A cherished Maui festival is coming to a close after 33 years. The final Celebration of the Arts will take place this weekend at The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua.
The theme “I Kou Makana… The eyes of the beholder” brings together artists, educators, and cultural practitioners to celebrate Hawaiian culture. This year's event will also honor the contributions of Clifford Naeʻole, who was the Hawaiian cultural advisor for the hotel for many years.
HPR spoke to Naeʻole, chair of the Celebration of the Arts, about what's changed since he started the event over three decades ago.
"It had multi-cultures, rather than focusing only on Hawaiian culture. And as time went on, maybe about two years or so, we decided that the Hawaiians needed the attention," Naeʻole said.
“From that point on, we had guest panels, films, vendors, etc. cooperate; and therefore Celebration of the Arts came to life.”
Cultural practitioners, artisans, educators, speakers, and entertainers gather at the festival to celebrate and preserve all things Hawaiian.
This year’s theme reiterates a Hawaiian perspective, as aspects have changed and evolved. For some families, cultural preservation has become more significant as they move to leave behind a legacy for their children and generations to come, Naeʻole added.
“The word aloha is always spread," he told HPR. “In this case, it's about sharing what Hawaiians think, and especially the vacationers, they'll have an outlook, and they will get to learn about Hawaiian things that they wouldn't learn anywhere else. They get to buy Hawaiian things, see it on film, and see it on the panels. And so they walk away much more refreshed. They look at the things through a third eye, per se, in the terms of the Hawaiians — so it's all about learning."
The final event will take place this weekend, April 18 and 19, at The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua. For more information, click here.
This interview aired on The Conversation on April 14, 2025. The Conversation airs weekdays at 11 a.m.
