Kumu Hula Nālani Kanaka’ole and the Zane Family Get Major Honolulu Museum of Art Exhibition
The Honolulu Museum of Art will showcase one of its most culturally significant exhibitions in years when “Nālani Kanaka’ole and the Zane Family: Weaving Stories Through Hula and Design” opens April 18. The multimedia exhibition, running through September 20, brings together revered kumu hula Nālani Kanaka’ole with acclaimed designer Sig Zane and his son Kūha’oimaikalani Zane in a groundbreaking exploration of how traditional Hawaiian cultural practices inform contemporary artistic expression.
Located in the museum’s Spalding House galleries, the exhibition marks the first time HoMA has dedicated such extensive space to examining the intersection of hula, fashion design, and cultural identity. The collaboration highlights how these three artists have individually and collectively preserved and perpetuated Hawaiian cultural knowledge through their respective crafts.
Kanaka’ole, daughter of legendary kumu hula Edith Kanaka’ole, has spent decades as one of Hawaiʻi’s most respected cultural practitioners and educators. Her work preserving traditional hula and chant forms the exhibition’s spiritual foundation, with video installations capturing both intimate teaching moments and powerful ceremonial performances.
The Zane family’s contribution centers on their revolutionary approach to contemporary Hawaiian design. Sig Zane, whose botanical-inspired prints have become synonymous with modern Hawaiian fashion, presents pieces that translate native plant knowledge into wearable art. His son Kūha’oimaikalani, a designer and cultural practitioner in his own right, bridges generational perspectives with works that honor ancestral traditions while speaking to contemporary Hawaiian identity.
Cultural Storytelling Through Multiple Mediums
What sets this exhibition apart is its multimedia approach to cultural storytelling. Visitors will experience traditional oli (chant) and hula performances through immersive video installations, while interactive displays allow hands-on exploration of traditional kapa-making techniques and contemporary fabric design processes.
The exhibition also features a dedicated space showcasing how native Hawaiian plants serve as both inspiration for Zane’s designs and integral elements in traditional hula practice. Visitors can trace the journey from native ʻōhiʻa lehua patterns in Zane’s textiles to their ceremonial use in hula adornment.
“This exhibition represents more than just displaying beautiful objects,” said Dr. Shawn Eichman, curator of Asian and Pacific Arts at HoMA. “It’s about understanding how cultural knowledge moves through generations and transforms across different artistic mediums while maintaining its essential spirit.”
The collaboration emerged from years of mutual respect and shared commitment to Hawaiian cultural perpetuation among the three artists. Kanaka’ole and the Zanes have long recognized how their individual practices reinforce and strengthen each other, creating a synergy that extends beyond their separate artistic disciplines.
Downtown Cultural Destination
The exhibition positions HoMA as a crucial cultural destination in downtown Honolulu’s evolving arts landscape. Located just minutes from the bustling Chinatown arts district, the museum continues to serve as a bridge between Hawaiʻi’s traditional cultural practices and contemporary artistic expression.
Programming surrounding the exhibition includes monthly hula demonstrations, textile workshops led by members of the Zane ʻohana, and cultural talks exploring the deeper meanings behind traditional Hawaiian artistic practices. These events are designed to make the exhibition’s themes accessible to both kama’āina and visitors seeking authentic cultural experiences.
The timing coincides with HoMA’s broader initiative to center Indigenous voices and perspectives in its programming. Museum leadership has prioritized collaborations with Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners as part of its commitment to more inclusive and culturally responsive exhibitions.
For many in Honolulu’s cultural community, the exhibition represents long-overdue recognition of how contemporary Hawaiian artists continue ancient traditions while creating new forms of cultural expression. The collaboration between Kanaka’ole and the Zanes demonstrates how cultural knowledge adapts and thrives across different artistic mediums.
The exhibition runs through September 20, with special programming events scheduled throughout the summer months. For Honolulu residents and visitors alike, it offers a rare opportunity to experience the depth and continuity of Hawaiian cultural practices through the eyes of three master artists who have dedicated their lives to perpetuating this knowledge for future generations.
