Mana Music & Media

09/15/2025

09/15/2025

Kia ora! Honu are highly revered and honored animals throughout the Pacific as aumakua (ancestor guardian spirits). A significant cultural symbol, they are often depicted in much Oceanic art, such as in this gorgeous piece made of recycled plastic featured at Maori artist George Nuku's exhibit “Changing Oceans: Changing Minds” at Volcano Art Center in 2023.

Ngā mihi nui, George Nuku, for bringing and sharing your work with our Big Island community, inspiring others to initiate change through creativity and creation.

Ngā mihi nui also to Compassion & Choices for your work in the Pacific, supplying end-of-life resources and encouraging everyone to make informed decisions and have autonomy over their end-of-life journey, and for supporting the work of artists to help start these difficult but vital conversations.

Sponsored by Compassion & Choices Hawaii

Compassion & Choices Hawaii, George Nuku,
Volcano Art Center, Hawai'i Keiki Museum, Mana Music & Media, Michael Surprenant, Trina Nahm-Mijo, Kristen Marie Vierthaler, Lee Tiapula

08/31/2025

Maka Gallinger, one of Hawai’i’s most impassioned rising young artists, spoke on a panel at the 2024 Big Island Art Summit. She spoke about her journey to success and using one’s platform to create positive social change in the world. We were honored to have her at the event.

Maka has a solo project under her own name, as well as a band with her whole family, 808 Ohana. Through their music, they share their message of aloha ‘āina, honoring our history and those who came before us, and standing up for liberation in the face of colonialism, militarism, and injustice in Hawai’i and throughout the Pacific. Mahalo, Maka, for all that you do for our community.

Big Island Arts Summit, Compassion & Choices Hawaii, Hawai'i Keiki Museum, Mana Music & Media, Maka Gallinger, Maka Music, Michael Surprenant, Koana, Pono Foundation Kona, HMSA, Kings' Shops, Off Shore Air Inc., Lee Tiapula, Lisa Katherine Taylor, Mr Kneel: Hip Hop for Families, Hilo Education Arts Repertory Theatre (HEART), West Hawaii Dance Theatre & Academy, Puna Taiko, Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko Kohala-Waimea, Maka Gallinger, MAiTÉ La Muse Music, Don Fujiyama, Mayor Mitch Roth, UNUKUPUKUPU, George Nuku, Senator Tim Richards, Nicole Lowen, Sahra Indio, Nelson Makua, Trina Nahm-Mijo

08/06/2025

07/15/2025

The Sāmoa representatives at Palama Settlement during the 13th annual FestPAC on O’ahu. Fa'afetai lava for all the beautiful performances. Aloha!

Sponsored by Compassion & Choices Hawaii

Compassion & Choices Hawaii, FestPAC Hawaiʻi 2024, Hawaii Convention Center, Mana Music & Media, Michael Surprenant, Palama Settlement, Hawai'i Keiki Museum, Kristen Marie Vierthaler, Lee Tiapula