Maui Film Festival and the Celestial Cinema

The annual Maui Film Festival is held in June and it's a marvelous event.

(promotional photo)

It all starts in a grassy parking lot about 2 miles from the venue. Here we are parked with our niece Julia who spent 2 weeks with us, waiting for the shuttle bus ride to the 
"Celestial Cinema"

Part of the experience is to arrive early and line up for the shuttle.

Buses staged for starting time. First one rolls at 6:15. The show starts at 8:00

 The venue is a golf course located on the south shore of Maui in the Wailea/Makena area. It's known as the Gold course and there are 3 other full size golf courses in this immediate area. After getting through the ticket lines, it's up the hill onto the fairway which becomes the Cinema each evening during the 8 day event. After claiming some territory on the grass with beach chairs and blankets, it's time for a walk up the hill on the golf course for beautiful sunset views - the main reason to be early birds!

 From the top of the fairway looking southwest. The uninhabited island of Kahoolawe is seen in the distance.

 Sunset is upon us. You can see the amphitheater shaped area beginning to fill with people in front of the 30 foot by 50 foot screen. This huge screen is put up and taken down each day. Golf course by day, Celestial Cinema by night.

Maui sunsets are famous and plentiful.

As dusk comes, the crowd grows.

It's just about show time and people are still arriving and settling.

A rather dapper movie goer all dressed up for a big night out!

Under the stars, with gentle warm breezes flowing, a fifty foot screen with awesome sound and friendly people - it all adds up to home theater at it's best - Maui Style!