Amfac Plaza Exhibition Room, 745 Fort St. "Commitment to Excellence," a juried show presented by the Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce, Monday through Sept. 20. Call 949-5531.

Hawaii Medical Association, second floor, 1360 S. Beretania St., 536-7702. "Watercolor -- Beyond the Surface" by Su Shen Atta and Rick Daddario, on view Sept. 10 through October.

Kapiolani Community College, 4303 Diamond Head Road, 734-9375. "Volcano Images" by Shirley Hasenyager, on view Sept. 10 through Oct. 18 in the 'Ohelo Fine Dining Room.

Queen Emma Gallery, Queen's Medical Center, 547-4397. "Explorers in Watercolors," by Honolulu Academy of Arts students and instructor David Behlke, opens with a reception 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday. Show continues through Oct. 13.

Art a la Carte, Ward Centre, 597-8034. "Fulcrum," ceramics by Gail Bakutis, on view through October. Recent works by Roger Whitlock, on view through Sept. 28. Reception 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

The Art Centre at Mauna Lani, Kohala, Big Island, 885-7779. Impressionist oil paintings by Fran Maier, through September.

Arts of Paradise, International Marketplace, 924-2787. "A Collection of Works" featuring paintings of children, by pediatrician Norman Kelley, on view in September.

Contemporary Museum, 2411 Makiki Heights Drive, 526-0232. Free admission on third Thursday of each month. Gallery tours at 1:30 p.m., garden tours by appointment. Call 526-1322.

Three exhibits feature contemporary works through Sunday. "Public Art" is from the collection of the City and County of Honolulu; "Leaving the Century," videos by 20 media artists, arrives from the Video Data Bank, Chicago; "Exquisite Vessels" in ceramic, metal, glass, wood and fiber were acquired through the Sibyl Heide Fund. "Women Unveiled" on video.

Contemporary Museum's Honolulu Advertiser Gallery, 605 Kapiolani Blvd., 525-8066. "Selections 1993-1996" on view through Sept. 18. Recent acquisitions by the Persis Corp. Collection, including works by Vernon Fisher, Wayne Thiebaud, Cheryl Laemmle and Judith Shea.

East-West Center Gallery, John A. Burns Hall, 1777 East-West Road, 944-7111. "Spirits, Status & Society: Melanesian Art," masks, wooden bowls, statues, totems, war clubs, combs and carved ship prows from the collection of Caroline and Donald Yacoe, on view through Sept. 20. See "The Drum and the Mask," a video on South Pacific art, the first Sunday each month and at 5 p.m. Sept. 5. For guided tours, call 396-3326 or 944-7322.

Gallery on the Pali, Unitarian Church, 2500 Pali Highway, 526-1191. "Political Statements in Art" on view through Sept. 26.

Hawaii Medical Association, second floor, 1360 S. Beretania St., 536-7702. "8-8-8," watercolors by Juanita Kenda, Song Kim and Min Chong Kim, through Sunday. Presented by Waikiki Gallery.

Hawaii Pacific University Art Gallery, 45-045 Kamehameha Highway, Kaneohe, 233-3167. "Joy: Expressions of Art" by Gail Toma on view through Oct. 4.

HonBlue, 501 Sumner St., 531-4611. "Madhatter," mixed media by June Kawaguchi, on view in September.

Honolulu Academy of Arts, 900 S. Beretania St., 532-8700. "Whistle While You Work," scenes of labor in the United States, through Sept. 29. Includes prints by local artists John Kelly, Cornelia Macintyre Foley and Hon Chew Hee. Free admission on the first Wednesday of each month.

"Ka Po'e Hawai'i Ma Ka Hana (Hawaii's people at work)," photography of people at work by Hawaii high school students, through Nov. 8.

The Academy will pin your photos of friends and family at work to the "Community Photo Wall" through Sept. 29. Photos of all types are welcome for the collage; each is good for one free admission per person on that day. Photos will not be returned.

"Mountain Peaks," landscapes from the Academy's collection of Chinese paintings, on view through Dec. 1. Chinese painters of the Ming and Qing periods (14th to 18th centuries) kept a strict tradition in composing images.

"Modern Design (1920-1960)" reflects the major changes of the century, through March 16. Silver, glass and ceramic items from the Academy's collection highlight changes in the arts of the United States, Russia and Europe.

"The Ceramic Tradition of Asia," Mingei ceramics, blue and white porcelain, celadon and other pieces from different cultures, through July 1997.

Honolulu Zoo Fence, Monsarrat Avenue. Paintings by local artists on view 9 a.m. to noon Tuesdays, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

Hui No'eau Visual Arts Center, 2841 Baldwin Ave., Makawao, 572-6560, Maui. Children's art exhibit on view through Saturday.

Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii, 2454 S. Beretania St., 945-7633. "Strength and Diversity: The Story of Japanese American Women in Hawaii," on view through Jan. 17. "Strength," adapted from the National Japanese American Historical Society-Oakland Museum exhibit, chronicles the life stories and contributions of four generations of women, from plantation to contemporary community.

Koa Gallery, Kapiolani Community College, 4303 Diamond Head Road, 734-9375. "Annual Student Exhibition" of ceramics, computer images, drawing, painting and design works, on view through Sept. 12.

Ko'olau Gallery, Windward Mall, 247-0709. Works by J. Eric Anthony and Margaret McMillan on view in September.

McHale Videofilm, 1116 Auahi St., 539-8080. "Painting in a New Land" by Murry Breem, on view through Oct. 23.

Ramsay Galleries, 1128 Smith St., 537-2787. "Go Figure," works by the Association of Hawaii Artists, on view through Sept. 27.

University of Hawaii Art Gallery, Art Building, 2535 The Mall, 956-6888. "Selections 6: Works from the Polaroid Collection," on view through Sept. 27. More than a hundred images of traditional and experimental photography by Dawood Bey, Gilles Perrin, Bob Miller and others presenting the people of Harlem, Appalachia, China . . . and magazine models with "the boy next door."

Classes: The Art School at Kapalua has classes in art, pottery, dance, drama and photography for children and adults, Monday through Dec. 21. Call 665-0007, Maui.

Studio art classes for adults at the Academy Art Center begin Sept. 10; for children, Sept. 21. Adult classes include Chinese brush painting, painting on silk, sculpture, jewelry and papermaking. Tuition is $145 adults, $95 children. Call 532-8741.

Shoebox sculpture: Sculpture in any media that fits in a standard-size shoebox is the focus of the UH Art Gallery's traveling exhibition. No entry fee; deadline is Friday. For prospectus write to: Shoebox Sculpture Exhibition, University of Hawaii Art Gallery, Honolulu 96822. Or call 956-6888, or e-mail: gallery@hawaii.edu. Gallery's show will be March 16 through April 18, 1997.

"Black and White": Ramsay, Elisabeth Knoke and Ann M. Hayashi will jury the annual show Sept. 25 at the Alana Waikiki Hotel. All media accepted. Call Expressions in Art at 597-8108.

Honolulu International Art Festival: Expressions in Art is planning a show June 21 through 23 at the Amfac building on Fort Street. Call 597-8108.

Artistic Endeavors: Jim Franklin is forming a group of artists and crafters to fill 22,000 square feet of studio and show space, and to provide on-site services such as framing and printing. Call 988-1167.