Courtesy of the Hawai`i Visitors & Convention Bureau

GREAT WHALE COUNT March 1. Volunteers around Maui count the humpback whales spotted that day in near shore waters. Sponsored by the Pacific Whale Foundation. Volunteers are needed for the five hour project. Visitors are welcome. Call: 879-8860.

CHERRY BLOSSOM CULTURAL FAIR March 1. The Japanese Junior Chamber of Commerce hosts this event at Kapiolani Park in Honolulu from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

JAPANESE MAGICIANS March 1. Aloha Theatre in Kainaliu on the Big Island hosts this show of Japanese and American magicians, as a benefit for the American Cancer Society. Showtime is 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Call 323-2911.

MOLOKA`I IN MARCH Three exciting events come to the Most Hawaiian Island during March. The Prince Kuhio Celebration honors this member of Hawaiian Royalty with dance, chant and ceremony at Kiowea Park/Kapuaiwa Coconut Grove near town of Kaunakakai For information, call: Darling Mokiao, 808-553-5215. The Paniolo Heritage Rodeo rocks Maunaloa Town at the Moloka'i Ranch Rodeo Arena. For information, call: Moloka'i Ranch Outfitters Center at 800-254-8871, 808-552-2791. Another celebration called Punana Leo O Moloka'i is organized by Lori Lei Rawlins. Call: 808- 553-5215

HAWAII CHALLENGE INTERNATIONAL SPORTKITE CHAMPIONSHIP March 1-2. Kapiolani Park in Honolulu. The longest running sportkite competition in the world. Attracts top kite pilots from all over the world. Call: 735-9059

DAYDREAMS IN PARADISE March 3 - 28. Art exhibit at Ramsay Galleries in historic Chinatown in Honolulu. The artist is Jan`e Starn, watercolorist. Call: 537-ARTS.

EAST MAUI TARO FESTIVAL March 4-6. Hana, Maui celebrates the staple food of old Hawai`i. Taro was made into poi and is featured in demonstrations, exhibits and food booths. Call: 248- 8211.

NA LEO PILIMEHANA March 7. Maui Arts and Cultural Center showcases this trio of female Hawaiian vocalists as part of the Ho`onanea Hawaiian Music Series. Call: 242-7469.

CHERRY BLOSSOM GOLF TOURNAMENT March 8. Location and time to be set at a golf course on O`ahu. Call 949-2255.

GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA March 8. Swing time in Waimea on the Big Island features this classic orchestra at Kahilu Theatre at 8 p.m. Call: 885-6868.

CHERRY BLOSSOM COURT March 9. Ala Moana Center hosts the Cherry Blossom Festival with entertainment and presentation of the the Cherry Blossom court. Call: 949-2255.

ART MAUI March 10. Maui Arts & Cultural Center in Kahului opens this island artist juried art show on display for a month. Call: 877-5749.

HAWAIIAN PRO AM WINDSURFING March 13-17. The most famous windsurfing site in Hawaii, at Ho`okipa Beach Park is the venue for this contest on Maui. Call: 575-9264.

UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII'S ANNUAL DANCE CONCERT March 13-22. Kennedy Theatre on Oahu at 1770 East-West Road. This is the annual presentation by University of Hawaii's dance department with students showcasing their new choreography, and faculty and guest artists displaying their skills. Friday and Saturday performances will be at 8 p.m. and Sunday performances at 2 p.m. Call: 956-2598; 956-7655.

HONOLULU FESTIVAL March 15. Sky Gate on O`ahu. Japanese street performers, food booths, sumo, kite demonstrations and bon dancing as part of this annual event to celebrate Japanese culture. Call: 523-8802.

TAISHOGOTO CONCERTS March 15 - 16. Traditional Japanese musical concerts at the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center as part of the Honolulu Festival. Call: 523-8802.

JAPANESE FOLK MUSIC March 15 - 16. Ala Moana Center Center Stage is the site of singing, poem readings and other Japanese performances as part of the Honolulu Festival. Call: 523-8802.

RUN FOR THE WHALES March 15. Wailea Shopping Center on Maui. This event is sponsored by the Pacific Whale Foundation and features a 5K and 10 K race. Call: 879-8860.

WHALEFEST WEEK ON MAUI March 15-23. Many events to celebrate the lives of endangered Pacific humpback whales, which spend the winter in Hawai`i, take place in the old whaling port of Lahaina and Wailea beginning with Wahale Day at Wailea Shopping Center on the 15th, with a miniature rubber whale race, educational displays, music, crafts, silent auction and food. Call: 661-3271.

WHALE DAY March 15. 17th annual Whale Day Celebration features displays on Hawaii's whales, live music, craft faire, food booths, volleyball tournament, silent auction, 5K 10K run for the whale and keiki whaleathon - an educational obstacle course for children 6 to 12 to teach them about the whale migration from Alaska to Hawaii. Wailea Shopping Village. Call: 879-8860.

WILD AND WONDERFUL WHALE REGATTA March 15 Rubber whales replace rubber duckies in a race on a water course at the Wailea Shopping Village to benefit the Pacific Whale Foundation's Children's Education Program, which provides ocean education programs to school children on Maui, Lanai and Molokai. $5 donation to sponsor a whale. Call: 879-8860.

QUEEN KA`AHUMANU FESTIVAL March 15. Hawaiian entertainment, arts, crafts, contests and displays celebrate the life of this Hawaiian Queen. Ka`ahumanu Shopping Center on Maui. Call: 877-3369.

MAUI SYMPHONY March 15. Maui Arts & Cultural Center Castle Theater is the site of the performance of this Masanobu Ikemiya piano repertoire, with the Maui Symphony, in Kahului. Call: 242-7469

A MUSICAL FABLE March 15 & 22. Honolulu Theater for Youth presents this humorous story of three characters, including Prince Christopher, a violin-playing heir to the throne, who head into the mountains to find inner courage to accept who they are and stand up for themselves. Leeward Community College Theatre on O`ahu. Call 839-7018.

MAUI WHALE LOOKOUT PROGRAM Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, in the morning. Naturalists are stationed at the McGreggor Point Lookout between Lahaina and Kihei to help visitors and residents learn about whales living offshore. Whale baleen, whale lice and other show-and-tell items are displayed in the Pacific Whale Foundation's Ocean Outreach Van. Call: 879-8860.

30TH ANNUAL OAHU KITE FESTIVAL March 16. Public is invited to show off their kites at Kapiolani Park on O`ahu Call: 735- 9059.

JAPANESE ART EXHIBIT March 16. Kahala Mall on O`ahu. Japanese artists show traditional and modern work as part of Honolulu Festivals. Call: 523-8802.

HPR WINE CLASSIC March 16. This fundraiser for Hawaii Public Radio offers tasting and a silent auction of rare and Hawaiian wines at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Call: 955-8821.

HAWAIIAN MUSIC March 16. Maui Arts & Cultural Center hosts this fundraiser for teh Na Kai`Ewalu Canoe and Cultural Club at 11 a.m. in the A&B Amphitheater with Hawaiian music, food booths and cultural display. Call: 242-7469

HONOLULU FESTIVAL PARADE March 16. A parade of 5,000 marchers, Mikoshi procession and Dahi, with floats will liven up Kalakaua Avenue at 5 p.m. in Honolulu as part of the Honolulu Festival to celebrate Japanese culture and friendship with Hawaii. Call 922-0221.

GUIDED WHALEWATCHING Monday through Friday at 11:45 a.m. Free guided whalewatching on the Pacific Whale Foundation Ocean Observatory Deck in Kihei, Maui. Learn tips on finding and seeing whales in Hawaii's waters. 101 N. Kihei Road. Call: 879- 8860.

DON PABLO'S ST. PATRICKS DAY PIPE CONTEST March 16, 2:00 p.m. This traditional Irish contest tests the pipe smoking endurance., and style, among the smokers. Call 537-6900.

INTERNATIONAL KITE FESTIVAL March 16. Kite battles over Sand Beach on Oahu will be staged by some of the top kite flyers in the world. Over 130 competitors will participate. Kite artists will show their skills at displays and demonstrations. A kite ballet to Taiko drumming and the world largest kite will be presented. Yoyo and boomerang demonstrations and Japanese cultural ceremonies are included, as part of the Honolulu Festival. Call: 735-9059.

KOHAKU UTA GASSEN March 16 at 12:30 p.m.. The Red and White Song Contest, Neil Blaisdell Center Concert Hall. Patterned after a popular New Year's song contest in Japan, it pitts a team of women singers against men singers. Call 949-2255.

HONOLULU ST. PATRICKS DAY PARADE March 17. Parade with bagpipes, bands, clowns, and marching groups, leaves Ala Moana Park and travels to Kapiolani Park. Hawaiian Waikiki Beach Hotel hosts an after-party for the scholarship fund of the Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Hawaii. Irish came to Hawaii on some of the first exploring ships, and there is a large Hawaiian-Irish population; Hawaii's last governor was Irish- Hawaiian. Call: 949-2395.

MAUI ST. PATRICKS DAY PARADE March 17. This Parade along Kaanapali Parkway, features music and wild costumes with entertainment to follow. Call: 661-3271.

CRAZY FOR YOU March 21, 22, 23, 28, 29. Maui Arts & Cultural Center presents this musical comedy at the Castle Theatre. Call: 242- 7469

CITY BANK GOLF TOURNEY March 23. A fundraiser for the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, the tournament takes place at Makena Resort North Course. Call: 871-7761.

EARLY MUSIC MAUI SPRING CONCERT March 23. Maui Arts & Cultural Center presents Spanish Renaissance music for instruments and voice with Ron and Janice Cook of the Early Interval, from Cleveland. Performance is at 3 p.m. in the McCoy Studio. Call: 242- 7469

BRAHMS ON THE BIG ISLAND March 25-26. Kona Community Chorus will sing the four-hand version of Holy Week Music at St. Michaels in Kona. Call: 329-7254.

JAPANESE CULTURE AT BISHOP MUSEUM Bishop Museum opens for exhibits for the public as part of the Honolulu Festival, which offers Japanese cultural events in Honolulu each year. Kite making demonstrations, Hatano Tabako, flower arranging, tea ceremony, oshie print making, a Japan-America high school sumo tournament, and Kenko Taiso (exercise) , Yosaki dance and Bon dance demonstrations. Call: 537-1183.

HAWAIIAN CULTURAL FESTIVAL Maui Arts Camp; Cultural Center. A festival of hula, music, song, crafts and island-style foods. Call: 242-7469.

PANIOLO HERITAGE RODEO March 22. This traditional rodeo event takes place at Moloka`i Ranch and features generations of Hawaiian cowboys competing. Call: 552-2681.

MAUI MARATHON March 23. The 26th annual running from Kahului to Whalers Village at Kaanapali with an international field of runners. Call: 871-6441.

CHEERY BLOSSOM QUEEN PAGEANT March 22. Neil Blaisdell Center Concert Hall in Honolulu at 7 p.m. The Cherry Blossom Queen for 1997 is chosen to represent the local Japanese community. The selection is based on poise, grace, personality and confidence, a kimono contest, evening gown contest and question and answer session.. Call: 949-2255.

SHARKS FOR KIDS March 28, classes for 9 to 12 year olds. 9 a.m.- 11 a.m. at Sea Life Park on Oahu. Call: 259-6476.

ANTHURIUM SHOW March 28- 29 Ward Warehouse in Honolulu. Anthuriums and plants from the Hawaiian Anthurium Society with over 200 prize-winning plants on display, and anthuriums, orchids, green plants, and leis for sale. Friday, 10 .m. - 9 p.m, Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 pm. Call: 591-8411.

KAPALUA CELEBRATION OF THE ARTS March 28 - 30. This fifth annual event pays tribute to people, arts and culture of Hawaii with demonstrations of hula, chant, native art and food. Call: 669- 6200.

CHERRY BLOSSOM CORONATION BALL March 29. Sheraton Waikiki Hotel, Kauai Ballroom is the locale with 6 p.m. cocktails, 7 p.m. dinner, 8 p.m. coronation. A formal evening for the Japanese community. Newly selected Cherry Blossom Queen to be crowned by the Governor. Ladies in waiting wear kimonos, ushers dress in hakamas. Dignitaries come from Japan to join in the formal dance. A Japanese delegation presents a symbolic umbrella and authentic Japanese kimono to the Cherry Blossom Queen. Call: 949-2255.

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