Weekend of wowie
on MauiI'VE got a new nickname for Lahaina and West Maui in general which they can have free of charge: "Artland of Hawaii." Strolling through Lahaina for the first time in years over the Easter weekend, I was taken by the number of art galleries that permeate the area, often separated by T-shirt shops. Oh well, not all tourists can afford to take home a pricey painting and the T-shirt is still a popular gift item. I played the "This used to be ... " game. (For example: The Buccaneer. This used to be the Whale's Tale.") A few historic buildings and the Pioneer Inn are still focal points, but even the Inn is now a Best Western! And what used to be a little boat dock for two or three tour boats now looks to be about twice the size of Kewalo Basin. Boat rides are a popular attraction in Lahaina ...
THERE are also several fine eateries in town, though the best meal I had in Lahaina was easily the one prepared Sunday evening by former O'Toole's owner Ron Dougherty in his home -- I presume that the calamari steak with garlic, capers and pasta is the traditional Lahaina Easter dinner ...
Celebration of the Arts
EASTER weekend was also the occasion of the sixth "Celebration of the Arts" at the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua, the first celebration I've experienced. The free-ranging program included a spellbinding lecture and slide show from visionary photographer DeWitt Jones, who has created dazzling photos for National Geographic over a 20-year span and now spends six months of the year on Molokai. The slides he showed told a story and drew gasps. His messianic message breaks down the art to three elements: vision, passion and creativity. It doesn't hurt, as he stated, that National Geographic has a huge budget that enables him and other lens people to take some 400 rolls of film in order to select the 30 or so to accompany a large story ... Another spellbinding storyteller was Sam Ka'ai, talking about Hawaiian fishing techniques and the quality of island life in general. Even Don Ho sat in on that "talk story" session. He also sang a couple of tunes after dinner in the Anuenue Room ...THERE were two major musical evenings. One, called "Maui Moonlight Serenade," featured various halau hula. The two-hour extravaganza of island music followed a feast of traditional luau foods prepared by the hotel's "Chicken Man" ("He's everywhere, he's everywhere") Patrick Callarec that would have staggered residents of his hometown of Perigoux, France. Chef Patrick says he never wants to leave Kapalua. A truly happy Frenchman ...
Cher and Cher alike
THE big Saturday night concert featured Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom and Willie K., sometimes known as Hawaii's Sonny & Cher for all the comedy they do when not singing beautifully. But as Amy's talented brother, Eric Gilliom, put it when he came on to sing a few songs of his own and make up a trio (now that is a dynamite idea), the problem with their being Sonny & Cher is that both want to be Cher. It's the first time Willie K. has been left speechless in some time!
Tutu rules!
STEALING the show from all of the performers was the Gillioms' grandma, Jennie Napua Woodd. Though she's 86, the savvy showbiz veteran who's been in many Hollywood films, some with Bing Crosby, and who taught Shirley Temple how to hula, did "The Cockeyed Mayor of Kaunakakai," complete with crossed eyes. She was hilarious! She brought forth a spontaneous standing ovation, something that I'd happily bestow upon the entire weekend ...
Dave Donnelly has been writing on happenings
in Hawaii for the Star-Bulletin since 1968.
His columns run Monday through Friday.Contact Dave by e-mail: donnelly@kestrok.com.