Image: Honolulu Museum of Art
The Honolulu Museum of Art has selected Dr. David Odo as its next director and CEO, with his appointment set to begin on September 1. The museum said its board of trustees made the decision last week, marking a leadership change at one of Hawai‘i’s major art institutions. HoMA’s own announcement framed Odo’s arrival as a new chapter for the museum and pointed to his long experience in museum leadership.
In a blog post introducing the appointment, HoMA said Odo brings more than a decade of senior museum leadership, including work at academic institutions and at the Georgia Art Museum, where he oversaw organizational change. The museum’s newsletter and website both presented the new director as part of its latest news coverage, placing the announcement alongside other current programming and exhibitions. The institution did not use the release to outline a broader strategic plan, but it did emphasize Odo’s professional background.
Odo’s personal connection to Hawai‘i is also central to HoMA’s announcement. In a quote shared by the museum, he said, “I've had wonderful experiences around the country and the world, but my heart has always been in Hawaiʻi. I can think of no greater privilege than coming home to HoMA.” The museum used that statement to underscore the significance of the move, which links his career in museum administration with a return to the island community.
HoMA’s website places the leadership announcement within a busy institutional moment. Alongside the news item on Odo, the museum is highlighting current exhibitions, including ‘Out of the Shadows’, listed with dates from May 22 to September 27, 2026. The site also points visitors toward films, talks, tours, and member events, showing the range of activity that will sit within Odo’s remit once he takes up the role.
The museum’s newsletter also noted several related features and public programs, from exhibition spotlights to community days and film programming. Those items sit apart from the director announcement, but they help sketch the context in which the new director will arrive: a museum balancing gallery programming, public engagement, and membership activity. HoMA’s communications included a direct invitation for readers to learn more about Odo on the blog, suggesting the institution is already introducing him to its audience.
HoMA identified Odo as the museum’s next director and CEO, not interim or acting head, signaling a formal transition rather than a temporary arrangement. The announcement did not include an exact end date for the current director or further staffing changes. For now, the museum’s verified details are straightforward: David Odo is set to start on September 1 as the Honolulu Museum of Art’s next director and CEO.
