FiliRooted: From Plantation to Diaspora, Filipino-American Voices in Hawai‘i Now
Honolulu, HI — September 2025 — This Filipino-American History Month, the community is invited to FiliRooted: From Plantation to Diaspora, Filipino-American Voices in Hawai‘i Now, a month-long series of events honoring the legacies of the Sakadas while amplifying the creative voices of Filipinos in Hawai‘i today.
Presented by House of Gongs in partnership with Capitol Modern, the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts (SFCA), Art+Flea, and supported by the Office of Representative Trish La Chica, the Office of City Council Member Tyler Dos Santos-Tam, and The Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu, FiliRooted will take place at Capitol Modern on October 4, 18, and 25 with several programs that weave together music, movement, food, fashion, and storytelling.
Alongside the events, Capitol Modern will host Bamboo to Brass: Sonic Journeys Across the Philippines, a month-long glass case exhibit curated by House of Gongs and Elle Karayan Designer, Lydia Querian, featuring Indigenous Filipino musical instruments from bamboo of the northern highlands to the brass gongs of the southern islands. The exhibit highlights how instruments carry memory, identity, and rhythm across generations.
The objective of FiliRooted is two-fold: to uplift local artists, makers, and creatives in Hawai‘i while also bringing in inspiring artists from the Filipino-American Diaspora—such as Ruby Ibarra and her winning band of NPR’s 2025 Tiny Desk Contest—whose presence aims to inspire Hawai‘i’s Filipino diasporic community with stories of resilience, creativity, and empowerment.
“We’ve been producing Gongster’s Paradise in San Francisco and have presented a few local programs in Hawai’i for the last eight years. As Filipino Indigenous culture advocates who have recently connected with the āina — including our relationship with the Sakada ancestors— we are learning that Hawai‘i’s Filipino community may need this kind of medicine for empowerment and for understanding the voices they hold today.”
— Ron Querian, Artistic Director / Co-Founder, House of Gongs
All events are FREE to register for the community in Hawai‘i.
Featured Programs and Schedule
All Month
Bamboo to Brass: Sonic Journeys Across the Philippines
Capitol Modern Glass Case Exhibit
Capitol Modern hosts a glass case exhibit curated by House of Gongs and Elle Karayan. The collection spans bamboo instruments of the northern highlands to the brass gongs of the southern islands, showcasing how instruments carry memory, identity, and rhythm across generations.
October 4, 2:00–5:00 PM
808 x 63: Stories Between Islands
Capitol Modern Gallery
The opening gathering features a blessing, the unveiling of the Bamboo to Brass exhibit, and a Tatak fashion show collaboration between master hand-tap tattoo practitioner Lane Wilcken and Filipino fashion brand Elle Karayan. An artist panel moderated by Professor Ric Trimillos follows, featuring voices from across the Filipino diaspora in Hawai‘i, including Nalini Gauthier, Kulintronica, Logan Knight, Lane Wilcken, and Dr. Lorenzo Perillo.
October 18, 12:00–2:00 PM
Halo-Halo Kamayan (by invitation only) Capitol Modern Cafeteria
Chefs Eric Pascual (Eats by E), Maleko Lorenzo (Minasa), and Nui Kealoha (Capitol Modern) come together for a communal kamayan feast, blending personal narratives with Filipino flavors in a shared table experience.
October 25, 4:00–8:00 PM
Sakada to Cypher: Island Gongster Edition
Capitol Modern Sculpture Garden/Mezannine
The festival finale celebrates Filipino-American creativity in Hawai‘i through sound, dance, and community. The lineup includes Sala Karayan Dance Project, Jehzan Exclusive, Brian Adrias, Wilbur Shansey, Kaelyn Howard, The Zion Band, UH Kulintang Ensemble and a show-stopping performance by Ruby Ibarra with NPR's 2025 Tiny Desk Contest winning band. A Filipino-American marketplace will showcase local vendors, artisans, and food.