IMPORTANT DATES
- Application Opens: Friday, March 27, 2026 The application link will be available on this page starting Friday, March 27.
- Submission Deadline: Saturday, April 18, 2026 at midnight
- Week of April 27: Applications Reviewed & Families Notified
- Young Artist Exhibition: July 10 – August 8, 2026
Theme: Ke Ala Wai — The Pathways of Water
Level: Ages 9 – 12
Program Dates: Monday – Friday, June 8 – July 10 from 9:00am – 3:00pm *There will be no class on Friday, July 3
Description: Ke Ala Wai invites keiki to follow the journey of water—from its first breath in the clouds to its return to the sea. Rooted in place-based learning and the cultural and ecological wisdom of Hawaiʻi, this five‑week summer program helps young artists understand water as a kumu, a storyteller, and a pathway of connection.
Through hands-on artmaking, movement, moʻolelo, and daily kilo (observation), students deepen their relationship with the ʻāina and waters that sustain our island home. Each week explores a different stage in the life of water, allowing keiki to experience creativity as flow, transformation, and abundance.
The program concludes with a hōʻike and exhibition that celebrates the full journey of Ke Ala Wai. Families and community members are invited to walk through the students’ artworks, experience collaborative installations, and witness the stories and reflections that emerged over the five weeks. This gathering honors the creativity, curiosity, and relationships that have taken shape—just as water completes its cycle and begins again.
Details: For our young artists, the focus is on wonder, discovery, and tactile creation through the following priactices:
- Hands-on Artmaking: Students will rotate through various media, creating individual sketches, mixed-media works, ceramic sculptures, and large-scale collaborative installations.
- Cultural Connection: We dive into moʻolelo (stories) and movement to bring our island’s history and traditions to life.
- Daily Kilo: Students develop the vital skill of observation, spending time grounded in the ʻāina to witness the environment firsthand.
- Place-Based Learning: A deep dive into the unique water cycles of our island home.
The Summer Art Experience will culminate in the annual Young Artist Exhibition, curated by Mina Elison and the teaching artists, featuring original works from the summer program.
MORE SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMS
About Our Programs: As a place of convergence, the Mill serves as both a community and a physical place–celebrating the power of the arts, bringing people, ideas and perspectives together. We are proud to offer adult and youth programs that focus on awareness of one’s individuality in the contexts of family, community and the natural world. Our exhibitions provide a space to reflect, share perspectives and grow as a community. Our classes & workshops are designed to inspire creativity, foster connections, and provide enriching experiences for all participants. We invite you to join us in the studio.
