ConFest 2024 celebrates Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in theater. It's been around for nearly a decade and a half. Among the events is a reading of the play “Fighting Like Mad.”

A stream of water trickles into a thriving kalo field as you walk through the doors of the East-West Center Gallery. "Ho‘okahe Wai, Ho‘oulu ‘Āina: Kalo and Community" shares stories and artistry from students who were inspired by the kalo field, or loʻi, adjacent to the Hawai‘inuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge. HPR's Cassie Ordonio has more.

The exhibit “Whorl” captures the essence of humans and nature through book sculptures at East Hawai‘i Cultural Center in Hilo until May 31.

State and federal agencies are preparing for the influx of plant or animal products arriving from different regions for the Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture next month. DOA officials are working with festival organizers on possible replacements for invasive plants that can be used during the festival.

Festival Director Aaron Salā said despite the Pacific Islands' pull out from the festival, a hale will still be built for them at the Festival Village hosted at the Hawai‘i Convention Center.

Longtime local theater stalwart Dwight Martin is making his return to Mānoa Valley Theatre this month. Martin was the theater's producing director from 1980 to 2019, but he's back as an actor this time. The Conversation sat down with Martin to talk about taking on an iconic role and what he's been up to in retirement.

The world's largest celebration of Indigenous Pacific Islanders is less than three weeks away, and local festival planners say they're ready to host. One focus is building the festival village at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center where delegates will display their culture through performances and art. HPR's Cassie Ordonio explains what's been going on behind the scenes.

The Ethics Commission found Allison Wong Daniel voted on a decision to gift a mural from the Jean Charlot Foundation to the Arts in Public Places Collections while serving on both boards. Daniel was a member of the SFCA commission from 2018 to 2022.

Enchanted Lake Elementary student Zoe Leigh just released her first book, “Papa Says... Shaka!” The Kailua sixth grader talked with The Conversation about how the book came about and what she would say to other aspiring authors.

The resting place of Hawaiian royalty has had 15 curators since the mid-1800s. A majority have been descendants of families who served aliʻi for generations. DLNR announced this week that it was breaking tradition and selecting a curator who was not a lineal descendant of these families and had not trained under previous kahu. HPR's Kuʻuwehi Hiraishi reports.