Four artists have been chosen as Hawaiʻi’s Climate Artists in Residence, part of a program designed to involve local artists in developing the state’s Climate Action Pathways (CAP). The initiative aims to inspire and connect residents with climate change challenges through various artistic media. The selected artists emerged from a competitive pool of 65 applicants across Hawaiʻi.
Each artist will receive a stipend of $5,000 and an additional $2,000 for materials. Leah Laramee, State Climate Coordinator, expressed enthusiasm about the program: “The response to this call was truly stunning. Our goal is to co-develop the CAP in a manner that speaks to people, and it is clear that art is one of those pathways.”
The artists will focus on topics such as cultural knowledge, land stewardship, energy efficiency, transportation decarbonization, and community resilience. Gillian Dueñas, one of the selected artists, highlighted the importance of art in addressing climate issues: “The secure future of Indigenous communities is my priority. Discussions about climate change can be very traumatizing and anxiety-inducing for our peoples, so I use art as a medicine and tool for instilling hope.”
Throughout the year, the artists will participate in meetings on these subjects and visit related projects. Their completed works will be displayed at Capitol Modern, located in the Hawaiʻi State Art Museum in Honolulu from October 1-31, 2025. This project partners with the University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program and aligns with CCMAC’s mission to promote climate-neutral strategies for adaptation and mitigation.
