The Inaugural Festival Will Take Place January 15-17, 2027 in Kona, Hawaii
Tickets Go On Sale April 1, 2026
Announcing the first ever Hawaiian Islands Comic Art Festival, a celebration of comics art in an exquisite location, featuring world-class comic book artists, collectors, and fans. The inaugural event will take place January 15-17, 2027 in tropical Kona, Hawaii at the beautiful Outrigger resort and spa and will include an opening night reception overlooking the magnificent Pacific Ocean. The 3-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, and Alika Seki, founder of Maui Comic Con and proprietor of Maui Comics & Collectibles.
“The Hawaiian Islands Comic Art Festival is a dream come true,” says Sal Abbinanti, co-founder of the Hawaiian Islands Art Festival and art agent of Alex Ross and Bill Sienkiewicz. “I fell in love with The Lake Como Comic Art Festival and knew it was something I wanted to be involved in a few years ago, so when the idea of another location came to us it was kismet! Como is so special and not to be replicated, so as we discussed locations, Hawaii, another place I love, just made sense as a destination to create a unique vibe and memorable experience.”
The Hawaiian Islands Comic Art Festival offers 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 — 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.
This new art festival offers fans and collectors an exceptional one-of-a-kind experience. Attendees 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 favorite comics or commission exclusive artwork and pick it up in person. 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.
“I have been curating The Lake Como Comic Art Festival for nearly 10 years and am so happy to work with Sal to bring this new festival to the shores of one of the most beautiful islands in the world,” says Steve Morger, Co-founder of The Lake Como Comic Art Festival.
“It’s no secret that I love comics,” says Alika Seki, owner of Maui Comics & Collectibles. “So, to share my passion and be a part of this new kind of festival in my home of Hawaii is extra special. It is our aspiration that this gathering showcases the beauty of the Hawaiian culture and elevates awareness of comic art and the magnificent artists who create it. We hope you join us for 3 days in paradise.”
Both the Lake Como Comic Art Festival and the Hawaiian Islands Comic Art Festival, offer a completely unique experience with a focus solely on the art of comics. 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 The Hawaiian Islands Comic Art Festival January 15-17, 2027 will go on sale Thursday, April 1, 2026. Ticketing packages will be announced soon. Join the list to get notified about The Hawaiian Islands Comic Art Festival here:
About the Festival Organizers:
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 90s 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 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.
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