First Friday Honolulu Celebrates 20th Anniversary With Block Party Spanning Three Neighborhoods

Honolulu’s beloved First Friday art walk is celebrating its 20th anniversary in May with an unprecedented three-neighborhood block party spanning Chinatown, the Arts District, and Kakaako.

The May 2 event will close streets from Nuuanu Avenue through to Cooke Street, creating a continuous two-mile art and entertainment corridor. Over 100 galleries, studios, and pop-up installations will participate, along with 60 food vendors and three live music stages.

“Twenty years ago, First Friday was six galleries and a couple hundred art lovers,” said founding organizer Keola Cabanilla. “Now it’s the cultural heartbeat of the city. This anniversary celebration reflects how far the arts community has come.”

Highlights include a massive mural unveiling on a warehouse wall at Cooke and Auahi streets by renowned local artist Kamea Hadar, a live screen-printing workshop by Fitted Hawaii, and a retrospective photo exhibition at the Arts at Marks Garage documenting two decades of First Friday history.

The Hawaii Symphony Orchestra will perform a free outdoor set at Aala Park, and the Honolulu Museum of Art will offer free admission from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. with a special exhibition of contemporary Hawaiian artists.

Three shuttle loops will connect the neighborhoods throughout the evening, with pickup points at Aloha Tower, the state capitol, and the Ward Village parking structure. TheBus routes 2 and 13 will extend service until midnight.

The event runs from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Entry is free, though some gallery exhibitions and workshops may charge admission. Organizers estimate the anniversary celebration will draw over 15,000 visitors.