Overview

Nightlife on Maui is usually restricted to a few hotels and other nightspots offering live music and other entertainment. Normal tourist fare of luaus, dinner cruises, and cultural shows are available almost every night, seven days a week, somewhere on the island. With its high concentration of bars and dance clubs, Lahaina is probably your best bet for night action for those of you who are not wiped out after a day of snorkeling and hiking.

Art reigns supreme on Maui, with one of the world’s highest per capita concentrations of art galleries, approaching that of big cities like New York, Paris, and London. The Maui Arts & Cultural Center is a popular draw for many island visitors and residents. Friday night is Art Night in Lahaina, where commercial galleries catering to every taste open their doors on Front Street. Upcountry, it’s Makawao that is the artistic center. The Hui Noeau Visual Arts Center (The Hui to the locals) has a decades-old tradition of offering exhibits by established and emerging artists, classes in a variety of disciplines, and production studios for a slight membership and use fee. There are also numerous galleries to be savored in almost every hotel in resort areas all across the island.

Important Note: Check the local newspaper, the Maui News each Thursday for the weekly insert called "The Scene" and each Sunday for "Currents" for the latest entertainment and art listings.

Maui Arts & Cultural Center - Since it opened in 1994, the Maui Arts & Cultural Center (above the harbor on Kahului Beach Road), Kahului, has become the best place for much of the island's best live entertainment. The complex includes the 1,200-seat Castle Theater, which hosts classical, jazz, choral, country, dance, and world-beat concerts by touring musicians; a 4,000-seat amphitheater for large outdoor concerts; and the 350-seat McCoy Theater for plays and recitals. Check the Events Box Office for current offerings. Telephone: (808) 242-2787 or (808) 242-7469) or the daily newspaper, the Maui News.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Maui Film Festival - Weekly showings of art and international films often not destined for wide distribution in mainstream theaters are featured here. Castle Theater at Maui Arts & Cultural Center is a truly luxurious way to enjoy these films. The program is continuously expanding and being modified, so check current listings often. Telephone: (808) 572-3456. www.mauifilmfestival.com