Coordinators of the annual Hawaii Nei Art Contest have issued a call to artists. The event is co-sponsored by the Three Mountain Alliance, the Natural Area Reserves System and the Wailoa Arts and Cultural Center. Its focus is to increase awareness of, and appreciation for, the native species found on the Island of Hawaii. This year’s event is Nov. 1-29.
Coordinators of the annual Hawaii Nei Art Contest have issued a call to artists. The event is co-sponsored by the Three Mountain Alliance, the Natural Area Reserves System and the Wailoa Arts and Cultural Center. Its focus is to increase awareness of, and appreciation for, the native species found on the Island of Hawaii. This year’s event is Nov. 1-29.
Artists islandwide will have the convenience of dropping their artwork off in either West or East Hawaii. Art intake for the West/Kona side of the Island will take place at the Donkey Mill Art Center on Saturday, Oct. 19, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. East Hawaii artists can deliver their art on Friday, Oct. 25, from noon to 7 p.m. at Wailoa Center. Entry forms should be completed prior to entry submissions. Please see complete prospectus and “how to enter” by visiting online at hawaiineiartcontest.org. This year’s specialty categories focus on the native bird, palila, in its natural habitat of the mamane-naio high-elevation forest, and the dryland forest plants.
New this year will be an abstract category stretching the artist’s interpretation of our native island species.
Hawaii Nei is once again teaming up with conservation partners to host several special field trips as a prelude to the art event itself.
“Participants will travel through breathtaking native ecosystems and become immersed in native plants and animals truly unique to our very own Hawaii Nei,” said Wailoa Director Codie King. Advance registration is necessary to attend these events. The cost is $10, with proceeds going directly to the Hawaii Nei Art Contest. Each participant will receive a coupon for $5 off one Hawaii Nei entry.
Coming up is Amy Greenwell Ethno Botanical Garden Walk and Talk on Saturday, Aug. 24. Take a trip out to the 15-acre garden, which features a wide variety of native dryland plants, some of which are rare or endangered in the wild.
Thursday, Sept. 5, join in a Kaupulehu Dryland Forest Art Hike from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
On Saturday, Sept. 28, join Mauna Kea Forest Restoration Project volunteer coordinator Jackson Bauer on the slopes of Mauna Kea.
Also in the works: On Saturday, Aug. 31, there will be a garden walk at ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center, with a native plant lecture given by Lahele Camara. For more information on any of these events please contact Emily Leucht at 430-1994 or visit hawaiineiartcontest.org.