The Honolulu Museum of Art (HoMA) has appointed David Odo as its new director and chief executive, effective September 1. Odo succeeds Halona Norton-Westbrook, who left the position in July 2025 to lead the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth in Texas. Odo brings a wealth of experience from his previous role as director and chief curator of the Georgia Museum of Art at the University of Georgia.
David Odo's Background and Achievements
During his tenure at the Georgia Museum of Art, Odo significantly increased visitor numbers, achieving record attendance with approximately 61,000 annual visitors. Additionally, he boosted the museum's revenue by 141 percent. Odo is recognized as a specialist in 19th-century photography of Japan and has held leadership positions at prestigious institutions including the Harvard Art Museums, Yale University Art Gallery, and the Rijksmuseum.
Odo's appointment marks a return to his roots, as he was raised in Hawai‘i. His father, the late Franklin Odo, was a notable scholar of Asian studies and the first permanent director of the University of Hawai‘i’s ethnic studies program in 1978.
Vision for the Future of HoMA
In a statement, Odo expressed his enthusiasm for leading HoMA, stating, “HoMA holds a world-class collection, deep civic roots, and a community that has claimed it as its own for nearly a hundred years. What excites me is honoring that legacy while boldly positioning the museum for its next century.”
Odo's connection to HoMA is personal; he fondly recalls visiting the museum as a child and being captivated by its collection of Buddhist sculptures. He reflected, “They sparked my curiosity about world religions. That’s one of the things I love about art museums—they hold so much possibility to encourage one’s interest in a limitless number of subjects.”
Looking Ahead to HoMA's Centennial
Next year, HoMA will celebrate its centennial. HoMA board chair Amber Strong Makaiau stated, “David brings the experience, vision, and leadership that HoMA needs as we prepare to enter our second century. His record of strengthening museums through thoughtful strategic growth, sound institutional stewardship, and meaningful community engagement gives us every confidence that he is the right leader for HoMA at this important moment in our history.”
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