2026 18th Annual Hawaiʻi Nei

Open only to Hawaiʻi Island (Big Island) artists in all mediums and styles.

Juror: Emily Catey Weiss

Exhibition Dates: Nov 6 - Dec 10, 2026

Submission Deadline: October 9, 2026; 11:59pm HST

Children's Free Submission portal: https://www.hawaiineiartexhibition.org/how-to-enter.html

Sponsored by ʻImi Pono no ka ʻĀina, the Three Mountain Alliance Foundation, the Hawai‘i Island Art Alliance, the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife, and Wailoa Center State Park.

Artwork Subject Eligibility:

The main subject(s) of your piece(s) must be a species native to Hawai‘i Island. The definition used to define a native species is an organism that naturally arrived to Hawaiʻi without the help of humans via the 3Ws (wind, waves, or wings). It can be either endemic (found only in Hawaiʻi) or indigenous (native to Hawaiʻi and elsewhere). 

Artwork highlighting non-native species, including Polynesian introductions, as well as native species exclusively endemic to other Hawaiian islands will not be accepted. 

Artwork made of materials from an endangered native species will not be accepted. If a native species is used as a medium in an art piece, we strongly suggest to consider the purpose of using the native species or consider if there is a possible alternative. Please consider the place from which the species will be gathered from - is there a healthy population from which to gather? We also encourage to request permission - from the land owner and species itself. When you are picking, be sure not to introduce invasive species into the area, only to take what is needed, minimize damage to surrounding species, and show gratitude. If you have questions about your subject and whether it fits these parameters, please email Hawaii.Nei.Art@gmail.com.

Native Species Definitions & Resources:

Both indigenous and endemic refer to native species (which arrived naturally to Hawaiʻi without the help of humans via one of the 3Ws - wind, waves, or wings). 

• Indigenous is a species that is naturally found in Hawaiʻi, but also naturally found in other locations. A great example is naupaka kahakai - native to Hawaiʻi and also native to other Pacific islands. Most likely travelled around using ocean currents.
• Endemic is a native species that arrived to Hawaiʻi (via 3Ws), evolved over time, and is now found nowhere else in the world. Example - ʻōhia, its ancestor most likely came from New Zealand. It arrived here naturally then over millions of years evolved into a completely and genetically different species that's only found in Hawaiʻi.

Both endemic and indigenous species are acceptable for Hawaiʻi Nei. However, when a species is specifically endemic to another island then it is not eligible. For example, the Puaiohi, or Kauaʻi Thrush (Myadestes palmeri), is exclusively found in the Alakaʻi Swamp on Kaua‘i. We have been a little lenient on this when it comes to the youth artwork because this can be a really tricky concept to grasp. 

We put together this short video (4 min) that might be helpful to watch if you are a more visual learner:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJ2cZ_r0CSo

Hawaiʻi Nei Resource Page

• https://www.hawaiineiartexhibition.org/resources.html

Entry Fees: 

$20 non-refundable entry fee per each submission. Maximum of five entries per artist. All images or videos must be submitted digitally and will be judged by jurors based upon files submitted.

Youth Entry Submission Portal: https://www.hawaiineiartexhibition.org/how-to-enter.html

Artwork Selection:

All artwork will be processed online using the entry image. We ask the jurying team when selecting work to consider uniqueness of the native species, quality, craftsmanship, and overall presentation of the piece. We encourage artists to look beyond the well-known native species and explore the incredible diversity of our Hawaiʻi ecosystems including aquatic and marine. You will be notified by October 12th if your artwork has been selected for the exhibition. PLEASE UNDERSTAND that your artwork may still be juried out despite adhering to all the guidelines.

Important Dates:

Exhibition Dates: Nov 6 - Dec 10, 2026

Submission deadline: Oct 9, 2026, at 11:59 PM HST.

Artist notification: Oct 12, 2026

Accepted Artwork Drop-off:

Hilo - Wailoa Center: Saturday, October 31 between 10:00am - 2:00pm.

Kona - Kona Frame Shop Parking Lot: Friday, October 30, at 10:00am. *Note: To be eligible for Kona drop-off, Artwork must be less than 40" x 40" and securely wrapped for transport.

Opening Reception: Friday, Nov 6, 2026, 4:00pm - 7:00pm.

Exhibition Opens: Friday, Nov 6, 2026, 4:00pm.

Exhibition Closes: Thursday, December 10, 2026
 

Artwork Pick-up:

Hilo - Wailoa Center: Friday, Dec 11, 2026, between 10:00am - 2:00pm.

Kona - Kona Frame Shop Parking Lot: Friday, Dec 11, 2026, at 10:00am.

*Kona pick-ups and drop-offs will be in the parking lot outside of Kona Frame Shop (73-5619 Kauhola St.) DO NOT contact the folks at Kona Frame Shop to make arrangements. Please contact Wailoa Center. More info upon acceptance to the exhibit. 
 

Submitting Artwork

To enter, participants must have a CaFÉ account and create a portfolio.

• If you do not have an existing CaFÉ account, you must first create one in order to proceed to submitting artwork to this juried exhibition.
• For each artwork submission, you will need to upload an image and artwork information to your portfolio in CaFÉ.
• The maximum file size that will be accepted is 5 MB.
• For this call we highly recommend submitting high quality images with the longest edge at 1200 pixels, sRGB, jpeg.
• Once submitted and entry fees are paid, you cannot make changes to your submission or add further artworks.

To better showcase your 3D works, you can:

• Submit multiple photographs of your artwork, a collage. This will allow the juror to see the work from all angles.
• Submit a short video of the artwork. Take a video as you walk around the piece or from a variety of angles. Please note in the video description that the 3D object is the submission not the video itself.

When creating your CAFE account and portfolio, be ready with both an artists statement and description of each work. 

• Your artist's statement will be entered when creating your account. This can include a short bio, and/or your perspective as an artist. (Max of 2000 characters)
• When uploading artwork images and information to your portfolio, please use the description section to convey the vision or story behind each work. (Max of 2000 characters)

Both the artist statement and artwork description will be included in the exhibit documentation. 

Need Help? Check out this helpful videos from CaFÉ:

Image Requirements: https://www.callforentry.org/artist-help-cafe/uploading-media/

Preparing Images for Download: https://www.callforentry.org/preparing-your-image-files-for-upload/

Photographing your work: https://www.callforentry.org/photographing-artwork/

Acceptance:

Artists will be notified via email on the status of their application by October 12th. Please make sure your CaFÉ account is updated with your current contact information to ensure you are receiving communication from Wailoa Center and the Hawaiʻi Nei team.

Juror Information: 

Juror: Emily Catey Weiss 

Juror Bio: Emily has years of experience coordinating public art programs and exhibits. She earned a B.F.A. from Ohio State University in 2000, which paved the way for Emily Catey Photography, LLC, which she ran successfully in Hale’iwa on Oahu’s North Shore before moving to the Big Island in 2009. From 2004 to 2009 she was involved in various civic, business and state organizations in the revitalization of Honolulu’s Arts District. She also served as President of the Hale’iwa Arts Festival. She joined the Volcano Art Center as Program Director in 2009. Since then, she has held various positions within the organization. Her philosophy is grounded in the belief that cultivating, sustaining, and celebrating the arts is essential to a vibrant community. Emilyʻs day job creates spaces and exhibitions for the visual arts to be publicly shared, however she deeply values body work, private practice and ritual in her life. She has been a Hatha Yoga instructor for almost 20 years. Gaining inspiration from the natural environment and other creative people, Emily considers herself a lifelong student of all things.

Awards: 

This year we will have a combination of awards as well as a small makana (gift) for participating artists. 

Sales:

All selected adult entries are required to be for sale; youth entries are not. If artwork is sold during the exhibition, 60% goes to the artist and 40% will go to the Hawai‘i Island Art Alliance and the Three Mountain Alliance Foundation, which will help support fine arts in the community as well as native species protection and environmental education. Minimum sale price for artwork is $20. Artists may also donate their portion of the sale as a tax-deductible gift. 

About Hawaiʻi Nei: 

Millennium ago, a few hearty seeds and animals made it to Hawaiʻi and over time, they evolved into many different species, especially suited to the unique environment of our islands. Hawaiʻi Nei was created with the intent to celebrate these kamaʻāina while educating the public about these same organisms. Artists of all ages and skill levels are encouraged to learn more about the plants, animals, and habitats native to Hawaiʻi Island and depict these species in the media of their choosing. As a result, the exhibition features works from elementary students to renowned local artists; photography to sculpture: all focusing on the unique flora and fauna that makes our home distinctively Hawaiʻi.

Since 2009, Hawai‘i Nei has been a collaboration among the Three Mountain Alliance, a watershed partnership working across private, state, and federal lands to sustainably manage over one million acres for natural and cultural resources; the Hawaiʻi Island Art Alliance (HIAA), the Hawai‘i State Department of Land & Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife, and Hawaiʻi State Parks Wailoa Center, serving East Hawai‘i for over 30 years as a center of culture, arts, and information.

• Completed Portfolio on CaFÉ with 1 - 5 artwork samples.
• Submission fee: $20 per entry (non-refundable).
• Artist Statement (filled out when making your CAFE account)
• Description of artwork (filled out when creating your CAFE portfolio)

• Open to Hawaii Island residents only.
• Open to any media (2D, 3D, Photography, video, etc). (CHECK REQUIREMENTS FOR EACH EXHIBIT)
• No reproductions or AI generated or assisted art will be accepted.
• For 2D works larger than 7’ tall x 9’ wide’ or 3D works taller than 10' or wider 6' feet, please contact Wailoa Center.
• Artwork must have been created in the past four years.
• Artwork can NOT have been previously exhibited at Wailoa Center.
• This exhibit will be displayed in a State Parks facility, thus artwork with sensitive subject matter (i.e. nudity, offensive religious or political statements, and or violence) may be juried out.
• If accepted, all work MUST be gallery quality installation ready to hang or be easily installed. 2D framed wall art must use gallery wire with d-rings or equivalent. No sawtooth hardware.
• If you have any questions regarding you or your artwork's eligibility, please contact Wailoa Center at (808) 933-0416 or dlnr.sp.wailoacenter@hawaii.gov

Please click the "Legal Terms" button below to read all rules for entry.