A celebration of art, music, dance and Hawaiian culture takes place Easter weekend on Maui. The 19th Annual Celebration of the Arts April 22-24, 2011 is open to visitors and local residents alike.
As with many island celebrations, the event opens with traditional Hawaiian chants and closes with a luau. However, this celebration has two features that may be of special interest to travelers. First, there are so many different arts featured in one place that it’s like a crash course in Hawaii culture. Hands-on art, demonstrations, films, cultural panels, music and dance are all part of the festivities on the grounds of the beautiful Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua hotel on the western edge of Maui. The annual celebration is conducted under the direction of Cultural Advisor Clifford Naeole and has won recognition from the Hawaii Tourism Association.
Second, a unique song competition will be held Saturday evening. It is dedicated to Dr. George Kanehele who, according to organizers, “was committed to ensuring that Hawaiian values remain an integral part of the hospitality industry.” The song challenge is only open to people who work in the Hawaii hospitality industry. They will be judged on tone, harmony, stage presence, and the use and pronunciation of the Hawaiian language. This should bring out the best performances on the islands.
An after-hours party on Friday and Saturday nights is also likely to attract local talent to the lounge in the hotel lobby. It all wraps up with an Easter Sunday brunch.
Photos provided by the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua
