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Destination: Kauai Article Source: Copyright © 2012 by Fodor’s Travel, a division of Random House Inc. All rights reserved.
What used to be called Drums of Paradise has a new name and a new dance troupe but still offers a traditional luau buffet and an exceptional performance. This oceanfront luau comes with a view of the majestic Keoneloa Bay. www.hyatt.com/gallery/kauailuau.
Traditional Japanese celebrations in honor of loved ones who have died are held from late June through August at various Buddhist temples all over the island. It sounds somber, but it's really a community festival of dance. To top it off, you're welcome to participate. Dance, eat, play carnival games, and hear Japanese taiko drumming by Kauai youth at one of the Bon folk dances, which take place on temple lawns every Friday and Saturday night from dusk to midnight. Some dancers wear the traditional kimono; others wear board shorts and a tank top. The moves are easy to follow, the event is lively and wholesome, and it's free. A different temple hosts a dance each weekend. Watch the local paper for that week's locale.
Destination: Hawaii (Big) Island Article Source: Copyright © 2012 by Fodor’s Travel, a division of Random House Inc. All rights reserved.
This circular exhibition center, in Wailoa State Park, features shows by local artists that change monthly. Just in front of the center is a 12-foot-high bronze statue of King Kamehameha I, made in Italy in the late 1980s. Check out his gold Roman sandals. OPEN: Mon., Tues., Thurs., and Fri. 8:30-4:30; Wed. noon-4:30.
Located on beautifully landscaped grounds with intriguing sculptures here and there, this charming complex includes an eclectic art gallery and excellent vegetarian café housed in redwood buildings built in 1908. A cute little one-bedroom "artist's cottage" is available for rent on the grounds as well. If you're lucky you'll get to meet the eccentric lord and master of this enclave, the one and only Ira Ono, known for his recycled "trash art," and his friendly hospitality. www.volcanogardenarts.com. COST: Free. OPEN: Tues.-Sat. 10-4.
A memorial to all those who lost their lives in tsunamis that have struck the Big Island, Hawaii and the world, this small but informative museum offers a poignant history of the devastating waves. In a 1931 C. W. Dickey-designed building—the former home of the First Hawaiian Bank—you'll find an interactive computer center, a science room, a theater, a replica of Old Hilo Town, a children's corner, and a knowledgeable, friendly staff. In the background, a striking quilt tells a silent story. www.tsunami.org. COST: $8. OPEN: Mon.-Sat. 9-4:15.
Built in 1839 for David and Sarah Lyman, Congregationalist missionaries, the Lyman House is the oldest frame building on the island. In the adjacent museum, dedicated in 1973, there's a realistic magma chamber and exhibits on the islands' formation. There's also an interesting section on Hawaiian flora and fauna. The gift shop sells Hawaiian books, cards, gifts, and music. It's best to call ahead for tour availability. www.lymanmuseum.org. COST: $10. OPEN: Mon.-Sat. 10-4:30, Mission House tours 11-2.
Behind the stone-loading platform of the once-famous Hilo Railroad, constructed around the turn of the 20th century, the former manager's house is a poignant reminder of the era when sugar was the local cash crop. The railroad, used to transport sugar from the plantations to the port, was one of the most expensive built in its time. It was washed away by the 1946 tsunami. Today one of the vintage switch engines is on display at the museum, and on special occasions even runs a few yards on a short Y-track. www.thetrainmuseum.com. COST: $6. OPEN: Weekdays 9-4:30, weekends 10-2.
Walk across the Parker Ranch Shopping Center parking lot to a historic 79-year-old fire station, now a gallery, to glimpse what the artists in Hamakua and Kohala are up to. The Waimea Arts Council sponsors free kaha kiis (one-person shows). www.waimeaartscouncil.org.. OPEN: Wed.-Sat. 11-3.
Run by local artists Peter and Jeanette McLaren, this Honomu gallery showcases their woodwork and photography collections along with beautiful ceramics, woodwork, photography, glass, and paintings from other Big Island artists. The McLarens also serve up plate lunches, shave ice, homemade ice cream, and espresso to hungry tourists in the adjoining café. Their shop next door, called Same-Same, But Different, features made-in-Hawaii clothing and small gifts. The historic building still has a soda fountain dating from 1935. www.woodshopgallery.com.
A Big Island-born artist whose verdant landscapes and paniolo (cowboy)-themed paintings have become iconic throughout the Islands, Harry Wishard's gallery at Parker Ranch Center showcases his original oils, plus works by such local artists as Kathy Long, Tai Lake, and Lynn Capell.