The Coconut Coast towns of Wailua, Waipouli, and Kapaa offer sunset torch-lighting ceremonies, music, and other evening entertainment, but the real action is in the Coconut Marketplace after dark. Starting at 5pm, the Coconut Marketplace, 4-484 Kuhio Hwy. (tel. 808/822-3641), features a daily free hula show performed by local residents ranging from the hula troop of tiny dancers who still don't have their permanent teeth, to lithe young women and men gracefully performing this ancient Hawaiian art, to grandmothers who have been dancing for decades.

The Kauai Coconut Beach Resort, also in the Coconut Marketplace (tel. 808/822-3455; www.kcb.com), holds a nightly torch-lighting ceremony in the center courtyard, followed by island music by local Kauai musicians from 6:30 to 8:30pm.

The Hukilau Lanai Restaurant, in the Kauai Coast Resort, located makai (oceanside) of the Coconut Marketplace (tel. 808/822-0600), features live music Wednesday and Friday 6:30 to 9:30pm and a comedy show every Thursday at 7pm.

For those who like to make their own entertainment, the Jolly Rogers Restaurant, in the Coconut Marketplace (tel. 808/822-3451), has karaoke every night from 8pm to 2am, in a friendly atmosphere. (Everyone, no matter how talented or talent-challenged, gets applause.)

If you are looking for more professional entertainment, the Tradewinds, A South Seas Bar, in the Coconut Marketplace (tel. 808/882-1621), has live bands on weekends (call for this week's schedule), with a cover charge. On weeknights you can sit back and relax with a tropical libation.

Also in the Coconut Marketplace are the Plantation Cinema 1 and 2 for film buffs looking for a good movie. (To find out what is playing, call tel. 808/821-2324.) Down the highway, the Aloha Beach Resort (formerly the Holiday Inn Sunspree), 3-5920 Kuhio Hwy. (tel. 808/823-6000; www.alohabeachresortkauai.com), features a variety of music on Friday night, 9pm to 1am, with no cover charge.

In Kapaa, weekends get off to an early start on Friday at 2pm, when Uncle Larry Rivera spins his tales of Hawaii and performs songs in the grassy courtyard in front of Papayas Natural Foods, at the Kauai Village Shopping Center, 4-831 Kuhio Hwy. (tel. 808/822-4909). There's no charge.

For those looking for a little culture, the Kauai International Theater performs at the intimate 62-seat theater in the Kauai Village Shopping Center. For information on the next stage production, call tel. 808/821-1588.

If you are just looking for a place to have drink and wind down, there are a couple of bars visited by local residents: Pau Hana Bar and Grill, Kauai Village Shopping Center (tel. 808/821-2900); and the Lizard Lounge, in the Waipouli Center (tel. 808/821-2205). Neither is glamorous; they are down-home, neighborhood bars with reasonably priced drinks in a relaxing atmosphere.