Maui Events

The Department of Fire and Public Safety is cracking down on this year’s cracks, bursts, and pops! Fireworks appear to be a rarity on the island for the Fourth of July. However, there is one display scheduled thus far, thanks to the Maui Chamber of Commerce. The fireworks display begins at 8 p.m. from a barge outside of Front Street in Lahaina. So folks, make a dinner reservation asap or plan on strolling the streets in town, because you don’t want to miss the main feature of the Fourth!

Stroll historic Lahaina and enjoy holiday specials in many oceanview restaurants and town shops. For an old-fashioned Independence Day celebration, listen to a variety of bands play in a free concert on the oceanfront Lahaina Library lawn starting at 5 pm. A fireworks display lighting the night sky over Lahaina’s roadstead is scheduled for 8 pm, presented by Maui Chamber of Commerce. Fireworks can be viewed from charter boats in Lahaina Harbor and on land throughout LahainaTown.

Every Friday night is “Art Night” on Front Street in Lahaina, but this weekend the street was lined in American flags commemorating our U.S. Service Members who gave their lives while serving our country.

It’s that time of year again when the Hawaiian Islands experience the astronomical phenomenon known as “Lahaina Noon” – when the sun is directly overhead at high noon. Lahaina’s was yesterday and I happened to be at the Post Office when it happened.  For just a few moments the flagpole didn’t cast a shadow and I was able to take a photo.  Hawaii is the only state in the nation  where this occurs, twice a year at every location in the islands. Lola

"Lahaina Noon" May 24, 2011

Everyone had a great time at the 22nd Annual Maui Onion Festival this past weekend.  The festival was hosted annually by Whalers Village in honor of the famous Maui Kula Onion – one of our largest agricultural exports.  The Maui Onion Growers Association cooked up 300 pounds of sweet Maui onion rings to what seemed to be a never ending long line of people waiting for them.

Entertainment and food/retail vendors filled the courtyards all day long.  Six of the best Chefs on Maui put on amazing food demonstrations for the crowd.  The included: James McDonald, Pacific’O and I’O Restaurants; Roy Yamaguchi, Roy’s; D.K. Kodama, Cane & Taro/Sansei; Brian Etheredge, Capische; Eric Arbogast, Cuatro, and David Paul Johnson, David Paul’s Island Grill.

Chefs also competed against each other in the Maui Onion Recipe Contest. Chef Dave “D.K.” Kodama took top honors in the Maui Onion Recipe Contest with his Kekaha Shrimp & Lobster Cake with Swiss Chard, Hamakua Aliʻi Mushrooms & Lobster Uni Sauce.  Chef D.K. Kodma owns and operates seven  restaurants on three islands, including four Sansei Seafood Restaurant  & Sushi Bars, d.k. Steak House, VINO Italian Tapas & Wine Bar  and Hiroshi Eurasion Tapas.

The festivities continued with keiki and adult Raw Maui Onion Eating contests.  Winners were Dante Gramuglia, 10 years old and a 5th grader at Princess Nahienaena Elementary School in the Keiki Division, and  Wayne Finlinson, 34, of St. George, Utah who won the coveted title for 2011, was presented with a beautiful sweet Maui onion lei, and $100 cash!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE YOUTUBE OF THE ADULT RAW MAUI ONION EATING CONTEST:

The 22^nd Annual Maui Onion Festival will be held on Saturday, May 7, at Whalers Village. The event begins at 9:45 a.m. and will feature celebrity chefs, free food samples, as well as the best Maui onion recipe contest.  The fun continues with the keiki and adult raw Maui onion eating contests, a Tahitian hula show, a magic show, the Air Force Band of the Pacific, and live music performances.

Participating restaurants include CJ’s Deli at The Fairway Shops, Black Rock Steak & Seafood at The Sheraton Maui, Tiki Terrace at Kaanapali Beach Hotel, Cane & Taro at Whalers Village, Pulehu at The Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas,
Tropica Restaurants & Bar at The Westin Maui, ‘Umalu at The Hyatt Regency Maui, and Royal Laiana Resort’s Ocean Terrace.
(NOTE: The onion rings are AMAZING!)

To read the full story and get the complete schedule/times of events click on this link: Lahaina News

This is a really great day and we hope you all enjoy the festivities.  I’ll post lots of photos, and video of the Maui onion eating contests, on our Facebook.  http://www.facebook.com/NapiliPointResort

Come visit us on our “Live Webcam” http://www.napili.com

Maui No Ka Oi (Maui is the best) ! Tori Hulali Canha of Halau Ke’alaokamaile of Wailuku, Maui took the title of Miss Aloha Hula 2011 at the Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo on the Big Island last weekend.  Lahaina born/raised, Keali’i Reichel, was the kumu hula (hula teacher) and is one of Hawaii’s most popular recording artists.  Maui’s Manalani Mili Hokoana English took 2nd place in the competition.

Here is a video of Tori - this is hula at its best! We hope you enjoy!

MISS ALOHA HULA WINNER 2011 Tori Hulali Canha

Tori Hulali Canha-Miss Aloha Hula 2011

The 2011 Maui Invitational Music Festival and Kaanapali Beach Hotel will present the Third Annual Henry Kaleialoha Allen
Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival on april 29-30 and May 1st.  This Festival is dedicated to two giants in the history of Hawaiian music: to the creator of the Hawaiian steel guitar Joseph Kekuku, and to the famous radio show Hawaii Calls that broadcast live Hawaiian music worldwide and popularized the sound of the Hawaiian steel guitar.

Thursday, April 28
6-9 pm – Meet the Artist VIP Reception Party – Private Suite
The Festival begins with an exclusive opportunity to meet and talk story with Henry Kaleialoha Allen. The only ticked event offered during the weekend, the $150 per person price includes food, wines, champagnes, beers, individual photo sessions, and gift bags. Hosted by Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa and First Lady Ann Arakawa.
For reservations and more information, call (808) 669-6189

All events on Friday, April 29 and Saturday, April 30 are offered for free.

Friday, April 29
Beginning at 2pm – Greetings and Crafts – Lobby
Hawaiian cultural enrichment specialists Danny Akaka, Jr. and his wife Leolani, Alii Noa, Wailani, Aloha Kekoolani, and niece of Joseph Kekuku Kaiwa Meyers offer greetings. Hawaiian quilters showcase their craft.

Hawaiian crafts and activities including:
Lei making
Ti leaf skirt weaving
Hawaiian tattoo
Hula dancing
Hula implement display

Workshops – Kanahele Room and Courtyard
2-5pm – Hands-on Hawaiian steel guitar making classes with University
of Hawaiis Dr. Neil Scott , his assistant Bill Weichert, and accomplished musician from the Big Island Colin John (building kits are provided)

Opening Ceremony – Main Stage
5:30pm – Pule and chants – Danny Akaka, Jr. and Aloha Kekoolani
Welcoming address by guest speaker Maui Mayor Hon. Alan Arakawa

Performances – Main Stage
6-6:45pm – Kani Ka Pila Steel Guitar Trio from Yokohama, Japan featuring a cameo appearance by Henry Kaleialoha Allen and Archie Grant

7-8:30pm -Alan Akaka & Islanders with hula dancers including hula class students

Open Jam Session – Kanahele Room
8:45-11:30pm – All are welcome to bring their instruments and join in

Saturday, April 30
Beginning at 9am – Lobby
Hawaiian cultural enrichment specialists Danny Akaka, Jr. and his wife Leolani, Alii Noa, Wailani, Aloha Kekoolani, and niece of Joseph Kekuku Kaiwa Meyers offer greetings. Hawaiian quilters showcase their craft.

Beginning at 9am – Courtyard
Hawaiian crafts and activities including:
Lei making
Ti leaf skirt weaving
Hawaiian tattoo
Hula dancing (learn in the morning, dance in the afternoon)
Hula implement display
Display of instruments and accesssories, books and music

Beginning at 9am – Plein Air painting – Courtyard
Jack Hamilton and fellow artists painting on location

Presentations – Kanahele Room
10am-11 – Powerpoint presentation: Joseph Kekuku, Hawaii Calls and Don McDiarmid, Jr. followed by conversation with Henry Kaleialoha Allen and Kaiwa Meyers and Q&A session

Workshops – Kanahele Room
11am – 1pm – Playing techniques with Alan Akaka (left and right hand techniques), Greg Sardinha (recording tips), and talking story with Duke Ching, Henry Allen, and Lion Kobayashi

Workshop – Courtyard
11am – Hands-on Hawaiian steel guitar making classes with University of Hawaiis Dr. Neil Scott , his assistant Bill Weichert, and accomplished musician from the Big Island Colin John (building kits are provided)

Performance – Main Stage
1-4pm – Kani Ka Pila – Hawaiian-style musical get together with festival players and guest dancers from hula class

Ceremony – Main Stage
5:30pm – Pule and chants by Danny Akaka, Jr. and Aloha Kekoolani Hosted by Senator Brickwood Galuteria with guest speakers Hawaii Tourism Authority President & CEO Mike McCartney and Maui Visitors Bureau Executive Director Teryl Vencyl

Performances – Main Stage
6-6:45pm – Music by Greg Sardinha and Duke Ching with hula dancers

7-8:30pm – Concert Under the Stars
Senator and singer Brickwood Galuteria emcees a fabulous evening of music starring Henry Kaleialoha Allen and Tropical Swing with A Touch Of Cool Jazz and Japanese singing sensation Masami Sato

Open Jam Session – Kanahele Room
8:45-11:30pm – All are welcome to bring their instruments and join in

Sunday, May 1 – May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii
Beginning at 9am – Courtyard
Hawaiian crafts and activities including:
Lei making
Ti leaf skirt weaving
Hawaiian tattoo
Hula dancing
Hula implement display
Display of instruments and accesssories, books and music

9am-1pm – Brunch – Tiki Terrace
Kaanapali Beach Hotels famous Sunday Champagne Brunch with emcee Kimo Mansfield and featuring entertainment by festival artists and a cameo appearance by Henry Kaleialoha Allen. Other activities include a presentation by Dr. Neil Scott and his workshop students and a lei contest

For reservations, call (808) 661-0011

Free Performances – Main Stage
9-10am – Kani Ka Pila, Hawaiian steel guitar trio from Japan
10:15-11:30am – Island musicians Greg Sardinha and Duke Ching
11:45am -1:00pm – Popular trio Alan Akaka & The Islanders with Japans renown Hawaiian steel guitarist Lion Kobayashi and hula by guest artists

Lahaina News (Vol.31-#15) Lahaina Town Action Committee invites everyone to come out and celebrate the 138th birthday of a very special landmark, Saturday and Sunday, April 23rd and 24th.  The Banyan Tree was planted on April 24, 1873 by town Sheriff William Smith to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the area’s first Christian mission.  Brought from India, the tree was only eight feet high when it was planted.  It now has a dozen main trunks and covers two-thirds of an acre in Banyan Tree Park fronting the Old Lahaina Courthouse.  Named for the merchants that sell wares in the shade beneath the large trees, banyans grow by dropping roots from their branches which become additional trunks.

The festivities begin on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Here’s a link for a detailed schedule of events: Banyan Tree’s 138th Birthday

Lahaina – Featuring three days of free concerts, the Front Street Jazz and Blues Walk will debut Friday, April 15.  The new event created by Bill Burton and the Maui Jazz Society will feature free shows at the Hard Rock Cafe, Longhi’s, Kimo’s, Captain Jacks, Maui Grown Coffee Co and the Pioneer Inn on April 15-17.

The free concerts will begin Friday, April 15, with Tashombe and Covington playing at the Pioneer Inn from noon to 3 p.m. Also on Friday, Metoyer’s band will perform at the Hard Rock Cafe from 1 to 3 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m., Galfis will play at MauiGrown Coffee from 2 to 4 p.m., Ruiz will play from 2 to 5 p.m. and Jones from 6 to 9 p.m. at Captain Jacks, De Moraes will take the stage from 6 to 9 p.m. at Longhi’s and Paquette will entertain from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Pioneer Inn.

Saturday’s lineup includes Godinez and Harrison from noon to 3 p.m. at the Pioneer Inn, David Choy & Slam at the Hard Rock Cafe from 1 to 3 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m., Benoit Jazz Works from 2 to 5 p.m. and Jones from 6 to 9 p.m. at Captain Jacks, Ahia at Kimo’s from 5 to 7 p.m., Mori at Longhi’s from 6 to 9 p.m. and Paquette at the Pioneer Inn from 6 to 9 p.m.

The grand finale with the Lahaina Jazz & Blues All-Stars (featuring Paquette) will be held Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Pioneer Inn.  To read the full article Lahaina News: