Artist Talk & Dinner w/ Sig Zane

Saturday, May 16, 2026
J. Watumull Atrium of Hawaiian Hall
6 – 8 p.m.

Bishop Museum’s newest exhibition Ea Mai ʻEiwa: Patterns of Practice features works by Nālani Kanakaʻole (1946–2026), Sig Zane, and Kūhaʻoʻīmaikalani Zane, a family of artists from Hilo, Hawaiʻi. From Nālani Kanakaʻole’s art direction and choreography to Sig Zane’s photography and textile design, and Kūhaʻoʻīmaikalani Zane’s graphic design and immersive installations, each artist channels ʻike carried through generations. The title is a reference to “Kūhaʻimoana,” a chant that describes the migration of a family of shark gods, the “structures of nine” that embody the tangible skills and talent held by each individual shark and the foundational rituals brought from Kahiki to Hawaiʻi that ensured their survival. The exhibition showcases how the three artists look to chants for data, knowledge holding, and storytelling which become inspirational levers for their creative pieces.

Upon the opening of the exhibition, for three consecutive moon cycles, Ea Mai ʻEiwa will reveal new art work created by each of the three artists.

On Saturday, May 16, 2026, the exhibition will highlight new work created by Sig Zane – titled “HOʻOPUKA: Left Light.” To mark the new moon cycle and to honor the reveal of this new artwork, we invite you to join the artist & designer Sig Zane for an intimate sit-down dinner and talk story session to explore his creative process, share moʻolelo behind his new work, and navigate the themes woven throughout the exhibition.

The dinner will be catered by Aunty Tammy Smith of Hale Kealoha.

Menu to be announced.
Pre-registration Only
**Limited Seating**
$100 Registration Fee includes dinner, select items from Bishop Museum’s Shop Pacifica, and a private tour of the exhibition with the artist and co-curators

Artist Bio
A keiki o ka ʻāina, Sig Zane is a child of Hawaiʻi. From the earliest years, the ocean has been his playground. Living in the rhythms of tide and wave, and sun and moon, nature has defined Sig from the beginning. Surfer, fisherman, hula dancer, artist, cultural exponent – reflections of his life are found in each design. An immersion in strict traditional teaching of dance and ritual, the understanding of the relationship with plant and culture is the foundation to his work on cloth, in writing, and in daily practices. The approach is always with honor and respect for the generations that came before and to build the platform for the future. Sig and his wife, Nalani Kanakaʻole, opened the doors to Sig Zane Designs in 1985. Their mission was to educate and share what they knew about their culture. Today, their stories continue with every product and performance, and their son Kūhaʻoʻīmaikalani carries the torch further into the next generation. “The energy from Hawaii Island feeds my spirit. The elements of nature shape my character. The archaic chants of our elders guide the traditions and practices. The rhythm of the universe dictates the flow of time. The honoring and respect of the ancestors that stand at the back of me directs the action. I am a steward of their knowledge. My art is a tangible visual form of their story.”