SPECIAL EVENTS AT DAC
+ IN THE COMMUNITY
Upcoming Events at DAC
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Dancing with the Universe: With IONA Contemporary Dance Theatre Founder & Artistic Director Cheryl Flaharty
Don’t miss this FREE presentation by IONA Contemporary Dance Theatre Founder and Artistic Director Cheryl Flaharty, focusing on the development of IONA’s work in the butoh dance form, costume creation, and the many causes IONA champions.
This event is part of IONA’s 35th Anniversary Celebration, supported by Atherton Family Foundation, City & County of Honolulu, Wallace, Elizabeth & Isabella Wong Family Foundation, Kosasa Foundation, G. N. Wilcox Trust, Hawai‘i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts through appropriations from the Legislature of the State of Hawai‘i and by the National Endowment for the Arts.
Saturday, September 13, 2-3pm
Downtown Art Center Studio 1C (first floor)
FREE with RSVP and open to the publicPhoto courtesy IONA
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DAC Storytelling Night with Mark Branner
In this WORLD PREMIERE, Mark Branner shares an epic, personal story spanning three decades, blending his creative, spiritual, professional, and romantic journeys against the backdrop of China’s transformation.
ABOUT MARK: Raised in Taiwan, Mark left a UCLA scholarship to perform as a clown with Ringling Brothers, later training in Sichuan Opera and performing across Asia. He co-runs CiRCO Redempto, serving Nosu Yi children in China, and is a theatre professor at UH Mānoa specializing in Theatre for Young Audiences.
Saturday, September 20 from 6-7:30 PM
In the DAC 2nd Floor Classroom
$10 per person, online or at the door.STORYTELLING SERIES AT DAC:
Oct 18 – Jeff Gere, Shiver Me Tales: A birthday show of spooky stories collected over 35 years.
Nov 15 – Sean-Joseph Choo, Puppet Tales: New short plays and songs as puppet shows—always a delight to watch!
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From the HEART: Celebrating Historic Downtown Honolulu
This September 2025, Downtown Art Center (DAC) presents From the HEART, a two-day celebration of our vibrant, historically-important neighborhood and its creative community!
Hosted in partnership with resident historian Gary Coover and the Fort Street Mall Business Improvement District, the event also marks DAC’s 5-year anniversary of hosting local arts exhibitions.
Day 1 – Friday, September 26 from 4-7 p.m.: An evening arts market in Wilcox Park at Fort Street Mall will feature local arts and crafts vendors, food, live music, and more! The event aims to engage and inform the community about the rich, vibrant history of Honolulu’s historic Downtown district.
Day 2 – Saturday, September 27 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Daytime activities at DAC for its 5th Anniversary will include a plein air timed outdoor painting competition focused on scenes from Downtown and Chinatown, along with live music, interactive art experiences, and celebratory treats.
September 26 and 27
Fort Street Mall and Downtown Art Center’s Studio 1C
FREE and open to the public! -
First Fridays at DAC (Every First Friday of the Month)
Every First Friday evening of the month, DAC joins other creative organizations in the Chinatown Arts District with special art activities, performances, make & take crafting projects, exhibition opening receptions, artist meet & greets, and more!
Every First Friday of the month from 5:30 - 8 p.m.
Downtown Art Center (all spaces)
FREE and open to the public!Photo: Dancers from IONA Contemporary Dance Theatre
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Sunday Sessions Live Music (Every First Sunday of the month)
Every First Sunday of the month, DAC and veteran music coordinator and musician Terry Oyama hosts live music by different local bands and musicians at DAC. These performances are FREE and open to the public! Refreshments available from the DAC donation bar.
Every First Sunday of the month, from 2-4 p.m.
DAC Studio 1C (first floor)
FREE and open to the public (donations welcome)Photo: Veteran Honolulu musician Bobby Nishida
DAC-Produced Community Events
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The HEART of Honolulu Art-focused Street Festival
Next Event: Saturday, April 11, 2026
Save the date for our next annual HEART of Honolulu Art Street Festival! We invite artists and arts organizations to take to the streets, as we shut down Nuuanu Avenue in Chinatown and open it to pedestrian traffic for everyone to experience and enjoy the HEART of the Chinatown Arts District, including art, free make & take crafts, live music, food, creative local vendors, performances and more. -
Guitars & Plein Air in the Park
Last Event: Saturday, March 1, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
FREE and open to the public!Guitars & Plein Air in the Park, at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Park on Bethel and Hotel Streets, is a FREE public collab event with DAC and Hawaii Theatre that celebrates Hawaii's musicians and artists!
Experience the traditional Hawaiian melodies of Maikapu'uwai, the classic surf rock sounds of Men in Grey Suits, the folk harmonies of John Batdorf, from the ’70s duo Batdorf and Rodney, and the timeless energy of classic rock with Later Dave.
Artists, don't miss your chance to take part in the DAC Quickdraw Plein Air Painting Competition, juried by David Luchak. There is NO entry fee, and it's open to all mediums: watercolor, pastel, oil, pencil, and acrylic. Participants must bring their own supplies and register on-site. Upon check-in, canvases will be date-stamped, and artists will receive a designated area map. All artwork must be completed on the day of the event, within Chinatown and Downtown Honolulu! -
Sunset Arts Market at Fort Street Mall
Next Event: Friday, September 26, 2025 from 4-7 p.m. as part of the From the HEART Festival.
Free and open to the public.
Save the date! Sunset Arts Market at Fort Street Mall is an evening arts market produced by Downtown Art Center, and focused on activating the historic Fort Street Mall at Pauahi Street with a spotlight on local art, live music, fashion, and food.
FREE Public Events at DAC
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Sunday Sessions Live Music
Every First Sunday of the month from 2-4 p.m.
FREE and open to the publicLocated in the second floor DAC Main Gallery or Classroom
Every First Sunday of the month, we host live music by different local bands, curated by local music veteran Terry Oyama. These performances are FREE, although donations are welcome. Refreshments available from the DAC donation bar. -
First Fridays at DAC
Every First Friday of the month from 5:30 - 8 p.m.
FREE and open to the public!Every First Friday, DAC and several other arts organizations in the Chinatown Arts District host art receptions and special events that showcase the local creative community, from visual to performing arts! Join the First Friday art walk and celebrate with us!