MAUI CELEBRATES YEAR OF THE OX

(Photos by Wendy OSHER © 2009)

Chinese New Year, Photos by Wendy OSHER © 2009

The County celebrated Chinese New Year today with a Lion Dance and Martial Arts demonstration on the front lawn of the county building. The public exhibition featured members of the Au’s Shaolin Arts Society. The playful lions were fed a head cabbage from Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares as dozens of school children looked on.

Chinese Lion Dancing is an ancient tradition that used to express the festive celebrating of auspicious occasions. Many who know the tradition will feed the lion money in the hopes of securing good fortune. For a complete history of the Lion Dance and its origins click on the following LINK.

If you missed this morning’s performance, you’re in luck! The group is also scheduled to perform later today (January 30, 2009) at 10:30 a.m. at the Maui News, at 2 p.m. at the Aloha Mixed Plate Restaurant in Lahiana, at 2:30 p.m. at the Lahaina Gateway Shopping Center, and at 5 p.m. at the Front Street/Banyan Tree area.

Tomorrow, Saturday January 31^st, Au’s Shaolin Arts Society will perform at 9 a.m. in Makawao Town, at 10 a.m. at Long’s in Kihei, at 2 p.m. at the Lahaina Cannery Mall, at 3:30 p.m. at the Wo Hing Temple in Lahaina, at 5 p.m. t the Piilani Shopping Village in Kihei and at 7 p.m. at Topaz in Kihei.

On Sunday, February 1^st the group will visit the Kaanapali Beach Hotel at 8:30 a.m., then return for a second showing at 10:30 p.m. Later that afternoon, the group will visit the Jodo Mission Hara at 2 p.m., the Old Wailuku Inn at 4 p.m. and the Maui Chinese Association’s Dragon Dragon Event in Kahului at 7:45 p.m.