Celebrate the ARTS! - The 2011 Alfred Preis Honoree

The prestigious Alfred Preis Honor 2011 was presented to community leader, arts supporter and philanthropist Jean E. Rolles. Jean's leadership and support of arts and culture in Hawai'i has impacted countless lives. Her noteworthy contributions include education, East-West relations, environmental conservation, historic preservation, and an outstanding commitment to the arts.

See event photos HERE. Click "Read more" to learn more about Jean and see some fun video.


imageOn Friday, January 6, 2012, Hawai‘i Arts Alliance celebrated Jean E. Rolles with the prestigious Alfred Preis Honor for her lifetime commitment and support for the arts and arts education in Hawai‘i. Jean has been a long-time supporter and leader of statewide as well as national efforts to bring arts into the schools to improve performance in ALL areas of learning. The sold-out dinner honoring Jean was held at the Kahala Hotel & Resort’s elegant Maile Ballroom. Many of the biggest supporters of the arts and education in Hawai‘i were there to honor Jean, in what many touted as “the Arts Celebration of the Year.”

The audience was awed with a special performance by the entire Hawaii Opera Theatre Chorus, led by past Arts Alliance Chair Nola Nahulu, and past Preis honoree Beebe Freitas. An ensemble from the Hawaii Opera Theatre also offered an oli and doxology to open the program. Following dinner, all 60 singers surrounded the room to present selections from Verdi’s Aida. Premium table purchases included named scholarships, in Jean’s honor, to the Hawaii Opera Theatre, the Academy of Arts, and the East-West Center. Young’s Market Hawaii generously provided a selection of fine wines to compliment the Kahala’s well-received “surf-n-turf” dinner menu. Guests participated in a special “Drawing for the ART$” which supported arts education in Hawai‘i schools. Featured in this drawing were exclusive paintings by Kamea Hadar and Henry Hao; original sculptures by Satoru Abe and John Koga; jewelry created by internationally-renowned metal smith artist Gene Pijanowski; and a two night stay for two at the Waikiki Beach Marriott.

Arts Alliance Board member Chris Patrinos, President of ToKaMedia, created a special “Raiders of the Lost Ark”-themed video presentation entitled “Indiana Jean” featuring photos of Jean on her global adventures and travels.



Past Preis Honorees Robert Midkiff and Beebe Freitas presented Jean with a special sterling silver ARTS logo medal, created by Gene Pijanowski and modeled after the Kennedy Center Honors award. The medal received by Jean is the first of its kind issued by the Arts Alliance. Each guest received a hand-made koa wood box as a personal gift, created and donated by The Makery at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa College of Education. Jean capped the evening with passionate, well-received remarks thanking the Arts Alliance and the arts community for their support over the years. She reminded everyone that school arts programs are often the first budget item to get cut or eliminated during tough economic times. She highlighted the important and active role fulfilled by the Hawai‘i Arts Alliance in supporting all the arts and arts education in Hawai‘i.



The Alfred Preis Honor is named after the founder of Hawai‘i Arts Alliance, and the first executive director of the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. The Honor was established in 1982, and recognizes those who have demonstrated in word and action a lifetime commitment to the arts and arts education for all the people of Hawai‘i. Based on the idea of making art “mandatory, rather than allowable,” Preis authored the Art in State Buildings Law, which designates one percent of public building construction funds for art, and established the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, Art in Public Places Program. Also, an architect in Honolulu, Alfred Preis’ most noteworthy design is the iconic U.S.S. Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor.