If you’re planning on hitting the Maui beaches, no time like the present. Rates are low, the summer crowd won’t be choking up the facilities, weather’s brilliant and the 17th Annual Celebration of the Arts festival will be held at the Ritz-Carlton in Kapalua, Hawaii from April 10-12, 2009. Kapalua is a CDP in Maui County.

Events are scheduled from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days. Among the highlights are the Saturday night Celebration Luau, a Sunday Easter brunch and continuous hula and cultural performances.

You can see the full events scedule here. On April 10 and 11, a computer will be available for the public to record their thoughts on how fortunate we all are to live in these beautiful islands, by answering the question ““Lucky we live Hawaii because…(mana’o-thoughts)”.

Visitors from afar are also invited to do the same but instead, you will answer “lucky YOU live Hawaii because…” Selected entries and art from the Children’s Learning Center may be combined and published in a book entitled “Lucky We Live Hawaii!”

At the Celebration Luau on Saturday (6:30-8:30 pm in the Aloha Garden Ballroom), Falsetto singer Kamakakehau Fernandez returns to the stage with a new band as does Hawaii’s 2008 female vocalist of the year, Napua Greig. Her award winning Halau Hula Na Lei Kaumaka O Uka will provide traditional & contemporary hula. $80 tickets for adults. Half price for children 4-12 yrs.

Sunday morning, there’s an Easter egg hunt for the kids at 10.15 am on the Plantation Lawn, and 11:00am to 3:00pm there’s a grand Easter brunch at the Terrace Restaurant. $80 per adult and $40 per child of age 4-12.

The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua is one of the most famed hotels in Lahaina HI, and offers 463 guestrooms, including 107 residential suites featuring dark wood floors, new marble bathrooms, flat-screen LCD televisions and Hawaiian inspired artwork.

The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Kapalua features treatment rooms with private outdoor garden showers offering traditional lomilomi massage and rejuvenating facials, along with a fitness center open 24 hours a day with ocean views. Photo by chadh via flickr (creative commons).

In addition to the Terrace Restaurant, there are four other restaurants attached to the Ritz-Carlton - The Banyan Tree, Kai Sushi, The Alaloa Lounge and the illuminated onyx bar.  The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua is located on 54 acres in the midst of the 23,000 acre Kapalua Resort, featuring two championship golf courses and a historic pineapple plantation.

Celebration of the Arts Festival website - http://www.celebrationofthearts.org/

Ritz-Carlton Kapalua - http://www.ritzcarlton.com/

Kapalua Toursim - http://www.kapalua.com/

Posted on April 7th, 2009 by Thomas
Filed under: Festivals, Hawaii, Kapalua