On February 18, 2025, current MPA student Kamakani Konia was appointed the Hawaiʻi State Foundation on Culture and the Arts (SFCA) Art in Public Places Program Director. As program director, Konia is also the Director of Capitol Modern (the Hawaiʻi State Art Museum).
“I’m looking forward to expanding on the extraordinary work the public art programs have done. Art is a public resource, and I want to make it more accessible for everyone to participate in.”
Konia has worked for the State of Hawaiʻi for 10 years; eight of those years have been at the SFCA, first as an Exhibits Specialist and then as an Art in Public Places Project Manager. Konia is the first Native Hawaiian SFCA Art in Public Places Program Director.