Mauna Kea offerings and COVID reflections come together in a new exhibit at the East Hawaiʻi Cultural Center opening Saturday, April 3, 2021.

“Ho’okupu: Unifying the world one offering at a time” opens in EHCC’s main gallery. The exhibition presents a small collection of ho’okupu, gifts that were ceremoniously offered by indigenous peoples on the slopes of Mauna Kea in solidarity with Hawaiian values. Each of the gifts signifies traditional skills and cultural practices, and expresses shared aloha. The gifts on display come from native peoples in the US and Canada, Moananuiākea (Oceania), Asia and Europe. The exhibit is presented by Kūkulu – The Pillars of Mauna ā Wākea, a project of Mauna Kea Education and Awareness.

Accompanying the exhibition of ho’okupu is “Thresholds” in the makai gallery. This solo exhibition by Bob Danhieux Douglas displays monoprints that were created in response to his experiences camping out at the Mauna Kea access road during the protests there, followed by the pandemic lockdown.

Ho’okupu and Thresholds are on view from April 3 to May 28. For more information, visit EHCC online at ehcc.org.

The gallery, located on 141 Kalakaua Street, is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.

Photo courtesy of the East Hawaiʻi Cultural Center