Isabella Hughes grew up on the island of Oahu, as a young girl she was always fascinated by the arts and frequently visited the Bishop Museum.
“[My parents] would always take me to the Bishop Museum when I was younger, back then I think it was called the Academy of Arts” said Isabella about her background of art as a child.
Hughes is now a curator and had the opportunity to work as at the Smithsonian, featuring art from Hawaii artists. She feels as though Hawaii’s artists aren’t given enough credit and that other young people should be interested in the arts. Hughes is the Co-founder of the Honolulu Biennial in hopes to bring the art to Oahu.
The Honolulu Biennial is a festival that wants to bring different cultures together and to experience different forms of contemporary art from those cultures. It will focus on Pacific and Asian continent, this will be its first time in Hawaii. It will be on display from March 8 to May 8 in different cities on Oahu.

“Art is looked down upon” says UH student Chelsea Weaver.

Hughes hopes the Biennial will show people the talent of these artists as well as the cultures behind the pieces so that people are able to appreciate and understand the importance of it.
The Honolulu Biennials is advertised as: “Middle of Now | Here.” for Hughes that’s a play on words.
“[Hawaii] is in the middle of nowhere and the center of everything”Hughes said.