- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Lihue Today
By the People, for the People
INTO LIGHT Project Hawaii exhibition opens Sunday
The exhibit features portraits and stories of those who have succumbed to drug addiction and overdose.
Published on Jan. 30, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
The INTO LIGHT Project Hawaii exhibition, 'Drug Addiction: Real People, Real Stories', is opening this Sunday at the Kauai Community College Performing Arts Center lobby. The exhibit features up to 30 graphite portraits of individuals from Hawaii and across the country who have died from drug addiction or overdose, accompanied by their stories. The opening reception will be attended by community leaders, and the exhibit will be available for public viewing through March 31.
Why it matters
The INTO LIGHT Project aims to change the conversation around drug addiction, educate the public, and reduce the stigma surrounding substance use disorder. By sharing the stories and portraits of those who have died, the exhibit hopes to highlight the humanity behind the statistics and inspire action to address the opioid crisis.
The details
The exhibit features graphite portraits of up to 30 individuals who have died from drug addiction or overdose, including several from Hawaii. The portraits are accompanied by professionally written stories about their lives. The exhibit will be on display at the Kauai Community College Performing Arts Center lobby from Sunday, January 30 through March 31, with viewing hours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
- The opening reception will be held on Sunday, January 30 from 1 to 2:30 p.m.
- The exhibit will be on display from Sunday, January 30 through March 31.
The players
Gregory Von Hausch
The director of the Kauai Community College Performing Arts Center.
Barbara Francois
The Chief Operating Officer for the INTO LIGHT Project of North Carolina.
Theresa Clower
The founder and CEO of the INTO LIGHT Project.
Fern Holland
A Kauai County Councilwoman.
Carol Meckling
A Kauai artist who did several of the portraits in the exhibit.
What they’re saying
“Everybody — Chancellor Margaret Sanchez, the vice chancellors, and a lot of the community leaders — are going to be there.”
— Gregory Von Hausch, PAC director (thegardenisland.com)
“These are scholarship-worthy people. Who knows what good they would be doing if they hadn't died from drugs.”
— Barbara Francois, Chief Operating Officer, INTO LIGHT Project (thegardenisland.com)
“The biggest killer out there is stigma. Stigma keeps people in the shadows. Stigma keeps people from coming forward and asking for help. Stigma keeps families from admitting there is a problem.”
— Jerome Adams, U.S. Surgeon General (thegardenisland.com)
What’s next
On March 31st, the final day of the show, the families of the individuals featured in the portraits will be presented with the framed portraits of their loved ones.
The takeaway
By sharing the stories and portraits of those who have died from drug addiction, the INTO LIGHT Project aims to change the conversation around substance use disorder, reduce the stigma, and inspire action to address the opioid crisis in Hawaii and beyond.
