Maoli Arts Month – May events showcase native Hawaiian artists

Hawaii – Travelers staying at select Outrigger properties in Hawaii this May can indulge in artistic and cultural activities during “MAMo: Maoli Arts Month 2008″, a series of special events showcasing Native Hawaii arts and artists.

Sponsored in part by Outrigger Hotels & Resorts, Maoli Arts Month is a
community-based program that celebrates the depth and diversity of native
Hawaiian visual artists through exhibits, performances, demonstrations,
discussions, children’s activities, an arts market and wearable art show.

“Maoli Arts Month is driven by a two-part vision: to expand opportunities
for native Hawaiian artists and cultural practitioners by increasing their
presence in museums and galleries, and to educate our local residents and
visitors about native Hawaiian art,” said festival organizer Vicky Takamine.
“We are gratified to have the generous support from many who share our
dreams, including the PA’I Foundation, Hawaii Tourism Authority, Ford
Foundation, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Mayor’s Office of Culture and Arts,
Bishop Museum, Outrigger Hotels and many others.”

As part of its sponsorship, the Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach on the island
of Oahu and the Outrigger-managed Keauhou Beach Resort on Hawaii Island will
be hosting the following events, free and open to the public:

MAMo Wednesdays at the Outrigger Waikiki May 7, 14, 21 and 28, 10 a.m. to 12
noon Outrigger Waikiki, Oahu Native Hawaiian artists will demonstrate such
traditional arts as lei-making, weaving, fiber arts and carving every
Wednesday in May at the Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach.

MAMo Keauhou Art Market
May 31, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.,
Keauhou Beach Resort, Hawaii Island
The first-ever MAMo Keauhou Art Market will feature native Hawaiian artists
who will share, demonstrate, display and sell their creations. Hands-on
activities for children will include creating sand art, painting
watercolors, making lei, beating kappa, weaving, learning feather work and
printing t-shirts.

Other MAMo events will include the 2008 MAMo Awards, which recognizes native
Hawaiian visual artists who have devoted a lifetime to championing native
Hawaiian arts, a gallery walk through Oahu’s Chinatown; and a Native
Hawaiian Arts Market and Keiki Arts Festival, and a wearable arts show. This
year’s MAMo Award recipients are: lauhala weaver Elizabeth Lee; painter
David Parker; sculptor Hanale Hopfe; and painter and arts organizer Al
Lagunero. A presentation of their artworks will be on display at the Bishop
Museum’s J.M. Long Gallery from May 1 to September 7. Standard museum fees
apply.

For more information about Maoli Arts Month and its various activities,
visit www.maoliartsmonth.org

Outrigger’s support of Maoli Arts Month is part of the Hawaii-based
hotelier’s ongoing commitment to preserving and sharing Hawaii’s rich
cultural heritage. Outrigger’s award-winning Kalakaua Experience is a
year-round series of fun and educational activities and special events, many
of which are free to guests. For more information about upcoming Outrigger
events, visit www.outrigger.com

About the Hotels

Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach is a deluxe and gracious Hawaiian hotel
located directly on the sands of world-famous Waikiki Beach in the heart of
exciting Waikiki. The 525-room property features three restaurants including
the famed Duke’s Canoe Club, Chuck’s Steakhouse and Hula Grill Waikiki; the
popular Society of Seven cabaret show, shops, meeting rooms, self-service
business center and exceptional displays of Hawaiian artifacts and artwork
throughout the property. All guests are welcome to enjoy such on-property
amenities as free high-speed Internet access, free long-distance domestic
telephone calls, and convenient Hawaiian Airlines check-in kiosk, with no
resort fee.

The Keauhou Beach Resort is managed by Outrigger Enterprise Group. Located
on prime oceanfront acreage in the historic Keauhou District, the property
is adjacent to tide pools sheltering sea turtles and reef fish, and Kahaluu
Bay Beach Park, and offers meeting facilities, restaurants, salon and spa
services, tennis courts, pool, shopping, ancient historical sites and
Hawaiian cultural programs for adults and children.

About Outrigger Enterprises Group

Outrigger Enterprises Group is one of the largest and fastest growing
privately-held leisure lodging and hospitality companies in the Asia Pacific
and Oceania regions and continues to expand its presence throughout the
area.

A family-owned company with more than 60 years of hospitality experience,
Outrigger runs a highly-successful, multi-branded line of hotels,
condominiums and vacation resort properties, including Outrigger(r) Hotels &
Resorts, OHANA(r) Hotels & Resorts, Outrigger Condominium Collection(r),
Embassy Suites(r), Best Western(r) and Wyndham Vacation Ownership(r).
Currently, Outrigger operates and/or has under development 47 properties
with close to 12,000 rooms located in Hawaii, Australia, Guam, Fiji, Palau,
Bali and Phuket, Thailand.

Outrigger Enterprises Group also operates and develops hotel properties and
hospitality-related retail and real estate opportunities for partners in
Hawaii, the Pacific, the mainland USA and Asia. For on-line information, log
on at www.outriggerenterprisesgroup.com

*Embassy Suites is a registered trade mark of Hilton Hotels Corporation.

March 31, 2008   Posted in: Hawaii