Weekend Offers Earth Day, Vodka, and Body Paint

By Vanessa Wolf

Joshua Nelson. Courtesy photo.

Once again the weekend is upon us, offering everything from gospel music to vodka distillery tours.

Yep. It’s that random… and the details await you below.

Best Kid-Friendly Opportunity and Last Hurrah (Presumably) of Earth Day

It’s Kihei Fourth Friday tonight from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Azeka Shopping Center where the theme is “Kihei Celebrates Earth Day.”

Hey, we’ve been doing it for a couple weeks now, why not just keep doing it?

Events start at 5:50 p.m. with a blessing, followed by Rare Vibrations from 6:10 to 7:30 p.m. At 7:40 p.m., reggae artist Marty Dread takes the stage.

There will be a Youth Zone area with family friendly activities such as Bubble Magic and balloon sculpting, as well as a large food court area with offerings from vendors such as Maui Wedding Cakes, Tacos Maui 8th Wonder, Pupului Potatoes, Aunties Tropical Mini Donuts, Donna’s Dogs, and  Dibs on Da Ribs.

Best Reason to Laugh and Cry at the Same Time

Cat Hayes and Marley Mehring star in ‘Hollywood Arms.’ Photo Courtesy Jack Grace.

Carrie Hamilton and Carol Burnett’s “Hollywood Arms” opens tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Iao Theater.

Set in a dingy one-room apartment in 1941 and 1951, “Hollywood Arms,” is the autobiographical portrayal of three generations of women living on welfare.

Shown are Nanny, Carol Burnett’s Christian Scientist no nonsense grandmother; Louise, her alcoholic mother; and Helen, played by two actresses, a 12-year old version of Burnett and then  a 22-year old on the verge of stardom.

Performances are tonight through May 5, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Tickets range from $17 to $28.

Best Reason to Shout “Hallelujah!”

Tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the McCoy Studio Theater, you can experience the singer Oprah Winfrey has called “the next big thing.”

Raised in a black Jewish community, singer/songwriter Joshua Nelson blends Hebrew texts with soulful African-American gospel music. Critics have hailed Nelson’s vocal powers as reminiscent of the legendary Mahalia Jackson, yet utterly original and electrifying.

Nelson has been referred to as a “full-throated, note-bending gospel singer” by the  New York Times.

Eddie Robinson, former pianist for Mahalia Jackson, will also be performing.

Tickets are $17 and $12 for students and seniors with a valid ID.

Best Reason Not to Presume Things

OK, we lied – Earth Day will be celebrated yet again on Sunday, April 28 from 10 a.m to 6 p.m. with the 16th annual Maui Earth Day Festival 2013. This year’s event will be held at Keopuolani Park Amphitheater in Kahului like last year.

The event features music, food, and activities with an environmentally conscious theme.

Bring your own cups/plates/utensils. No drugs/alcohol. Tickets $7, keiki free.

Best Opportunity to Learn Where Vodka Comes From

It’s not the stork.

Find out the real deets on Saturday, April 27 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. when the Ocean Vodka Organic Farm and Distillery will be hosting a grand opening celebration.

There will be musical performances throughout the day from artists such as Deason Kaohelo from Lahaina Grown and Slack Key Master Kevin Brown, a taiko drumming demonstration and a free barbecue lunch. The Martini Garden will highlight fresh, local ingredients such as Kula lavender, local citrus, passion fruit, pineapple and strawberries.

In addition, tours of the distillery will run at 11 a.m., and 12:30, 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m..

The tours will cover sustainable farming practices utilizing sugar cane; solar-powered green bottling operations, and organic spirits production.

The Ocean Vodka Farm and Distillery is located at 4051 Omaopio Road, just below Surfing Goat Dairy.

Best Reason to Watch Men Dance with Fire

Photo courtesy Wailea Beach Marriott Resort and Spa.

On Saturday, April 27, you can catch the third annual Maui Fireknife competition at the Wailea Beach Marriott Resort and Spa.

Si’a Le Afi – “Ignite The Fire!” – starts at 4:30 p.m. with a cash bar, live music, and on-site crafters.

At 5 p.m., interactive stations including flower lei crafting, coconut husking, kapa (bark cloth found throughout Polynesia) printing, and hula dancing begin.

At 5:30 p.m., there will be a traditional luau buffet offering such favorites as imu baked kalua pig, grilled teriyaki steaks, shoyu chicken, lomi lomi salad and poi.

At 7 p.m. Te Au Moana begins, followed by the finals of the Fireknife Competition, the results and award ceremony.

The grand prize winner will receive $3,000 cash and a round-trip ticket, ground transportation and lodging sponsorship to compete in the 2013 World Fireknife Competition on May 8-11 at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie, on the north shore of Oahu.

Tickets are $104 ($52 for kama’aina) adults age 13 and older and $57 ($42 kama’aina) for children six to 12.Valet parking is available at the Wailea Beach Marriott Resort and Spa for $5 and there is free self-parking with validation. Call 877-827-2740 for reservations.

Best Reason to Head Out Dressed Like a Ninja

On Sunday evening, put on something black and skintight and head to Ambrosia in Kihei where it will be transformed into a “black light wonderworld.”

This fundraiser for the Ultraviolets Black Light Burlesque Troupe and their upcoming summer mainland tour begins at 6 p.m. with progressive house music from DJ PlaywithFire starting at 10 p.m.

So why the ninja clothes? There will be black light body painting – and a photo booth – done for donation by Next Level Theater Productions, allowing you to look like an honorary member of the Ultraviolets for the night.

$5 cover at the door and happy hour specials all night.

Aware of something cool or amazing or incredible or jaw-dropping or WTF that’s happening or going to be happening on Maui? Why are you still sitting there reading these words!? LET US KNOW ABOUT IT: [email protected]