Ask the Mayor: Does the County Still Co-Sponsor the Maui Fair?

Maui Fair, file photo by Wendy Osher.

Mayor Alan Arakawa answers some of the most-asked questions submitted to his office staff.

Aloha Mayor Arakawa,

Q: Mayor, I called your office recently to ask a question about the fair only to be directed to an outside fair office. I know that the Maui County Fair changed its name to the Maui Fair some time ago, but I thought the name change was purely cosmetic. Are you telling me that Maui County doesn’t have anything to do with the fair anymore? Is that true and if so why?

A: Whether it’s called the Maui County Fair or the Maui Fair, the county will always be involved one way or another in putting on the best fair in the state. But for the exact history of the name change, I’ve asked Maui Fair Alliance President Avery Chumbley to provide the following information:

“Back in 2011, the fair was reorganized to ensure the perpetuation of this annual community event well into the future. The Maui Fair Alliance was formed as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization to organize and run the annual fair.

“In 1989, after the Maui County Fair and Racing Association withdrew from organizing the event, the Maui County Fair Association took over that activity and organized the 67th Maui Fair in 1989 to the 88th Maui Fair in 2010—all held at the War Memorial Gym Complex. The annual fair continues to be held at the same location and this year will be the 93rd Maui Fair.

“The County of Maui has been a co-sponsor of the annual fair since it relocation in 1989 from the old Territorial Fair Grounds in central Kahului, in that co-sponsorship role the county provides support and assistance to the fair organizers from its Parks and Public Works Departments but does not provide any financial support. The Maui Fair Alliance is proud to partner with the county in order to continue to bring this annual grassroots event to our community.”

Want to Ask the Mayor?

Submit your questions about County of Maui programs, services, operations or policies to Mayor Alan Arakawa via email at AsktheMayor@mauicounty.gov, by phone at 270-7855 or by mail to 200 S. High St., 9th Floor, Wailuku, HI 96793. Questions submitted will be considered for inclusion in the Ask the Mayor column.