Our History


Hawai'i Alliance for Arts Education, founded in 1980, is the only statewide private non-profit for the arts that belongs to the national Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network, a major program of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC.

We represent 105 organizations and 300 individuals, a combined statewide membership of over 35,000.

We are recognized both locally and nationally for our achievements.

Hawai‘i Arts Alliance is a statewide private non-profit that champions all arts and is a member of the national Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network (KCAAEN). Our mission embraces education, community and advocacy. Highlights of its thirty year history are below.

1980 Incorporated November 28, 1980
Founder and President: Alfred Preis, an Architect, Artist, Philanthropist, Innovator of the legislation requiring 1 % all public construction moneys must be spent on Art in Public Places. Preis was also the founding Executive Director of Hawai‘i’s State Foundation on Culture and the Arts and designer of the Arizona Memorial.

1981 First Statewide Conference held at Pacific Beach Hotel
1985 Rainbow Festival of the Arts by and for young people
1987 First Professional Development Teacher Institute
1988 First paid Executive Director +office @ Honolulu Arts Academy of Arts
1989 Annual Honor named for Alfred Preis
1992 Lifestories: Visions of a Multicultural World - Annual Conference
1993 My Culture and My Art: I Think, I Create, I Learn
1995 From Pencils to Passwords: Arts and Technology Conference
1995 ‘Ohana Arts - Family/Community Programs are initiated
1995-99 Teacher / Artist Institutes
1996 Preis Honor becomes public event @ Bishop Museum. 1997 @ Hawai‘i Theatre
1997 National Endowment for the Arts grant for Hula Ki‘i
1999 Presentation to The Presidents Advisory Committee on the Arts
2000 ARTS license plates launched. Design by internationally noted artist, Clarence Lee. Available to all for registered automobiles in Hawai‘i
2001 The ARTS at Marks Garage founded
2001 ARTS FIRST Institutes Part of a Strategic Plan mandated by ACT 306
2001–07 ARTS FIRST Professional Development for Teachers
2002 ARTS FIRST invited to be 1 of 30 founding affiliates on APPLE Learning Interchange for its K-5 curriculum
2002 King Kamehameha – A Legacy Renewed PBS Documentary
2003 ARTS FIRST Essential Arts ToolKit: Fine Arts Grade Level Guide, K – 5 Teachers
2006 Mission formally expands to education, advocacy, community
2005-09 The Ford Foundation – Shifting Sands community project
2004-06 ARTS FIRST Research Project: U.S. DOE - Windward Schools
2006-10 ARTS FIRST Research Project: US DOE Arts and Literacy for All
2007 ongoing ARTS FIRST Professional Development for Teaching Artists
2009 ongoing ARTS FIRST Artists-in-the-Schools
2011 ongoing ARTS FIRST Art Bento