The Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts, in collaboration with the East-West Center Arts Program, presents Ocean of Peace, a group exhibition featuring seven artists of Micronesian heritage, on view at Honolulu Hale from May 8 to June 11, 2026. The exhibition opens on Friday, May 8 from 4–6 p.m.
The exhibition centers on the declaration of Ocean of Peace, a political and cultural framework that was officially endorsed at the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ meeting held in the Solomon Islands in September 2025. As geopolitical competition intensifies in the Pacific Region, the Ocean of Peace envisions the Pacific Island nations as sovereign, free from conflict and political and economic coercion. It affirms that Pacific nations should shape their own future on their own terms, guided by Indigenous cultural values rather than external geopolitical agendas.
The exhibition features painting, sculpture, weaving, and multimedia works that respond to the framework of Ocean of Peace. Each artist explores themes of continuity and adaptation of Indigenous Pacific knowledge, identity, and storytelling across time and place. The exhibitions is organized into thematic areas that interweave the works of the seven artists.
James Bamba (Guåhan [Guam]/Northern Mariana Islands) — weaving
Carol Ann Carl (Pohnpei) — poetry and spoken word
Gillian Dueñas (Guåhan [Guam]) — painting and mixed media
Kalany Omengkar (Belau/Northern Mariana Islands) — digital and mixed media
Anthony Watson (Belau) — carving and lashing
Lissette Yamase (Chuuk) — painting and drawing
Manny Crisostomo (Guåhan [Guam]) — multimedia and photography
Co-curator Dr. Hattori states,
The Pacific Ocean, our Blue Pacific Continent, covers about 30% of the earth’s surface. Micronesia spans 2.6 million square miles of that ocean and is a major maritime region of growing geopolitical consequence and commercial interest to foreign nations. The challenges to our security, environment, ways of life, and peace must be addressed. The first step to addressing challenges is awareness. To that end, these artists and curators hope to raise awareness and appreciation for our peoples, places, and cultures; together we can realize an Ocean of Peace.”
Exhibition on view May 8–June 11
Honolulu Hale
530 South King Street, Honolulu, 96813, HI
7:45 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday
Public Opening: Friday, May 8, 4–6 p.m.
Featuring poetry, dance, and music by Micronesian artists.
Additional information about the exhibit:
The exhibition’s curatorial team includes Jonathan Yukio Clark, Director of Schaefer International Gallery at Maui Arts & Cultural Center; Mary Therese Perez Hattori, EdD, Director of the Pacific Islands Development Program at East-West Center (Retired); Eric Chang, Arts Program Manager at East-West Center; and Annie Reynolds, PhD, Curator of East-West Center Gallery. This exhibition began at the Schaefer International Gallery in December 2025, and was then installed as a pop-up exhibit at Bishop Museum for the annual Celebrate Micronesia Festival on April 25, 2026, garnering a growing list of artists and partners.
Artists:
Anthony Watson @fellasqwngsahammer
Carol Ann Carl @karalahn
Gillian Dueñas @gilli.art
James Bamba @jamesbamba
Kalany Omengkar @kalanyomz
Lissette Yamase @lissetteyamase
Manny Crisostomo @mannycphotos
Curators:
Jonathan Clark @jonathanyukioclark
Eric Chang and Annie Reynolds @ewc.arts erch01
Mary Therese Hattori @maryhattori
Sponsors:
Bess Press @besspress @dashophnl
Center for Pacific Islands Studies uh_cpis
Medical Legal Partnership for Children in Hawai’i
EWC arts @ewc.arts
