| If you’re on a trip to the island of Maui and would like to learn about the local traditions, arts, and culture, then the best
place to explore is the Maui Arts and Cultural Center (MACC) at One Cameron Way in the town of Kahului. The center offers information, exhibits, and displays on a wide variety of local
customs as well as several children’s programs. It’s easy to get to as it’s located in central Maui, and not too far from the island’s international airport. You’ll be able
to learn about local culture, food, dance, acrobatics, music, theatre, ballet, movies, hula, storytelling, and arts and crafts at the impressive center which sits in the Ioa Valley and
looks over the beautiful Kahului Harbor. The MACC opened its doors for business back in 1994 and is now generally regarded to be the premium art center in all of Hawaii.
World-class live performances and exhibits can be viewed at the center’s luxurious theaters. These include the Castle Theater, the Alexander and Baldwin Amphitheater, the
Schaefer International Gallery, and the McCoy Studio Theater. There’s also a flexible outdoor entertainment center that can be set up for performances.
In addition, the versatile center is used for numerous community events such as educational activities, art exhibits, service club meetings, concerts, recitals and church
services. There are also meeting rooms, a kitchen, bars, a dining room, a tree-lined courtyard, dance studio, classrooms, and a gift shop. The non-profit center was originally built with
community donations that totalled $32 million and now serves over 250,000 people each year. It’s an ideal location for the community and artists to meet and connect with each other.
Some of the most famous performers to have entertained enthusiastic crowds at the state-of-the-art center include the Eagles, the Beach Boys, Mikhail Baryshnikov, the Tokyo
String Quartet, and Jimmy Buffet. Another popular event is the Maui Film Festival, which draws interest from all over the world. But while the venue is meant to entertain it’s also there
to teach and the center takes pride in the wide variety of classes and workshops that it offers.
Most of the big-name performers are featured at the Alexander and Baldwin Amphitheatre, which is considered to be the center’s main theater. This is an open-aired lawn area
that can accommodate up tom 5,000 fans underneath the stars. The intimate Castle Theater, with its excellent acoustics, holds 1,200 spectators and the furthest seat from the stage is just
90 feet away. The McCoy Studio Theater is suited for 250 guests and the Schaefer International Gallery is 4,000 square feet in size.
This entertaining and educational center is definitely one of Maui’s greatest features. It’s operated by many dedicated members of the local community. These people
volunteer their time to make sure that residents and visitors alike can benefit from the Maui Arts and Cultural Center as much as possible. |
