Flower Blossoms & Rain Nectar

Saturday afternoon in Haiku was full of raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens.

The sound of music did indeed fill the air as the 18th annual Ha’iku Ho’olaule’a and Flower Festival took over the grounds of the Haiku Community Center.

Although rain poured intermittently on and off, a barrage of cars flooded the shoulders of Hana Highway and lined every nook and cranny of the nearby side streets.

The event, well promoted and highly anticipated, promised a wonderland of flowers, fun, crafts and music.

Families streamed into the event, holding hands and laughing. Mauians and tourists alike milled about under tents that were spilling over with orchids, protea, plumeria and more.

Under one of the tents, people of all ages strung leis together. Feather earrings and elegant jewelry waved in the wind as smiles beamed between neighbors and new friends.

A more fitting celebration could not be imagined as a fundraiser for the children of Maui. As the delicate petals of the flowers filled the tents with the wafting scent of paradise, the delighted screams of children at play painted a sonic soundscape of sheer delight.

The children bounced on inflatable castles and romped alongside ponies and puppies. They beamed like blossoms in the rain, fearless and open to receive the sky’s nectar, while the adults all hid away under tents.

Meanwhile, the tent city was impressive to say the least. Every year the event has grown. What started as a children’s festival has been massively expanded to include a smorgasbord of booths and food tailored to suit everyone in the family.

With everything from bamboo clothing to yurts, everything your inner child could desire to purchase was available to be explored. While the kids ran around in the play zone, the kids inside of the adults were in full play mode.

The bandstand featured a lineup of brilliant bands, including the stellar stylings of Lea Live and the Kryptons. The rain couldn’t drown the community’s enthusiasm for a good reggae beat. Dancers spun under trees, under umbrellas, and some even went wild in the thick of the downpour.

Next year promises to be even bigger, featuring more bands, more booths, more kids and more flowers!

* If you have an event you’d like to suggest to the Mauinow entertainment section, please email [email protected]. Aloha!