Weekend Round-Up: Cinco De Mayo Parties Abound

By Madeline Ziecker

Featured Shows

MAPA courtesy photo.

Three MAPA Dance Shows Saturday, May 4 and Sunday, May 5 at the MACC. Tickets are $12 for the 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon show; $15 (adult) and $12 (kids) for the Saturday evening show; and $12 for the Sunday finale.

Maui Academy of Performing Arts (MAPA) presents their Spring Extravaganza dance show trio, starting with “Jazz, Tap, and Hip Hop”  at 3 p.m. on Saturday, followed by their featured contemporary show, “Moves” at 7:30 p.m.

MAPA performs the “Ballet” finale on Sunday at 3 p.m., when over 200 ballerinas of all ages will pirouette across the Castle Theater stage.

Tickets can be purchased by calling the MACC Box Office at 242-SHOW or online at MauiArts.org.

Just Scrap XVI Friday, May 4 at 7 p.m. in the War Memorial Gym in Wailuku. General admission is $20 and cageside is $30.  

Chad Thomas vs Lolohea Mahe. Courtesy photo.

One of the biggest MMA shows of the season comes to Maui on Friday night. Chad “The Brahma Bull” Thomas takes on Maui’s Lolohea Mahe, and Adam Akau goes up against UFC veteran Scott Junk.

The night doesn’t end after the fight – Kahului Ale House is hosting an after party at 10 p.m. for a $5 cover charge. Just Scrap XVI event sponsor and MMA master B.J. Penn will make an appearance on the dance floor.

Joshua Blue. Courtesy photo.

Two Comedy Hypnotist Shows Friday, May 4 with Joshua Blue at 7 p.m at Mulligan’s on the Blue and Sunday, May 6 with Don Barnhart at 10 p.m. at Stella Blues.

Maui’s own “master” hypnotist Joshua Blue pairs comedy with metaphysical entertainment Friday night on the south side. Blue is known for his tendency to involve audiences throughout his shows, adding an extra level of hilarity with the spark of improv.

Funny man Don Barnhart returns to Maui for a special show on Sunday, when he will attempt to infiltrate the subconscious of his audience and guide them to a realm of laughter.

Cinco De Mayo Weekend Parties and Shows

Cinco de Mayo Upcountry Party Saturday, May 5 at 9:45 p.m. at Casanova in Makawao. Entrance is $10.

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo upcountry at Casanova with Dr. Nat & Rio Ritmo and Kit Kat Club Cabaret. Drink specials will be on the menu all night.

Cinco de Maui – A Tribal House Carnival Saturday, May 5 at 9:30 p.m. at Charley’s Restaurant in Paia. Entrance is $15.

DJ Paul Gotel and DJ Satdeva provide a night of tribal and house music with live percussion from Carlos Garcia and horns by Larry Fitzpatrick.

The event also includes a performance by the  Extravadancers with special lighting and lasers by Flaming Lazers.

Freeradicals Projekt Cinco de Mayo Saturday, May 5 at 9 p.m.at Mulligan’s on the Blue in Kihei. Entrance is $15 at the door or $10 in advance.

Maui’s own Freeradicals Projekt will soon hit the California coast for their first tour, but not before rocking out Mulligan’s on the Blue for Cinco de Mayo.

DJ Boomshot opens the show.

Courtesy image.

Jamn de Mayo Saturday, May 5 at 9 p.m. at Ocean’s Bar in Kihei. No listed cover charge. 

Ocean’s Jamn de Mayo fiesta may be one of the most authentic Cinco de Mayo celebrations offered this weekend – they are hosting DJs Moy, Jamn J, and Nexus, “Los Tres Amigos,” to play popular latin jams, and even their event poster is entirely en espanol.

Whether it’s written in Spanish or English, most everyone can understand where it says that there will be $5 Patron, $4 Corona, and $3 Pacifica drink specials offered all night. One lucky chica or chico will take home an iPad 2 at the end of the night.

PYCC’s Casino de Mayo Saturday, May 5 from 6 to 10 p.m. at Maui Country Club in Paia. Tickets are $175.

Paia Youth and Cultural Center has something different ‘in the cards’ for Cinco de Mayo – “Casino de Mayo.”

Casino de Mayo is a luxurious evening that features entertainment, food, spirits, “Monte Carlo” casino gaming, a live auction, and more.

Featured entertainment includes Kelly Covington & Friends and the Kit Kat Club Cabaret .

Proceeds from the event benefit Paia Youth and Cultural Center.

Cinco de Mayo Fiesta Saturday, May 5 at 9 p.m. at Hard Rock Cafe Lahaina. There is no cover charge.

The Hard Rock Cafe busts out their sombrero’s and maracas with DJ Kurt and DJ Trvr, who will spin their  “house-dubstep-hip hop” mix into the night.

Highlights of the night will be their massive free nacho bar and $4.50 Margaritas.

Cinco de Mayo Kihei Saturday, May 5 at 8 p.m. at Three’s Bar & Grill in the Kihei Triangle. 

DJ Kamikaze plays at Three’s Bar & Grill for Cinco de Mayo, bringing the Kihei Triangle a latin mix of Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, Cumbia, Guaracha, Banda, Corridos, and Reggaeton to drink and dance to near the beach.

Courtesy image.

Community Events

23rd Annual Maui Onion Festival Saturday, May 5 at 10 a.m. at Whalers Village in Ka’anapali.

Maui’s signature 23rd Annual Maui Onion Festival, kicks off on Saturday morning, glorifying the sweet , one-of-a-kind Maui onions that fill our soil and our bellies year-round.

This year’s festival includes recipe contests, chef demonstrations, live entertainment, food booths, a beer garden, a Maui Onion Pairing Dinner, and more.

To find out more information about the festival, follow the link.

Paddle Imua Fundraiser Saturday, May 5 at 10:30 a.m.; starts at Maliko Gulch in Haiku and ends at at Hawaii Canoe Club in Kahului. Registration for the event is $60 in advance and $70 0n the event day. 

Photo by Tracy Kraft Leboe.

Imua Family Services launches a new annual fundraising event, “Paddle Imua”, to benefit the upcoming Camp Imua program for Maui’s special needs campers.

All are welcome to register in the Paddle Imua debut event which includes food, music, and live entertainment starting at 3 p.m. at the Hawaiian Canoe Club Hale.

The celebration also features an awards ceremony for the top 3 finishers in each division at 4:30p.m. along with giveaways, a grand prize drawing, and complimentary ‘swag bags’ for all participants.

Wailuku’s May First Friday Town Party Friday, May 4 from 6 to 9 p.m. in Wailuku Town. 

Wailuku hosts their monthly town party themed for May, “It’s A Wailuku Thing.”

Native Intelligence marks their 3rd anniversary and grand re-opening in a celebration with friends and visitors.

Food tents and vendors will line the closed Market St. as local music wafts from stages scattered throughout town.

On Market Street – likely right outside the popular monthly beer garden – Maui residents will launch their Be A Jerk Campaign that discourages the sale of alcohol to anyone under 21.

US Air Force Band, the George Tengan art show, and Keiki Earth Day Art Contest Awards will occupy the Maui Thing Stage for the night.

Body Alive Yoga presents their monthly soiree of live music, art, free giveaways, and healthy treats.

MauiOnstage performs their production of “On Golden Pond” at the Iao Theater at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $22.

Maui Classical Music Festival: “Blockbuster Beethoven” Friday, May 4 at 7 p.m. at Makawao Union Church.  Suggested donation is $25 for adults and $10 for students. 

The Amemet String Quartet, clarinetist Daniel Gilbert, violinist Yizhak Schotten, and pianists Katherine Collier and Donna Lee present a series of classical music performances that starts this weekend.

The first concert in the series is “Blockbuster Beetheoven,” featuring the works of the classical composer Ludwig van Beethoven.

Bone Marrow Drive Saturday, May 5 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Queen Ka’ahumanu Center in Kahului. 

The Hawaii Bone Marrow Donor Registry will spend a day recruiting volunteer donors to help patients in need.

Volunteers can donate a mouth swab onsite to see if they are a match for a patient who needs a bone marrow transplant.

Ka’naio Clean-up Saturday, May 5 at 10 a.m. at Triple L Ranch Corral in Ka’naio. 

If you feel like taking a drive past Ulupalakua on Cinco de Mayo, why not stop along the way and participate in Community Work Day’s community cleanup of Ka’naio.

At 2 p.m. after the cleanup, free BBQ and live music will be provided for volunteers who want to get their fiesta on in the wilderness.

Maui Matsuri Kickoff Friday, May 4 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Queen Ka’ahumanu Center in Kahului. 

Queen Ka’ahumanu Center hosts a kick-off for the Japanese Matsuri holiday with a performance by Maui Taiko, Japanese dancing, koto playing, boon dancing, and more.