaua Street
Hilo, HI
96720

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 2pm

Telephone

(808) 961-5711

Website

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