HoMA Nights: Celebrating Nowruz

Celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year, at the Honolulu Museum of Art! On March 28, experience vibrant cultural traditions as the museum transforms its Palm Courtyard into a Persian teahouse.  

Home to a gallery of Islamic art featuring works from Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design’s collection, HoMA is where visitors can explore treasures from across the Islamic world and engage in festive Nowruz traditions. 

HoMA Café and Coffee Bar

The HoMA Café and Coffee Bar are open for bar service with a selection of cocktails, beer, wine, non-alcoholic refreshments, dinner, and grab-and-go menu items.  

Café: 5–8:30pm (Food served until 7:30pm) 
Coffee Bar: 5–8pm

Music  

Central Courtyard: DJ BrutusJ takes the stage to play his specially curated selection of Persian and international music as a projection artist fills the space with culturally significant imagery.  

The event will culminate with a dance performance by Sara Mizban.  

Interactive art experiences and activities

Palm Courtyard: This outdoor space adjacent to the gallery of Islamic art and design will be transformed into a Persian teahouse and feature a Haft-sin table the traditional Nowruz display of symbolic items such as wheat sprouts and apples that represent rebirth, health and prosperity.   

Art-making: Hawai‘i-based Iranian artist Aida Salehi will be on hand to lead guests through an interactive art workshop that focuses on painting floral motifs associated with Nowruz.  

Interactive cultural spaces: Spaces throughout the museum will feature installations and activities, such as a henna station, related to Nowruz and Persian culture.