Non-Fiction by Janice Macdonald

Beyond the Beaches - Cultural events range from slack-key guitar concerts to hula competitions

By JANICE MACDONALD, Special Advertising Sections Writer

Imagine you’re sitting in the crater of a Hawaiian volcano. Now imagine you’re sitting there listening live to Linda Ronstadt, the Steve Miller Band and the Honolulu Symphony.

OK, so if this is taking place April 1, you might figure the whole thing is an April Fools prank, right? Well, you’d be wrong. It’s the upcoming Diamond Head Crater Celebration, billed as the “world’s only party inside a volcano,” and it’s the first concert held in Diamond Head crater in more than 20 years. (For details, visit www.cratercelebration.com.)

The Hawaii arts scene is full of such surprises. Although the official Hawaii Arts Season, sponsored by the Hawaii Tourism Authority and the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, runs from February through May 14, the islands offer a year-round assortment of theater, concerts, art and museum exhibits and cultural events.

Art galleries with works by local and international artists flourish in such towns as Hanalei on the north end of Kauai or historic Haleiwa on the north shore of Oahu. In Chinatown in downtown Honolulu, you can find galleries among the garment stores and noodle shops, and the old whaling town of Lahaina on the west side of Maui boasts numerous art galleries.

If you’re looking for live theater, venues such as the 150-seat Manoa Valley Theatre (www.manoavalleytheatre.com) in Honolulu offer contemporary, mainstream Broadway and off-Broadway-style entertainment. Honolulu’s Diamond Head Theatre (www.diamondheadtheatre.com), Hawaii’s oldest performing arts center, has been staging performances since 1915.

Productions by the Hawaii Opera Theater, the Honolulu Symphony and Ballet Hawaii are offered every weekend during the Hawaii Arts Season. In keeping with the theme of the 2006 season, “Celebrating the Pacific,” the Honolulu Academy of the Arts (www.honoluluacademy.org) is presenting “Life in the Pacific of the 1700s,” featuring a collection of cultural objects gathered by Capt. James Cook, credited with the European discovery of the Hawaiian Islands in the late 1700s, through May 4 at its Luce Pavillion Complex.

Stored in Germany since the 1700s and never before exhibited in a museum, the collection, which will only be shown in Hawaii, includes artifacts from a number of Pacific islands.

The following is a list of places to visit and things to see throughout the islands. For a complete listing of Hawaii Arts Season events, visit www.GoHawaii.com/Arts.

Oahu

Honolulu Chamber Music Series: Variety of concerts; Orvis Auditorium, University of Hawaii campus, Honolulu; (808) 956-8246; www.hawaii.edu/uhm-music/c2006-02.htm#next.

Bishop Museum: Founded in 1889 by Charles Reed Bishop in honor of his late wife, Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, the last descendant of the royal Kamehameha family, the museum was established to house the princess’ extensive collection of Hawaiian artifacts and heirlooms, and has expanded to include millions of artifacts about Hawaii and other Pacific islands. Visitors can participate in such special lessons as ukulele playing and lei making. 1525 Bernice St., Honolulu; (808) 847-3511; www.bishopmuseum.org.

Honolulu Symphony: Upcoming performances include “Sublime Escape,” featuring Korean violinist Chee-Yun on April 14 and 16; Grammy-nominated singer Amy Hanaial’i Gilliom on April 28 and 29; and “Festival of Sounds,” featuring Stewart Goodyear May 12 and 14. Performances are at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center Concert Hall, 777 Ward Ave.; (808) 792-2000; www.honolulusymphony.com.

First Fridays and Hawaii State Art Museum: Monthly self-guided walking tour of more than 20 downtown art galleries, including the contemporary ARTS at Marks Garage, held from 5 to 9 p.m. the first Friday of the month. Bluegrass and Hawaiian country bands perform live on the lawn of the Hawaii State Art Museum, which is hosting the “Art in Public Places” exhibit through Aug. 26. Hawaii State Art Museum 250 S. Hotel St., Honolulu; (808) 586-0300; www.hawaii.gov/sfca/.

Hawaii Book and Music Festival: Annual two-day weekend festival featuring performances, presentations, signings and other events by local, national and international authors, poets, storytellers, playwrights, songwriters, composers, arrangers and musicians. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 22 -24; Honolulu Hale Grounds, Punchbowl and King streets in downtown Honolulu; (808) 732-9575 (Events International); www.hawaiibookandmusicfestival.org.

Maui

Maui Arts and Cultural Center: Hosts art exhibits, educational activities, recitals, concerts and other performances. Upcoming events include Brothers Cazimero Lei Day Concert (May 2), comedian Alison Arngrim, a.k.a. Nellie Oleson from “Little House on the Prairie” TV series on June 8 and Sugar Mill Opera July 2-30. Upcoming art exhibits include “Celebrating the Artist in Us” April 17-May 7. One Cameron Way in Kahului; (808) 242-2787; www.mauiarts.org.

Lahaina’s Banyan Tree Birthday Party: Community celebration honoring Lahaina Town’s famous landmark, the 133-year-old banyan tree in the center of town. Birthday cake, live Hawaiian music, crafts fair and special art exhibitions. Slated for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 23-24. (888) 310-1117.

Friday Night is Art Night: Special gallery shows, featured artists-in-action and refreshments. 7 to 10 p.m. every Friday, Lahaina Town; (888) 310-1117.

International Festival of Canoes: Festival kicks off at Kamehameha ’Iki beach park with a traditional ceremony to welcome cultural delegations from Pacific island nations. Delegates join forces with master carvers to create Polynesian canoes from logs. The celebration ends with a ceremonial launching of the carved canoes at sunset. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 13-27; Front Street, Lahaina; (888) 310-1117; www.mauicanoefest.com.

Kauai

Slack key guitar and ukulele concerts presented by Aloha Plenty: At 4 p.m. Fridays and 3 p.m. Sundays year-round; Hanalei Community Center, 5-5299 Kuhio Highway, Hanalei; (808) 826-1469; www.halehalawai.org/activities.htm.

Kauai Polynesian Festival: Sixth annual festival begins with a Polynesian pageant and dinner. It also includes Polynesian entertainment, crafts and dance competitions. May 25-28; (808) 335-6466; www.kauaipolynesianfestival.org.

Hawaiian Paniolo (Cowboy) Tribute: The 10th annual Royal Paina “Na Paniolo Nui O Kauai: Their Music Their Lives” is a tribute to the Hawaiian paniolos. Event includes entertainment, silent auction and backyard-style luau. 5 p.m. April 29; Kauai Marriott Resort & Beach Club, 3610 Rice St., Lihue; (808) 245-3373; www.kauaihistoricalsociety.org/events/.

Kauai Museum: Permanent collection includes ancient Hawaiian artifacts. The annual May Day Lei Contest, including a silent auction of leis, craft and food vendors and a white elephant sale, is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 1. 4428 Rice St., Lihue; (808) 245-6931; www.kauaimuseum.org.

Big Island of Hawaii

Merrie Monarch Festival: A weeklong festival of cultural events, including Hawaii’s most prestigious hula competition at Edith Kanaka`ole Stadium. The festival also includes the Miss Aloha Hula competition and a parade through Hilo-town. April 16-22; (808) 935-9168; www.merriemonarchfestival.org.

Big Island Film Festival: First year for the open-air festival that celebrates the art of storytelling through new independent narrative films and their filmmakers. May 18-21; Hilton Waikoloa Village; (808) 883-0394; www.bigislandfilmfestival.com.

Volcano Art Center: Exhibits and special events take place at the gallery, featuring artwork by more than 300 artists inspired by the locale in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. (866) 967-7565; www.volcanoartcenter.org.

*Los Angeles Times - 2006, April 22, by Janice MacDonald

These pages were edited and designed by the Special Sections staff of the Los Angeles Times Advertising Department. For questions or comments, call Karen Koch at (213) 237-3051 or e-mail her at karen.koch@latimes.com.