The Downtown Art Center at Chinatown Gateway Plaza Those who knew George Ellis, the much-admired former director of the Honolulu Museum of Art, remember his goal of curating the museum to welcome and teach people from all walks of life. "George was trying to bring it back to where every ethnic group in Honolulu would view it as home and would become part of it," said art patron Tim Choy, who knew Ellis in his prime. Ellis, who led the museum formerly known as the Honolulu Academy of Arts from 1982 until 2003, died on June 26. Under his leadership, the museum expanded its art holdings and deepened roots in the community.