Maui kumu hula Hokulani Holt-Padilla is one of 50 honorees to receive fellowship grants for $50,000 from United States Artists, which recognizes artistic excellence in a variety of disciplines.

Holt-Padilla, who is cultural programs director at Kahului-based Maui Arts and Cultural Center, is kumu of Pä'u O Hi'iaka, and a widely known cultural and Hawaiian language expert whose cultural endeavors include the Hawaiian musical drama "Kahekili." The U.S. advocacy group made the announcement last week in ceremonies in Los Angeles. Winners from each of the 50 states included sculptors, playwrights, novelists and a spectrum of cultural, stylistic and geographic perspectives. ...

AROUND TOWN: Manoa Valley Theatre's "The Dixie Swim Club" premieres Jan. 14, but preparations are under way via Skype chats. Director Betty Burdick and associate producer Bree Bumatai (who also is in the cast, as Dinah Grayson), are holding down the fort at home, while their lighting director Dan Anteau is in Alaska and set designer James Davenport is in New Zealand. With laptops open, they huddle ... while actresses Stefanie Anderson, Suzanne Green, Holly Holowach, Karen Myer and Bumatai rehearse. The playwrights, Jamie Wooten and Nicholas Hope, will attend the premiere, so first-nighters can meet and greet these two Southern gents. ...

The recent KINE Aloha Friday luncheon show, at Kani Ka Pila Grille at the Outrigger Reef on the Beach, boasted top-notch names off stage (members of Mänoa DNA dining, and Maureen McCormick, Marcia on "The Brady Bunch," promoting her "Here's the Story" book) and onstage — Nä Leo, Raiatea Helm and Waipuna, the latter showcasing diminutive Maka'ala Perry, who starts recording a full-length Hawaiian CD in January. The album will include a duet with Melveen Leed and originals the youngster has written with mentor Glenn Medeiros. She's a name and talent to watch for, with a Christmas single she sells at appearances. ...

Oh, Maka'ala will be part of the aforementioned Leed's Christmas concert from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at the Pacific Beach hotel. Call 922-1233. ...

HAPPY HOLIDAZE: The Honolulu Boy Choir's traditional Christmas sing-out at the Pink Palace will be a freebie from 7 to 7:45 p.m. this Tuesday at the Monarch Room of The Royal Hawaiian. If you need a holiday boost, these cherubic faces with the high-pitched voices will flush the stress from your soul. ...

And with Christmas Eve on Thursday, Cecilio and Kapono will turn their Thursday songfest at the Royal into a holiday special at the Monarch Room. Call 923-7311 for show and/or dinner options. ...

Another freebie: The Honolulu Symphony Orchestra, with JoAnn Falletta as guest maestro, will present Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, at 4 p.m. Dec. 27 at Blaisdell Concert Hall, with the Oahu Choral Society, led by Esther Yoo, also participating. This would be the time to kokua with donations. Pick up tickets at the Blaisdell Box office, 591-2211. ...

An advisory: My annual night-before-Christmas column, written in rhyme, will appear in Friday's TGIF section as well as online in my Show and Tell Hawai'i blog. ...

And that's Show Biz. ...