Rainy day? Sunburnt and desperately seeking A/C? No matter the reason, even if you're not an art afficionado, make time to visit the Honolulu Academy of Arts, especially before Jan. 6, 2010, the last day of the Katsushika Hokusai exhibit. (It's also free that day, so no excuses!) 

For the first time in a decade, the Honolulu Academy of Arts is featuring Hokusai’s entire “Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji” series, one of the museum’s masterpieces, and a gift from the late novelist James Michener. The Academy recently announced it will extend the exhibit to Jan. 6 (YAY!). The beautifully serene exhibition has to be one of my favorite series presented by the Academy in recent years. You can spend hours gazing at each print, getting lost in each intricate detail, and somehow imagining you're in Japan. The Academy is one of Oahu's great hidden treasures, and time spent there is always lovely and enriching. If you're looking to explore Oahu's diverse arts and culture scene, visit the Honolulu Academy of Arts. 

The exhibit features many of Hokusai’s most famous prints, including The Great Wave Off Kanagawa.

You can even try your hand at printmaking, as my pal Al proudly demonstrates here. 

The Honolulu Academy of Arts counts more than 50,000 pieces in its permanent collection and houses one of the finest collections of Asian art outside of Asia. It also features masterpieces from Europe, Africa, Oceania, The Americas, and of course, Hawaii. Outdoor dining at the Pavilion Cafe (where I recently enjoyed a terrific portobello mushroom sandwich and locally-grown green salad) and a stop at the gift shop are must-dos while at the Academy, Hawaii's only comprehensive fine arts museum. 

Honolulu Academy of Arts, 900 S. Beretania St., Honolulu, HI 96814. (808) 532-8700 or www.honoluluacademy.org

--RAP