DOWNTOWN ART CENTER
Honolulu, Hawaiʻi
Second Floor Gallery Hours: Tues-Sun 11 AM to 5 PM
DAC Art & Gifts Shop Hours: Tues-Sat 11 AM to 5 PM
Upcoming Main Gallery Exhibition
DAC Collectors' Art Sale & Exhibition Fundraiser
On View September 5-26, 2025
The DAC Collectors’ Art Sale & Exhibition Fundraiser is a special exhibition inviting collectors to consign artwork from their personal collections to benefit DAC’s exhibitions program and support the growth of Hawaiʻi’s vibrant art community. In addition, there will be a selection of works for sale by Hawaiʻi-based contemporary artists.
VIP Preview Reception: Thursday, September 4 from 5:30 - 8 p.m. Tickets: $150, available HERE.
First Friday Public Opening Reception: Friday, September 5 from 5:30 - 8 p.m.
Current Courtyard Gallery Exhibition
“There Was a Time When: Paintings by Peter Drewliner”
On View September 3 - 20, 2025
Artist and well-known local philanthropist Peter Drewliner’s work in this exhibition, presented to the public for the first time, celebrates the natural beauty of Hawai‘i’s landscapes during what many consider to be the islands’ golden age. The work invites viewers to reflect on memory, transformation, and the passage of time.
About the Artist
Peter Drewliner was born in 1939 in Honolulu and raised in Mānoa Valley. After graduating from Punahou and Claremont Men’s College, he served in the infantry in Germany as a Major. Drewliner enjoyed a long career at Bank of Hawaiʻi, retiring in 2000 as Senior Vice President.
Throughout his life, Peter has maintained a strong interest in art and classical music.
With his partner, artist Charlie Higa, he traveled the world enjoying art and culture. Settling in Kahala, they spent their days pampering pets, painting, and potting. Today, Peter continues to create beautiful ceramics, including delicately patterned tableware and whimsical creatures, while rejoicing in a life well lived and generously shared.
Current Classroom Exhibition
2025 DAC Student Art Show
On View September 4 - November 1, 2025
Downtown Art Center is proud to present our Annual Student Show, celebrating our community of creative learners! The exhibition is open to former and current students at DAC who have participated in our casual or fine arts classes and workshops.
Upcoming Events & Exhibitions
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Dancing with the Universe
Saturday, September 13, 2-3pm
FREE with RSVP and open to the publicDon’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.
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Storytelling Night with Special Guest Mark Branner
Saturday, September 20 at 6 p.m. $10 per person.
Join us for DAC Storytelling Night, featuring the world premiere of "Strange Love Affair"— a raw, compelling, and deeply personal storytelling experience by Mark Branner, exploring his 30-year love/hate relationship with China. Part travelogue, part memoir, part cultural odyssey, Mark weaves together stories of his creative, spiritual, professional, and romantic journey through a rapidly changing China.
This event is part of DAC’s monthly storytelling series, hosted in partnership with Honolulu master storyteller Jeff Gere.
Oct 18: JEFF GERE, ’Shiver Me Tales’: Jeff reaches into his storybag for a show of "Spookies!" to celebrate his birthday on Halloween. He’s been collecting supernatural tales for 35 years. Bring a friend!Nov 15: SEAN-JOSEPH CHOO, Puppet Tales: Sean is developing a series of short plays and songs as puppet shows. He has starred with Honolulu Theatre for Youth, led a Kumu Kahua production, and toured in Denmark, France, and Turkey.
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Upcoming Exhibition: Tokyo's GYAGYAGYA GALLERY Presents "Shima To Shima"
On View September 23-27, 2025 in the Courtyard Gallery
Downtown Art Center proudly hosts Tokyo’s GYAGYAGYA GALLERY in a groundbreaking cross-cultural exhibition — the first time a Japanese gallery has presented a curated show at DAC!
Featuring 10 emerging Japanese artists from the GYA School, “Shima to Shima” explores the emotional, cultural, and spiritual resonance between Japan and Hawai‘i through painting, sculpture, mixed media, and conceptual installation.
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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!
Day 1 – Friday, September 26: 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: 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.
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Upcoming Exhibition: Hawaii’s Woodshow, Na Lā’au o Hawai’i
On View in Studio 1C October 3 - 25, 2025
The 2025 Hawaii’s Woodshow™ celebrates its 33rd anniversary as Hawai‘i’s premier woodworking exhibition, presented by the Hawai‘i Forest Association (HFA). This annual event showcases exceptional craftsmanship and innovative design using Hawaiian-grown woods, with artists highlighting the unique beauty of local species. The show emphasizes the importance of planting and stewarding high-quality hardwoods for future generations, with entries judged on Inspiration of Design and Excellence of Implementation by a panel of experts in art, design, and forestry.
Artists Reception and award ceremony: First Friday, October 3 from 2-4 p.m.First Friday Reception: Friday, October 3 from 5-8 p.m.
DAC Special Projects & Community Support
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DAC Art & Gifts Retail Shop
Our curated first floor retail shop is a showcase gallery where local artists can sell their artwork, and visitors can buy unique gifts created by Hawaiʻi artists.
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Vacant to Vibrant
Our Vacant to Vibrant project aims to prove that Downtown/Chinatown Honolulu’s vacant spaces can come alive again, as valuable hubs of art, creativity, and community involvement.
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Public Art WORKS!
Our initiative to beautify Downtown/Chinatown Honolulu through the power of the arts employs artists to create colorful, fun, photogenic, and uplifting public art pieces that the community can enjoy.
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HEART of Honolulu Street Festivals
HEART is an acronymn that stands for Heritage, Entertainment, Arts & culture, Restaurants, and Theatre & Performing Arts. Together, these elements make up the core of our vibrant creative community, and are the focus of our annual HEART of Honolulu arts festival on
Nuuanu Avenue each April.