56th Barrio Fiesta celebrates Filipino culture on Maui, May 23-24

The 56th Annual Barrio Fiesta will take place May 23–24 at the Binhi at Ani Filipino Community Center in Kahului, offering two days of cultural performances, contests, food and community events.

The event runs Friday from 5 to 10 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at 780 Onehee Ave., across from Maui Waena Intermediate School. Admission is free.

“We are proud to be able to share the Philippine culture through the 56th Annual Barrio Fiesta,” said Arnel Alvarez, president of Binhi at Ani, the event’s coordinating nonprofit. “We need to continue to share our rich culture–whether it’s through food, entertainment, exhibits and contests so our youth will not forget their roots and the rest of Maui can also appreciate our Filipino culture.”

The annual celebration—believed to be the longest-running Filipino fiesta in the United States—was first held in 1970 at the War Memorial grounds near the swimming pool.

This year’s festivities include a wide range of Filipino cuisine and local favorites served by various community organizations and churches. Traditional dishes include balut, lumpia, bibingka, pork adobo, lechon kawali, pansit, pinakbet and halo-halo, among others.

Cultural entertainment features performances by local groups such as Naragsak (Saturday at 7 p.m.), Maui Waena students (Friday at 8 p.m.) and Broken Notes (Saturday at 6 p.m.), along with traditional pageantry like the Santa Cruzan, a religious procession re-enacting Queen Helena’s finding of the Holy Cross.

The pageant for Miss Barrio Fiesta will crown a new queen on Friday at 7:30 p.m. Finalists are Sofiya Marey Dominique Quines Cartagena, Jordyn-Leeah Pagaduan and Kyrah Navarro Pagdilao.

Popular contests with cash prizes include:

• AnyKine Sisig Challenge® ($500, Saturday 3:30 p.m.)
  
• Balut Challenge® ($500, Saturday 6:30 p.m.)
  
• The Barrio Fiesta Voice® ($500, Friday 8:30 p.m.)
  
• Barrio Wear Showdown!® ($250 per winner, Saturday 7:30 p.m.)
  
• Climb the Greased Pole® ($500, Saturday 1 p.m.)
  
• Do the Sungka!® ($500, Saturday 10:30 a.m.)
  
• Eat Da Pansit® ($500, Saturday 3 p.m.)

• Kabataan Art Party® ($500, Saturday 2 p.m.)
  
• Pabitin at the Barrio Fiesta!® (various times both days)

Cultural exhibits include a replica Bahay Kubo created by the Bahay Kubo Heritage Center. Cultural villages depicting several regions will also be featured for Cebu; Cordillera; Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur; Metro Manila, Mindanao; and Pangasinan. The best cultural village will receive a $500 prize based on presentation and interactivity.

Special events also include a Veterans Memorial Service, Outstanding Housekeepers Awards, a lechon roasting demonstration and nightly Zumba sessions. Multiple raffle drawings will be held throughout the weekend, with grand prizes including inter-island and international travel.

“We’re very excited to present the 56th Annual Barrio Fiesta–the longest running Filipino fiesta in the United States,” said Nora Cabanilla-Takushi, event chairperson. “We could not have continued this unmatched tradition without the support of our sponsors, advertisers, donors, vendors, entertainers, volunteers and the Miss Barrio Fiesta contestants. There is definitely something for everyone at the Barrio Fiesta–food, culture, contests and entertainment. It’s a terrific way to continue to share our culture with all of Maui and to be with old and new friends.”

Major sponsors include the County of Maui Office of Economic Development, Bayer US Hawaii, Philippine Airlines, Allstate Insurance/Brent Wylam, Joey’s Kitchen and the Bahay Kubo Heritage Foundation.

For more information, call 808-242-8100 or visit facebook.com/BinhiatAniFilipinoCommunityCenter.