Weekend Round-Up: Earth Day, 4/20, Taro Festival

By Madeline Ziecker

Lei'ohu Ryder lead the Opening Blessing at Maui Earth Day Festival 2011. Photo by Joe Bergeron.

Earth Day Festival 2012 Sunday, April 22 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Ke’opuolani Park Ampitheater behind Maui Nui Botanical Gardens in Wailuku. Admission is $7 (keiki get in free).

All are invited to this year’s Maui Earth Day Festival which features live entertainment, environmental information booths, speakers, local vendors, fun keiki activities, and a variety of food.

The entertainment lineup for the event includes local and national performers Neville Brothers, Diane Patterson, Crazy Fingers, Free Radicals Project, Divino’s All Stars, Reverend Kedar & The Temple of Peace, Maui Underground, Troublemakers, Rich Stillwell, Radha Divine, Sundance, Nicholas Iris,  Hummingbird & Earth Song, Maui Keiki Kittens, Alexa Sunshine Rose, and many  more.

Keeping with the festival’s theme, “Live Consciously, Consume Sustainability,” attendees are encouraged to bring their non-breakable plates, cups, water bottles, and utensils to avoid excess trash at the event.

20th Annual East Maui Taro Festival Saturday, April 21 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Hana Ball Park. Free admission. 

East Maui Taro Festival logo. Courtesy image.

Though Hana is a distant (very distant) oasis for the majority of Maui’s residents, plenty of us make the trip this time of year to visit the Annual East Maui Taro Festival.

Taro has been, is, and always will be a Hawaiian staple, and is thus very important to the lives of islanders who live in remote locations like Hana. Taro’s benefits and uses are endless, and at the East Maui Taro Festival one can learn everything they need to know about this important plant that the festival celebrates.

Celebrating it’s 20th anniversary  this year, the festival features a fresh farmers market, poi pounding, food booths, arts and crafts, taro information tents, live music, and hula.

If you didn’t get enough taro at the festival, a delicious Taro Pancake Breakfast is offered the day after on Sunday, April 22 from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Hana Bay.

Annual Art of Trash Exhibit and Fashion Show Friday, April 20 at 6 p.m. at the Maui Mall. Free admission. 

Community Work Day Program and Sharing Aloha present a creative but utilitarian art exhibit and fashion show at 6 p.m. on April 20 the Maui Mall – “The Art of Trash” 2012.

Art of Trash features pieces made by Maui artists that are entirely constructed of re-used and recycled  materials. Almost anything discarded can be used to create artful fashion pieces, sculptures, and other works.

The exhibit and fashion show are designed to raise awareness and inspire action to keep recyclable items out of the ever-growing Maui landfill.

Participant's at a 2011 Maui beach cleanup. Photo by Batel Shimi.

Earth Day Weekend Kahului Harbor Cleanup Saturday, April 21 from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. at Kahului Harbor. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m

One of the best ways to celebrate Earth Day is to give back to the planet. +H2O, Surfrider Foundation, and Community Work Day  have organized a fun clean-up, encouraging the community to celebrate the weekend of global awareness with local action.

At the end of the cleanup Flatbread Pizza provides participants with free lunch, and prizes are given out to the team or person who collected the most trash.

Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real Friday, April 20 and Saturday, April 21 at 9:30 p.m. at Charley’s Restaurant in Paia. Tickets are still available online for $22 plus tax. 

Lukas Nelson and his (indeed) promising band have chosen Charley’s Restaurant in Paia as their 4/20 weekend hideaway, where they will rock North Shore fans with hits from their newly-released album, Wasted.

Lukas Nelson performing on Maui. Photo by Madeline Ziecker.

It’s not shocking that Nelson, who grew up on Maui watching his father Willie Nelson play at Charley’s, would want to stick close to home on the 4/20 “holiday,” and play the semi-official Nelson family venue to celebrate his recent album accomplishment.

George Lopez Live Comedy Show Friday, April 20 at 8 p.m. at the MACC. Tickets are $43.50 and $58.50.

George Lopez. Courtesy image.

Film, standup, and television comedian George Lopez comes to Maui to rant, rave and split sides in his current show, “That’s The America I Live In.”

Lopez is best know for the success of  his self-titled sitcom, which ran for 6 seasons on ABC.

Two Greg Wilson 4/2o Comedy Shows Friday, April 20 and Saturday, April 21 at 9:30 p.m. at Stella Blues in Kihei. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door for both show nights. 

Comic Greg Wilson is considered to be one of Hollywood’s funniest “pot comics,” and his double-night show falls on the perfect weekend to showcase his talent.

Both shows also feature performances by some of Maui’s Power Up Comedy crew, and a half-time Pakaloha Bikini fashion show.

National Record Store Day Maui Saturday, April 21 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Request Music in Wailuku. 

Courtesy image.

Maui’s only record store hosts a free concert with live local bands, free giveaways and special collectors records as they debut their newly-renovated record room.

The event is inspired by National Record Day, a day when independently-owned record stores and artists celebrate the art of music.

Performers in the Maui event lineup include Owaila, Lia Live, Visibly Shaken, Helmet Conspiracy, Earth Bound Misfits, and more.

Makawao 3rd Friday. Photo by Madeline Ziecker.

Makawao Third Friday April Town Party Friday, April 20 from 6 to 9 p.m. in Makawao Town on upper Baldwin Ave.

This month’s Makawao Town Party is themed, “Boutique Chic,” and features a collaborative spring fashion show by Pink by Nature on the town’s center stage.

The fashion show will also include live music from DJs Sweet Beats and Cudra Clove.

Over in the Casanova’s parking lot, visitors can see live music performed by Kepa. Across the street at The Shops at Makawao Lot, Maui Slam poets speak their mind on the mic.

Over 8 food vendors will be selling fresh food on upper Baldwin Avenue, along with vendors of other local goods.

Native Tree Planting Event with Plant a Wish Sunday, April 21 from 10 a.m. t0 3 p.m. at O’o Farm (651 Waipoli Rd., Kula). 

The Maui community is encouraged to participate in Plant a Wish project’s Native Tree Planting Event to celebrate Earth Day weekend.

The planting ceremony is at 2 p.m. and the rest of the day includes complimentary farm tours and free access to farm grounds.

Free BEE Movie Screening Sunday, April 22 at 7 p.m. at the MACC. Free admission.

Starry Night Cinema presents a free family event screening of the animated, eco-friendly BEE Movie, an animated film voiced by Jerry Seinfeld and Renee Zellweger.

Visitors are encouraged to bring blankets and beach chairs to the A&B Amphitheater to enjoy casual dining and live music before the show.

Diamond’s 4/20 Party Friday, April 20 at 10 p.m. at Diamond’s Ice Bar & Grill in Kihei.

Diamond’s is throwing a 420 bash with $3 Becks, food until midnight, and a live performance from Gomega.