Maui Fair Attendance on Par With Last Year

Maui Fair grounds. PC: Wendy Osher.

Thousands of fair goers spent the weekend exploring the grounds of the 97th Maui Fair, which offered four days of family fun and entertainment at the War Memorial Complex in Wailuku.

The festivities ranged from rides to food, games, livestock, horticulture, street parties and a realistic roaming 7-foot Tyrannosaurus rex replica hosted by 4 Kids Quick Science.

Attendance at the 97th Maui Fair was about the same as last year, according to preliminary totals from the paid gate.  Total attendance over the course of the four-day event last year was 90,000 individuals.

Fair Director, Sherri Grimes said reconciliation is taking place this week to tally pre-sale, promotional tickets and attendance from parade participants, which are not yet included in gate totals.

Crews remain on site for the next couple of weeks as demobilization takes place. Administrators will be meeting with committee chairs to recap, clean the fair grounds and “pack away the 97th Maui Fair.”

As soon as that’s done, Grimes said preparation gets underway for next years’ event, the 98th Maui Fair, which will be held Oct. 1-4, 2020.

Grimes said she’s left with “A very pleasant, warm felling knowing that everyone involved came together sharing their time, knowledge and love for their community.”

Besides bouncing balls, stuffed animals and various game rewards, big winners at this year’s event included:

• Kayle Fancher of upcountry who won the HI92 KarMART car giveaway that was held Sunday night at the Maui Fair.  Fancher takes home a brand new 2019 Mitsubishi G4.
• Nahua Kahaialiʻi of Lahaina was named the 2019 Maui Fair Baby of the Year on Saturday.  He was among a list of nearly 100 contestants between the age of 1 and 2 who competed for the grand prize.

Also, congratulations to Joseph Caires Jr. who won the 2019 G&L ʻOhana Award, for his dedication and commitment to improving and expanding Maui’s agriculture community; the various LEGO Interactive Arena participants including the Fair’s first Lego Racing winner, Boston; and all those who contributed to the building of a 12 foot long Lego rendition of the fair logo.