Juanita Ka’āhanui Disrupts the "Free Exhibition" Model at HEART of Honolulu Street Festival – $15 Tickets Fund New Studio/Gallery
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJuanita Ka’āhanui Disrupts the "Free Exhibition" Model at HEART of Honolulu Street Festival – $15 Tickets Fund New Studio/Gallery, with Booth Check-In, Studio Access, and Raffle for Original PaintingHonolulu, HI – March 22, 2026 – HoMA award-winning Honolulu painter Juanita Ka’āhanui is challenging the exploitative tradition where artists exhibit their work for free while bearing all costs and labor. At the HEART of Honolulu Street Festival on Saturday, April 11, 2026, her dedicated booth will serve as check-in for her solo exhibition "Dreams of Pele: The Orgasmic Dawn"—located inside the studio—where $15 tickets are required for entry.Tickets can be purchased on-site at her booth or online ASAP via her website. Each ticket includes one complimentary raffle entry for an original painting from the Dreams of Pele series, with the live drawing at 3:00 PM at the booth. All proceeds from ticket sales will directly fund the creation of her new studio/gallery space — a community-supported hub for indigenous art and creation.
As the 14th great-granddaughter of Aztec Emperor Moctezuma II, granddaughter of a survivor of the California Indian Residential School system, and mother and wife to Kanaka ʻŌiwi (Native Hawaiians), Ka’āhanui carries a living legacy of survival, resilience, cultural resistance, and indigenous continuity. She stands firmly in her own power, refusing to let others define her value.
"I am not waiting for others to set my value — I stand in the power of myself, claiming it in my lifetime, just as Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera did," said Ka’āhanui. "I stand on their foundation, and on the strength of my grandmother — a survivor of the California Indian Residential School — and as a mother and wife to Kanaka ʻŌiwi, to further the rights of artists: fair compensation, economic independence, and sovereignty. This $15 ticket — whether bought at the booth or online now — represents community support that will make the new studio/gallery possible. You are not just viewing art; you are helping build a space where indigenous creators can thrive without gatekeepers."
Ka’āhanui, winner of the Honolulu Museum of Art's Melusine Award (Artist of Hawai‘i 2023), fuses her indigenous perspective with ancestral depth. Her work has appeared on CBS Hawaii Five-0 and Magnum P.I.. Recently, a painting from the Dreams of Pele series made an on-screen appearance in Netflix's UNTAMED Season 2 (currently in production in Hawai‘i) and will be featured in this exhibition.
The exhibition inside the studio features bold oils on canvas and wood from the Dreams of Pele series — evoking Pele's volcanic life force, orgasmic dawn creation, fierce feminine power, and indigenous Hawaiian Mo‘olelo (storytelling). Originals are available for direct purchase during open hours, with complimentary shipping on select pieces.Event & Ticket Details
Buy Tickets HereMedia & Collector Inquiries
Interviews available on disrupting art economics, artist rights, intergenerational resilience, indigenous continuity, and claiming value in one’s lifetime.
- Festival: HEART of Honolulu Street Festival – Saturday, April 11, 2026, 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM on Nu‘uanu Avenue
- Booth/Check-In Location: Juanita Ka’āhanui's booth at Manini Studios, 1111 Nu‘uanu Avenue, Honolulu, HI
- Exhibit Location: Inside Manini Studios, Studio 212 (access via check-in at the booth)
- Exhibit Hours: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Tickets: $15 general admission – available on-site at the booth or online now
- Raffle: One free entry per ticket. Original painting drawn live at 3:00 PM at the booth (winner notified by phone/email; pickup or shipping arranged).
Buy Tickets HereMedia & Collector Inquiries
Interviews available on disrupting art economics, artist rights, intergenerational resilience, indigenous continuity, and claiming value in one’s lifetime.
Contact:
Juanita Ka’āhanui
Email: juanitakaahanui@gmail.com
Website: juanitakaahanui.com
X / Instagram:
Juanita Ka’āhanui is a Honolulu-based painter expressing love, passion, connection, and indigenous fire from an ancestral viewpoint. As the 14th great-granddaughter of Aztec Emperor Moctezuma II, granddaughter of a California Indian Residential School survivor, and mother and wife to Kanaka ʻŌiwi (Native Hawaiians), her work bridges ancient empires, survival, and modern resilience.
Juanita Ka’āhanui
Email: juanitakaahanui@gmail.com
Website: juanitakaahanui.com
X / Instagram:
@artist_juanita
About Juanita Ka’āhanuiJuanita Ka’āhanui is a Honolulu-based painter expressing love, passion, connection, and indigenous fire from an ancestral viewpoint. As the 14th great-granddaughter of Aztec Emperor Moctezuma II, granddaughter of a California Indian Residential School survivor, and mother and wife to Kanaka ʻŌiwi (Native Hawaiians), her work bridges ancient empires, survival, and modern resilience.
