A group of Black feminist scholars will be in Honolulu for the annual American Studies Association Conference and invite you to join them at Waiwai Collective to celebrate their recent books, Black Food Geographies by Ashanté M. Reese, Black in Place by Brandi Thompson Summers, The Black Shoals by Tiffany Lethabo King, and Progressive Dystopia by Savannah Shange. There will be a DJ, twerkin', and Black feminist brilliance! $5 donation for entry at Ka Waiwai!

Directed by Marlon T. Riggs. 1989. USA. 55 min.

The seminal documentary on Black gay life, Emmy Award-winning director Marlon T. Riggs’ 1989 Tongues Untied uses poetry, personal testimony, rap and performance (featuring poet Essex Hemphill and others), to describe the homophobia and racism that confront Black gay men.

Prior to the screening, filmmaker Vivian Kleiman will provide a short introduction. After the film, Join us for a post-screening conversation moderated by Dr. Akiemi Glenn, Executive Director of The Pōpolo Project.

The Pōpolo Project invites you a talk story with Dr. Nitasha Sharma, professor of African American Studies and Asian American Studies at Northwestern University. Dr. Sharma will share about her ongoing research on the African diaspora in the Pacific and her forthcoming book, "Hawai‘i is My Haven: Race and Indigeneity in the Black Pacific," out from Duke University Press in 2020. Sharmaʻs work explores contemporary experiences of race, identity, and belonging among Black people in Hawai‘i. This is a conversation not to be missed!

$5 donation suggested

In honor of Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month, we are partnering with Doris Duke Theatre at the Honolulu Museum of Art for a special screening and panel discussion of La Negrada (Black Mexicans) , the first Mexican feature film about the Afro-Mexican community in Costa Chica, Oaxaca. Join us for a post-screening conversation moderated by Dr. Akiemi Glenn, Executive Director of The Pōpolo Project with panelists Tiare Mata and Dr. Rudy Guevarra.

We close out Black August and our summer Saltwater People concert series on August 31 celebrating global expressions of sovereignty, joy and resilience.

Featuring live music and DJs, vendors, food, and more, we will gather to dance and celebrate in a stunning rooftop indoor-outdoor space.

The Black August tradition encourages us as a community to engage in education throughout the month as a way to continue the spirit of resistance against the effects of colonialism and imperialism in our lives. In Hawaiʻi, resisting those oppressive forces means centering the indigenous people of this land, their culture, and their struggles. Itʻs in this spirit that weʻre offering a special introductory series to the Hawaiian language as part of Black August.  

This Black August, we will gather to read and discuss four books that challenge the ways we think about our world, about Blackness, about Hawai‘i, and our places in the midst of all of it.

As Black as Resistance: Finding the Conditions for Liberation by Zoé Samudzi and William C. Anderson (2018)

Facilitated by Emily Kandagawa

The Black August tradition encourages us as a community to engage in education throughout the month as a way to continue the spirit of resistance against the effects of colonialism and imperialism in our lives. In Hawaiʻi, resisting those oppressive forces means centering the indigenous people of this land, their culture, and their struggles. Itʻs in this spirit that we’re partnering with Outdoor Afro Hawai‘i and Mālama Mākua for this Black August Mākua Valley Cultural Access.

Featuring striking footage from the South Pacific islands, the short film (20 min) WANTOKS: Dance of Resilience in Melanesia, profiles the artists and activists who are fighting for self-determination while trying to defend their homes against the rising sea.

The Black August tradition encourages us as a community to engage in education throughout the month as a way to continue the spirit of resistance against the effects of colonialism and imperialism in our lives. In Hawaiʻi, resisting those oppressive forces means centering the indigenous people of this land, their culture, and their struggles. Itʻs in this spirit that weʻre offering a special introductory series to the Hawaiian language as part of Black August.  

This Black August, we will gather to read and discuss four books that challenge the ways we think about our world, about Blackness, about Hawai‘i, and our places in the midst of all of it.

Lose Your Mother: A Journey Along the Atlantic Slave Route by Saidiya Hartman (2007)

Facilitated by Dr. Akiemi Glenn

Join us for a special weekend of cultural exchange and learning focused on honoring land and water through deities of feminine aspect from Hawai‘i and from the African diaspora, particularly the Ifá tradition of the Yoruba people of West Africa.

THE FIRST NAME OF GOD IS MOTHER is a beautiful weekend event honoring the sacred connection between Hawaiian and African Goddesses, Their synchronicities and the power of Their collective spiritual energies…and ours! Saturday is not only a sacred conversation about how the ancient spiritual and cultural traditions of West Africa and Hawaiʻi are unmistakably linked, but also how the mandate for Native Hawaiian cultural sovereignty has invoked the attention of our collective Goddesses to help us all with the changes we seek.

On August 18 Priestess Nana Sula Spirit will lead an Orisha song workshop and ocean blessing ceremony in Mākaha, Waiʻanae.

Join us for a special weekend of cultural exchange and learning focused on honoring land and water through deities of feminine aspect from Hawai‘i and from the African diaspora, particularly the Ifá tradition of the Yoruba people of West Africa.

THE FIRST NAME OF GOD IS MOTHER is a beautiful weekend event honoring the sacred connection between Hawaiian and African Goddesses, Their synchronicities and the power of Their collective spiritual energies…and ours! Saturday is not only a sacred conversation about how the ancient spiritual and cultural traditions of West Africa and Hawaiʻi are unmistakably linked, but also how the mandate for Native Hawaiian cultural sovereignty has invoked the attention of our collective Goddesses to help us all with the changes we seek.

The Black August tradition encourages us as a community to engage in education throughout the month as a way to continue the spirit of resistance against the effects of colonialism and imperialism in our lives. In Hawaiʻi, resisting those oppressive forces means centering the indigenous people of this land, their culture, and their struggles. Itʻs in this spirit that weʻre offering a special introductory series to the Hawaiian language as part of Black August.  

Join us for an informal discussion at Kapiʻolani Park as we hear from members of our Black community who have been a part of efforts to protect Mauna Kea, those who have visited the mauna, and from those who want to learn more about the issues and what our kuleana and contributions may be to this movement as Black people in Hawai‘i.

This Black August, we will gather to read and discuss four books that challenge the ways we think about our world, about Blackness, about Hawai‘i, and our places in the midst of all of it.

The White Pacific: US Imperialism and Black Slavery in the South Seas after the Civil War by Gerald Horne (2007)

Facilitated by Dr. Ethan Caldwell

West African drums and dance, bellydance, samba and more, all under one roof! We have an exciting line up of some of the greatest dancers and musicians on the island. African merchandise fresh from the continent will be for sale, including bags, clothing, accessories, and handmade goods.

Admission is $15. Tickets are available here.

The Black August tradition encourages us as a community to engage in education throughout the month as a way to continue the spirit of resistance against the effects of colonialism and imperialism in our lives. In Hawaiʻi, resisting those oppressive forces means centering the indigenous people of this land, their culture, and their struggles. Itʻs in this spirit that weʻre offering a special introductory series to the Hawaiian language as part of Black August.  

This Black August, we will gather to read and discuss four books that challenge the ways we think about our world, about Blackness, about Hawai‘i, and our places in the midst of all of it.

On Holy Ground: Commitment and Devotion to Sacred Lands by Luisah Teish and Leilani Birely (2013)

Facilitated by Imani Altemus-Williams

Join us for an interactive and engaging workshop with community birth worker and birth sovereignty activist Piper Lovemore. Piper’s work explores the parallels between contemporary birthing contexts and practices, and global reclamation’s of personal and community sovereignty. Learn how the deepening of both empathy & empowerment available thru the birth transition fortifies the resilience potential of family, community and culture, and why protecting this potential must be a priority.

The Black August tradition encourages us as a community to engage in education throughout the month as a way to continue the spirit of resistance against the effects of colonialism and imperialism in our lives. In Hawaiʻi, resisting those oppressive forces means centering the indigenous people of this land, their culture, and their struggles. Itʻs in this spirit that weʻre offering a special introductory series to the Hawaiian language as part of Black August.  

The Pōpolo Project will be attending and doing outreach at the 176th anniversary celebration of Hawaiian Sovereignty Restoration at Thomas Square. Come by and check out our table and learn about the connections between Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea and Black August.

Get tickets on Eventbrite

Saltwater People is a monthly rooftop party that celebrates the global flow of Black cultures with a combination of music you won’t hear anywhere else in Honolulu. A mixture of genre-breaking live music, DJ sets, vendors, food, and learning, Saltwater People brings the flavors of African and Pacific diasporas together where our lineages and histories converge here in Hawai‘i.

Live music by. Afro-Criollo Sound , Fat Moxy and the Bombay Collective, DJ sets by Shy Shonnie, Lonnie Bonds

* children 12 and under free* * Food and beverage available for purchase * * $5 flat-rate in-building parking*

Saltwater People is a monthly rooftop party that celebrates the global flow of Black cultures with music you won’t hear anywhere else in Honolulu. A mixture of genre-breaking live music, DJ sets, vendors, food, and learning, Saltwater People brings the flavors of African and Pacific diasporas together where our lineages and histories converge here in Hawai‘i.

Join Outdoor Afro Hawai'i for our June gathering at Kaimana Beach. We're heading makai for a SOULFlow (tm) yoga session with Micole of House of Healing Hawai'i!

Join us for a special musical performance by The Reminders and celebrate Eid, which marks the end of Ramadan. Come with a joyful spirit and wear festive attire!

*Please note that the program will take place on the Museum's Lower Lawn and the galleries will not be open for this event.

Get tickets and learn more here.

Definitely not a traditional museum tour! Join Shangri La Residency participants, The Reminders (Aja Black and Big Samir), on a unique journey through the museum as they re-interpret Shangri La through music, song and performance. Experience Shangri La as a site of creativity and imagination as Aja and Samir offer a new way to enjoy the museum. A limited number of tickets are available for this thought-provoking program.

Learn more and get tickets here.

Inspired by "The Free Black Women's Library," a monthly mobile library pop-up organized by Ola Ronke in NYC, the Hawaii Free Women of Color Library Pop-Up & Retreat is an all-community book exchange and mini retreat highlighting Black and women of color authors and entrepreneurs. The book exchange is "take a book, leave a book" style, so bring a title by a Black woman or woman of color to share!

Come out for a FREE concert for the whole family on the Hawaii State Art Museum museum lawn!

The Reminders are in residence at Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design from May 26-June 7, 2019.

Dynamic musical group, The Reminders, seamlessly blend hip hop, soul and roots music and melodies into powerful performances with insight and thoughtfulness. Brussels-born emcee, Big Samir, weaves intricate rhythmic patterns into a bilingual French/English flow of street-smart consciousness. Queens-born emcee/vocalist Aja Black compliments with graceful deliveries, cadences, and vocal stylings.