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Hawaiian Islands Comic Art Festival debuts January 2027

By John Freeman on March 6, 2026 • ( 0 )

The first ever Hawaiian Islands Comic Art Festival, its logo designed by Bill Sienkiewicz, will take place 15th – 17th January 2027 in tropical Kona, Hawaii at the Outrigger resort and spa.

A celebration of comics art in an exquisite location, featuring world-class comic book artists, collectors, and fans, it will include an opening night reception overlooking the magnificent Pacific Ocean.

The three-day event is curated by Sal Abbinanti, making his debut as a co-founder of the Hawaiian Islands Comic Art Festival, Steve Morger, co-founder of The Lake Como Comic Art Festival, returning in April, and Alika Seki, founder of Maui Comic Con and proprietor of Maui Comics & Collectibles.

The organisers say the new Hawaiian Islands Comic Art Festival will offer laid back luxury with no convention floors and no crowds.

“It is an intimate, invitation-only gathering of renowned comic artists from around the world,” they outline, “set on the Big Island of Hawaii. It’s an opportunity to relax among the palm trees, bask in the sun, stroll in the sand, splash in the water, and immerse yourself in art all weekend long.”

The guest list will be announced at a later date and will showcase a curated selection of the world’s top artists in the industry.

This new art festival offers fans and collectors an exceptional one-of-a-kind experience. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet, converse with and purchase artwork from some of the most esteemed comic book artists in the industry in a luxury destination. Choose from pages of your favourite comics or commission exclusive artwork and pick it up in person.

Like the Lake Como Comic Art Festival, the Hawaiian Islands Comic Art Festival will offer a completely unique experience, with a focus solely on the art of comics.

Perched on the cliffs of Keauhou Bay offering spectacular ocean views, the event’s venue, the award-winning Outrigger resort and spa, offers recently renovated guest rooms and suites that seamlessly blend heritage with contemporary elegance.

The Hawaiian Islands Comic Festival logo was designed by superstar artist Bill Sienkiewicz in the same vein as the Lake Como Comic Art Festival logo that he designed a few years ago.

• Tickets for the Hawaiian Islands Comic Art Festival January 15-17, 2027 will go on sale Thursday, April 1, 2026. Ticketing packages will be announced soon | Web: hawaiicomicart.com | Facebook | Instagram | X

Behind the Scenes…

Sal Abbinanti is a native Chicagoan. He is the art manager and dealer for superstar artists Alex Ross and Bill Sienkiewicz. He produced the documentary The Legend of Kingdom Come about Alex Ross and the iconic 1990s comic book series created with Mark Waid. Sal is also an author and artist, whose work includes The Hostage and Atomika: God is Red.

Steven Morger, founder of Lake Como Festival

Steven Morger is an avid comic art collector who has been producing comic books, conventions, and comic art events for over 20 years. From 2008-2015 he ran the Big Wow! Comic Convention, which attracted over 10,000 attendees annually. After decades of vacationing in Lake Como, he bought an apartment there in 2016 – and found inspiration to create the Lake Como Festival.

He also runs Big Wow! Art, which sells artwork and printed material from Frank Cho, Dan Brereton, Pepe Valencia and others.

Alika Seki is a Maui-based entrepreneur, comics expert and community figure known as the owner of Maui Comics & Collectibles in Kahului and the co-founder/president of Maui Comic Con. A lifelong enthusiast with a massive personal collection, he is a key figure in Hawaii’s local comic community.

With thanks to Wam Nick

About the Author
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John Freeman

John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.

He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.