Na Lima Hana, Make A Difference

Capes flowing, the Kaua‘i Aloha Festival Royal Court retreats. View the court Friday at 10 a.m. at Hyatt’s Na Lima Hana festival

More than 40 events await those interested in Hawaiiana. What’s not to love about this annual festival running Oct. 21-23 at Grand Hyatt Resort and Spa? The Hyatt has combined its cultural and healing festivals with the annual Hawaii Hotel and Lodging Association Kaua’i chapter conference, calling it Na Lima Hana (many hands working). Most activities are free.

Don’t miss the free exhibition by men of the Hyatt doing chicken-skin hula on Saturday night at 8 in the hotel lobby. Check out the events at nalimahana.wetpaint.com. For more information, contact Stella Burgess, director of Hawaiian culture and community affairs, at 240-6369…

The Friends of Kamalani and Lydgate Park‘s big annual community volunteer workday will take place on National Make a Difference Day, this Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to noon. Meet at the main pavilion in Lydgate Park and bring a filled water bottle, work gloves, sunscreen, shoes and painting tools. Call 639-1018 for information about tools. And, yes, there is such a thing as a free lunch this time …

Millicent Cummings (left) and Cindy Combs offer a songwriting workshop Saturday

Who better to teach a songwriting workshop than the winner of this year’s Kaua’i Mokihana Festival Composers Contest, Millicent Cummings? Or the fellow who wrote one of the biggest hits of the 1960s, Don’t You Want Somebody to Love, Darby Slick?And also there’s Cindy Combs, whose songs we all love – there’s so many of them, it’s hard to keep track! Enroll for the Saturday, Oct. 23, workshop. It starts at 2:30 p.m., runs to 5:30 and hitches on a concert, to boot. The Children of the Land under the clock tower at Kaua’i Village next to Papaya’s is the spot. Check the calendar for more information, or call 651-1090 …

Hoo-ha! It’s a showcase for musicians who write and perform their own songs. Lynn and Thayne Taylor with their band “NTO,” Hank Curtis, Kim Tennberg, Lady Glo and Chris Birkett from France will play Upstairs at JJ’s Broiler in Nawiliwili Saturday, Oct. 23, for a $10 cover fee. Must be 21 with ID. Go to reverbnation.com/lynnthaynetaylor for updates and scheduled artists for the following week. The gig continues through the end of October …

The Palaihiwa Serenaders (from left) John Kaneholani, David Sproat, Jennifer Waipa, ‘Aikane Alapa‘i and Nelson Armitage provide the music for the wrap of ‘Let Us Show You Aloha -- Kauai Style’ Oct. 28 at Kaua‘i Beach Resort

Friday, Oct. 29, wraps the “Let Us Show You Aloha – Kaua’i Style” Festival, which offers six events with various communities giving a glimpse of how they do it. Last up is the debut performance of He Inoa No Na Lani! that will feature an overture of chants and hula kahiko for Kaua’i’s ancient chiefs in the opening scene. And then, Kumu Hula Kehaulani Kekua has selected a collection of the most prolific and beautiful musical compositions by King Kalakaua, Prince Leleiohoku, Princess Likelike and Queen Lili’uokalani. The Palaihiwa Serenaders will provide the music and selected dancers will make up the halau’s performing company. Additionally, there will be kuku’i ‘olelo – storytellers accompanied by historic images also choreographed with each of the segments. The hula, although modern in nature, comes from the classical monarchy era with stunning costuming and choreography rarely seen today. Kaua’i Beach Resort is the venue. Advance tickets cost $22 and $25; $30 and $35 at the door. For more information, go online at kaieie.org, where you can purchase tickets, or call 346-7574 …

Leslie Tribolet and her horse Danny

Leslie Tribolet wrote a children’s book, really a pre-teen book about her Arabian horse Danny. Check him out at dannystale.com and get to her book signing Oct. 30 at 2 p.m. at Borders. Hot tip from Tribolet: “Read the book and you’re welcome to come up and meet my little star. Everyone who has read it has contacted me and told me how they laughed and cried and totally loved it.” …

Love to dance? Plan a “Bewitching Evening” Saturday, Oct. 30, at Kaua’i Marriott Resort & Beach Club. The Kaua’i Ballroom Dance Club with its two chapters, one in Lihue and one in Hanapepe, is planning dinner, dancing, ballroom dancing demonstrations and Halloween hoopla – all for $45 per person. Call Mildred who has exhibited internationally, opens a solo show Oct. 28 that runs through Dec. 31 at Kaua’i Museum, with an opening reception Oct. 28 from 5:30 to 7:30, free and open to the public. Her exhibit will include paintings, ceramics and a mixed-media installation titled “Hung Out to Die 2010.” Her works have been shown for more than five decades in 34 individual exhibitions, 112 invitational shows and 81 juried exhibitions. Scope out this gifted and talented artist at RobertaGriffith.com. For information about Kaua’i Museum, including hours open and more, go to kauaimuseum.org or call 245-6931 …