With 2,285 miles of open ocean isolating the Hawaiian Islands from the nearest body of land, people perceive the Aloha State as a heavenly vacation destination — not a center for art.

   However, Isabella Ellaheh Hughes, the co-founder and director of the Honolulu Biennial Foundation, challenges this stereotype. The Honolulu Biennial 2017 will take place from March 8- May 8 at various locations around O’ahu, such as Foster Botanical Gardens and McCoy Pavilion. The theme of the exhibition “The Middle of Now and Here” expresses the hopes of bringing international attention to the State and its various arts.

   “The larger global strategy of why we do biennial events is really to let the world know this is what’s happening,” says Hughes, supporting this idea.

   Starting in Venice in 1895, over 100 biennials have occurred around the world, with the exception of Hawai’i. Biennials are large-scale art shows that can feature local and international artists. The Honolulu Biennial is projected to bring over 40,000 out-of-state visitors into the island, helping to raise local art awareness.

   “When you mention local art, people are lost,” said University of Hawaii grad student Evon Le, portraying a common perspective in Hawai’i. Hughes hopes that this spectacle will lead people to discover the talent of Hawaiian artists. Keith Tallett of the Big Island and Charlton Kupa’a Hee of O’ahu will be two out of over 30 artists displaying their art at this exhibition.

     Although unknown to those outside Hawai’i, local artists are able to showcase their talents through the Honolulu Biennial 2017.

     As Hughes voiced, “Part of our overall theme is the strategy of exhibiting local artists and pairing them up with major international artists is our vision to help elevate the status of artists from Hawaii.”