Aupuni Space is an independent, artist-run gallery and venue located in the Kakaʻako neighborhood of Honolulu, Hawaiʻi.
Our mission is to provide space for community-based exhibitions and programming that feature Kanaka ‘Ōiwi and Hawaiʻi-based artists, as well as their international collaborators. Aupuni Space is one of the only venues in Honolulu that provides a global contemporary art lens on Hawaiʻi as well as a physical gathering space for locally engaged, experimental and critical voices.
The history of Aupuni, as a concept, dates back to the Aupuni Artwall in the early 2000s, located on the corner of Aupuni and School streets, the original location of Native Books Hawaiʻi. Aupuni Place, located at the ‘ewa end of Ward Warehouse, housed art studios and a community gallery space. In 2017, the Aupuni ‘ohana migrated several blocks away to Auahi Street and opened 729 Studios in the former location of SPF Projects (2013–2015). Aupuni Space has been operating in this location since February 2018.
Aupuni Space is a program of Puʻuhonua Society, in partnership with TRADES Artist in Residence program and Tropic Editions.
Our programs are made possible in part through generous funding from the following: Atherton Family Foundation, Hawaiʻi State Foundation for Culture and the Arts, Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts, the New Art Dealers Alliance, WESTAF, and from individual supporters within our community; mahalo piha. If you would like to support our space, please consider making a tax-deductible donation via Paypal.
Aupuni Space is jointly operated by Maile Meyer, Donnie Cervantes, and Marika Emi.
Maile Meyer is the founder of Native Books, Nā Mea Hawai‘i, and Aupuni Space, and co-founder of ‘Ai Pōhaku Press with book designer Barbara Pope and CONTACT with Drew Broderick. Born in Kailua, O‘ahu and educated abroad, Meyer has worked in community arts since returning home in 1987.
Donnie Cervantes is an arts organizer and co-founder of TRADES Artist in Residence program (est. 2016), which seeks to address the representation of contemporary art in the Hawaiian Islands by providing maximum community access and fostering arts appreciation locally. He brings his experience of 15 years in art production and management in New York and Los Angeles.
Marika Emi is an artist, arts organizer and designer born and raised in Honolulu, Hawai‘i. She is the founder of Tropic Editions (est. 2018), a non-profit publishing imprint for artists’ books, zines, and related projects, and editor of its namesake publication and organizing collective, Tropic Zine.
