Maui This Weekend: Falsetto & ʻUkulele Contests, John Cruz, TEDx

By Wendy Osher

From culture to music and theater, Maui has it all this weekend.  There’s a falsetto contest being held in conjunction with the Maui Festivals of Aloha, a youth ʻukulele contest in Kāʻanapali, and a throwback concert featuring rock favorite America.

Here’s some highlights from the weekend ahead:

John Cruz photo courtesy MACC.

America with Opening Act John Cruz: Sept. 26

Singer and songwriter John Cruz is the opening act for America, happening Friday, Sept. 26, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. at the Castle Theater of the Maui Arts & Cultural Center.

Concert goers get a dose of soulful sounds with Cruz before revisiting the hits of Grammy-award winning rock group, America.

Favorites include “Horse With No Name,” “Sister Golden Hair,” “Ventura Highway,” and “Tin Man.”

Tickets are $39, $49, $69, and $89 and are available online or by calling 808-242-SHOW (7469).

Naomi Shihab Nye: Sept. 26

The Maui Arts & Cultural Center hosts award-winning Palestinian-American poet, writer, anthologist and educator, Naomi Shihab Nye for a talk and lecture on Friday, Sept. 26, at 7 p.m. at the McCoy Studio.   Nye will explore her personal connection with place and reflect upon the work of Maui’s own Poet Laureate, W.S. Merwin. The talk will be followed by a Q&A session and a book signing opportunity.  The $35 cost includes a post event reception featuring desserts, beverages and live music.  Ticket sales benefit The Merwin Conservancy.

Po`okela Woods, was winner of the 2010 Richard Hoopii Falsetto competition. Photo coutesy: Lisa Villiarimo from Festivals of Aloha photo library.

Maui Festivals of Aloha: 13th Annual Richard Hoʻopiʻi Leo Kiʻekiʻe Falsetto Contest and more

This two month schedule of events features an Aloha Friday event in Kahului, a falsetto contest in Wailea, and a Hoʻolaulea in Lahaina this weekend.  For a full schedule of events visit the following LINK.

• Friday, Sept. 26: Aloha Friday in partnership with Pacific Media group, KPOA 93.5 FM, keiki entertainment, Hawaiian cultural practitioners sharing their art with music and hula at the Queen Kaʻahumanu Center in Kahului from 7 to 9 p.m.
• Saturday, Sept. 27: 13th Annual Richard Hoʻopiʻi Leo Kiʻekiʻe Falsetto competition showcasing Maui’s finest amateur male falsetto performers. Contestants will showcase their high-register voices, an art form dating back to a time when Hawaiian women were forbidden to sing publicly. There will be special surprise guests performing as well at the Andaz, Wailea.  Doors open for the event at 6 p.m.
• Sunday, Sept. 28:  Banyan Tree Hoʻolaulea in Lahaina, Maui.  The 2014 Falsetto winners will sing at the main stage, with crafters and all day entertainment. The event is free and open to the community at the Banyan Tree Park in Lahaina Town, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Maui Calls Countdown: 

The Maui Calls annual gala fundraiser for the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, which had been postponed from August 8 due to hurricane and tropical storm Iselle, has since been rescheduled to take place on Saturday, Sept. 27 starting at 6 p.m.  Throughout the evening, guests are invited to eat their fill of gourmet pupu and dessert creations offered by nearly 20 fine chefs and restaurants from around the island, and sample fine wines from a dozen or more vintners and boutique wineries from California, Washington and Oregon.  Details at the following LINK.

Ready for Action! Walk a Mile in Her Shoe’s organizers handed out red heals to male participants. File photo by Katie McMillan.

3rd Annual “Walk A Mile In Her Shoes”: Sept. 27

Maui takes another step toward domestic violence awareness this weekend during the third annual “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” event, to be held this year at the Whaler’s Village in Kāʻanapali.  The West Maui Domestic Violence Task Force and Women Helping Women join forces for the event, scheduled to take place from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014.  During the event, volunteers and community leaders take a pledge to help end domestic violence by participating in a walk to raise awareness for the cause.  Full details at the following LINK.

18th Annual Maui Youth ʻUkulele Contest, Sept. 27

The 18th Annual Maui Youth ʻUkulele Contest will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27, at Whaler’s Village in Kāʻanapali.  Keiki from kindergarten through grade 12 are invited to participate in the friendly competition. Full details at the following LINK.

Maui OnStage Presents Classic Thriller “Wait Until Dark”, Sept. 27 to Oct. 5, 2014

Maui OnStage presents “Wait Until Dark” by Frederick Knott with performances scheduled from Sept. 26 to Oct. 5, 2014, at the Historic ʻĪao Theater. The Maui performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and at 3 p.m. on Sundays.  Tickets range from $17 to $28. Full details are available at the following LINK.

Clockwise from top left: Kerri Urosevich, Maya Soetoro-Ng, Sam Ohu Gon, Dave Kalama, and Kimi Werner (photo credit Justing Turkowski). Photos courtesy TEDxMaui.

TEDx Maui: Sept. 28

The 3rd annual TEDxMaui event is scheduled to take place on Sunday, September 28, 2014, from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, Castle Theater.  Organizers announced their complete lineup of speakers and performers who will share their “big ideas” on stage in presentations that are limited to 18 minutes or less.

The 2014 featured presenters include: Adaptations Dance Theater, Daniel Anthony, Svetlana Berdyugina, Robert Cazimero, Daedelus, B.J. Fogg, Taimane Gardner, Samuel M. ‘Ohukani‘ōhi‘a Gon III, Dave Kalama, Rosemary “Rosie” Kulhavy-Sutherland, Edward Readicker-Henderson, Rick Rutiz, Sunny Savage, Maya Soetoro-Ng, Kerrie Urosevich, Kimi Werner, Lindsea K. Wilbur, Dr. Bradley Willcox, Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu (Kumu Hina).

Tickets are $100 for general admission, which includes lunch and no-host reception. Cost for students and seniors with ID is $75. Full details are available at the following direct LINK.