MANA 2026 Invitational Showcases 25 Big Island Artists at Hilo's Wailoa Center

The MANA 2026 Invitational brought 25 Big Island artists together at Hilo's Wailoa Center this week, launching a non-juried group exhibition that runs through May 7 and doubles as a cultural welcome for Merrie Monarch visitors converging on the city.

The show is curated by Nelson and Kainoa Makua of Nā Mākua, who built the exhibit around a deliberate premise: each invited artist selected the pieces they felt best represented their own mana. That structure sidesteps competitive curation entirely, allowing works that are older, previously shown, or simply personally significant to stand alongside newer pieces on equal terms.

Artists featured in the exhibition include Christine Ahia, Terry Bensch, Cody Yamaguchi, Stephen Davies, Tom Kualiʻi, and Kainoa Makua, among others drawn from across the island's arts community and working across multiple media.

The alignment with Merrie Monarch week is not accidental. With thousands of visitors arriving in Hilo for the hula festival, the Makuas positioned the Invitational as a parallel venue for cultural expression, connecting visual arts to the same thread of island identity that runs through the competition. For artists, it represents access to an audience that rarely makes it through the doors of Hilo's galleries during the rest of the year.

Nelson Makua's presence in the show carries added weight this year. His work also anchors a separate collection at the Fountain Gallery, reflecting nearly 50 years of artistic and design contributions across Hawaiʻi and beyond. The Makuas alternate the Fountain Gallery programming annually between seasoned artists and student work; this year's cycle centers Nelson Makua's own body of work.

An opening reception runs Friday evening from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Wailoa Center. Gallery hours continue on weekdays and select Saturdays through May 7.