12-04-2025
Stroke survivors express stories through ‘The Journey Forward' art exhibit
HONOLULU (KHON2) — 'The Journey Forward,' a new art exhibit opening up in Chinatown on April 12, is going to be filled with artwork made by stroke survivors.
Organizers of the event say that the exhibit, which will be hosted at Downtown Art Center, will be visually stunning.
Name change: Proposal to change 'Island of Hawaii' to just 'Hawaii'
'[Visitors] can expect, first of all, a beautiful show of colorful art,' said Creative Director Carol Khewhok. 'Downtown Art Center, of course, that is our reason for being.'
The exposition is put on in collaboration with the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific, also known as REHAB.
'We do workshops, classes, exhibitions, visual arts as well as other things, so when Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific came to us and said, 'we have a special exhibition we are planning, are you interested in being a venue?' we were definitely on board with it,' Khewhok said. 'We love REHAB, we love working with them and this exhibition will teach people a lot about what people can do with the arts.'REHAB patients serve as the artists headlining the showcase, which Michael Fujimoto, director of community relations for REHAB, says is really important for the patients.
'It's incredibly important. Stroke is the number one cause of chronic disability in the state and stroke is a big change, not only for the survivor but their families and caretakers as well,' Fujimoto said. 'This is an opportunity for them to really reflect and express themselves and share something with the general public about the impacts of stroke.'
Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news
Tracey Saiki, a stroke survivor and exhibited artist, credits art as an outlet for growth since her December 2013 stroke.
'Reuben Young, art instructor, is so kind and patient that he relaxes me, he calms me down. So, art, through the years, my art has seen significant improvements,' Saiki said. 'I had done artwork before the stroke… But then being an artist myself, I became more appreciative for artwork.'
'The Journey Forward' officially kicks off on April 12 and will run until May 4. Patrons can visit the exhibit Tuesdays through Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the admission is free.
For more information on the exhibit and REHAB, click here. For information on the Downtown Art Center, click here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
