Lahaina Chinese Kite Festival, April 13-16

April is National Kite Month and the Lahaina Restoration Foundation’s Chinese Kite Festival will celebrate with four days of kite festivities from April 13-16.

The event will feature kite making with a master kite artist, kite demonstrations and presentations, kite flying with kite masters as well as Chinese cultural arts, foods and kids’ craft activities.

2016 Kite Flying Day over the south lawn of Lahaina Cannery Mall off Honoapi‘ilani Hwy in Lahaina. Photo Courtesy

On Thursday, April 13, from 4 to 7 p.m., the public can take part in a community kite making project at the Lahaina Cannery Mall. Master Kite Artist George Peters of Airworks Studio in Colorado will be leading a team to design and build the largest Chinese serpent kite ever seen in Lahaina. The kite will be completed over the course of two days, and sent up into the air on Saturday during kite flying festivities.

On Friday, April 14, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., displays of ancient and modern kites from around the world will be at the Wo Hing Museum where admission will be free all day. Presentations will be made by Dr. Busaba Yip on Ancient Chinese Kites, and by George Peters on Modern Kite Flying at 2 and 6 p.m.

From 3 to 8 p.m., festival-goers can help complete the giant Chinese serpent kite. Keiki can explore colors and shapes of kites to design and make their own kite under Peters’ tutelage. Colored paper and bamboo dowels can be used to create one-of-a-kind kite structures.

In the garden at Wo Hing Museum & Cookhouse, Chinese food by Only ‘Ono BBQ will be offered for sale between 4 and 8 p.m. Brenda Wong will also demonstrate traditional Chinese knot tying.

On Saturday, April 15, Kite Flying Day will take place on Lahaina Cannery Mall’s south lawn at the intersection of Honoapi‘ilani Hwy and Keawe Street. From 9 to 11 a.m., kids can design and make a kite as instructed by Kite Artist George Peters. There will be displays of colorful banners and unique kites from Peters’ Airworks Studio.

The inaugural flight of the giant Chinese serpent kite will take place at 11 a.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own kites to fly with the pros until 2 p.m. Admission will be free.

On a special bonus day, Sunday, April 16, a free kite flying air show by kite masters, Robert Loera of Hawai‘i Kitefliers Association and George Peters of Airworks Studio will take place between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. The sky over Lahaina Recreation Center’s park at the intersection of Honoapi‘ilani Hwy and Shaw Street will be painted with acrobatic and artistic kites.

Lahaina Restoration Foundation’s Wo Hing Cultural Director Busaba Yip, Ph.D said, “Our annual Kite Festival brings all kite lovers together with our community. The joy of kite flying is not only for the ones who fly kites but also for those who watch them. We invite the whole family to come out and have a good time!”

For updates or an event program, call Wo Hing Museum at 808-661-5553 or click here.