Brandon K.
Yelp
If a concert worth mentioning is happening on Maui, it'll be held at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. The MACC as we call it is centrally located in Kahului, not too far from the airport. I've peeked at some past reviews but it seems that there hasn't been one done in quite some time. I'm hoping this will bring insight to possible concert goers.
INSIDE CONCERTS: I think the MACCs amphitheater is a lot better than most places. It's big enough to hold a pretty good sized crowd, but not so big you're drowning in a sea of people. I personally like to be seated on the mezzanine level (2nd floor). No matter where you're sitting, you have a good view. I'm sure it's the same if you're on the balcony (3rd floor) but I've never been up there so it's hard for me to say. On the second level, even if you're seated on the farthest row, the concert hall isn't big where you'd need binoculars to see the stage. Everything is still very visible. There are 2 restrooms each on the orchestra level (1st floor) and on the mezzanine level. They're all very well maintained and easy to get to. The only real downside in my opinion to concerts on the inside is the lack of leg room. If you're going to a concert that makes you want to dance, it'll be hard not to bump the next person's knees and/or shoulders. The MACC does have a few seats on the orchestra level that are wider. They're located about of the way from the back. Because the seats are pre assigned, you'll need to purchase those exact seats to ensure the extra room. With regards to pricing, there is a price difference depending where you sit in the amphitheater. It's normally $20 less for the balcony and $10 less for the mezzanine than it is for the orchestra level. If you're ever in need of assistance, there are a ton of volunteers that are there to assist you. There's also no food or drinks allowed in the amphitheater.
OUTSIDE CONCERTS: Concerts that are done outside are on a nice lawn. There's a ton of space outside to dance if you fell like letting loose your inner Michael Jackson. Another positive about outside concerts are the ticket prices. Yes, they still can be pricey but there aren't any price differences like there'd be for indoor concerts. Seating can be an issue though. For the most part, concerts outdoors are more the stand up type. You can bring a mat or chair but at times there are so many people if you sit on the lawn, you won't see much. If you choose not to bring a chair, there are a few stadium bleachers at the far back of the lawn. You'll still se everything but at times you'd tend to feel separated from the action. With regards to bathrooms, you're relegated to port-a-potties that are located to the left bleachers.
FOOD INSIDE: The food served for indoor concerts is somewhat different than the food sold for outdoor concerts. For indoor concerts, there are several different vendors that provide food depending on the concert. The choices will include American, Italian, Mexican or Greek fare, etc. All are very good and the prices aren't outrageous. Normally, they'll range between $8-$10 for a salad and $12-$16 for an entrée. The food's quite filling. The MACC also provides a well stocked bar. Drink prices are about $6 but they really load up on the ice. I think beer and wine drinkers will come out ahead on this one.
FOOD OUTSIDE: There's a somewhat big difference with food outside. Sometimes you'll get the same vendors but the amount of food you're given is a lot less. On the upside, you don't pay the same price as inside. At times, depending on the concert, there are more food vendors that are there. You'll get less food but there's more of a variety. The bar on the other hand is really simple. They only serve wine, champagne, and certain beers. With outdoor concerts, the folks at the MACC will rope off half of the lawn for those over 21 and able to drink from those who don't want to drink and under 21.
Whether it be inside or outside, there are a few things about the MACC that turns me off. The first being the "applicable fees"; on top of whatever you're paying for the ticket, there's ALWAYS an extra fee. Normally it ranges between $3-$5 but they add up real fast. The other is the charge for parking. They don't always do it but when they do, the MACC will charge around $5-$15 ($35 at the Elton John concert) per car for parking across the street at the Maui Community College. In a perfect world, they'd just add everything to the ticket, but they don't. C'est la vie.
If you can pay and look beyond the added charges, I think an evening at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center can be extremely nice. I'd recommend checking their site (www.mauiarts.org) frequently because there are shows, exhibits, and concerts that are added and subtracted all the time. See you there.
