PHOTOS: Earth Day Maui 2012

By Susan Halas

A mellow crowd filled the Maui Nui Botanical Gardens amphitheater for the 2012 installment of Earth Day. Susan Halas photo.

The 2012 installment of Maui’s annual Earth Day Festival held at the Maui Nui Botanical Gardens outdoor amphitheater on April 22 drew a colorful crowd to an event that mixed non-stop music with environmental activism.

Mary Traynor, one of the festival’s volunteer staff, said that more than 35 non-profits and 40 vendors participated, lining the walkways with booths and stands of every description.

Though estimates of attendance were not immediately available, she said it was expected to equal or surpass the more than 1,000 Mauians who turned out last year.

Those celebrating Earth Day arrived in colorful finery including tie-dyed garments in every hue, fairy wings, stove pipe, feathered or bobble headgear. Some decked themselves in beads, bells and sequins, while others wore little more than a patch of leopard skin covering key anatomical regions. Many enjoyed the music  seated or reclining, but quite a few were on their feet dancing in tight little clusters or big swirling loops. Ribbons twirled, hoops gyrated and the well coordinated assumed graceful one footed yoga postures.

This energetic dancer brought her own fairy wings. Susan Halas photo.

Dennis Berger of Kihei wears a sign for a GMO-Free Maui. Susan Halas photo.

For those concerned with Mother Earth there was every variety of advice and remedy available from wheat grass and fermented green tea to hands-on massage.

Environmental organizations large and small, (known and unknown) turned out to lobby for and against a variety of issues.

There were booths to oppose “chemtrails,” genetically modified crops and smart meters and others to encourage crystal healing, cleanses of all kinds and one stand devoted to the power of empathy.

While their parents listened or danced the afternoon away the kids played tag, rode ponies or covered themselves with paint.

Most who spoke with Maui Now proclaimed it a success. Or in the words of Makawao musician Michael Gaughan, “If anything it’s better than last year, more cohesive, more fun, better organized. There’s a new rhythm to an old pattern.”

Vincent Mina offered a sample of freshly juiced wheat grass. Susan Halas photo.	Free empathy was advertised for those who needed a sympathetic ear. Susan Halas photo.
Kalimaya Herrera (right) demonstrates Chi Ribbon Dancing to Amy Chang (left). Susan Halas photo	ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD Chelsea Hover of Paia takes a break from helping her friend in a tie dye booth. Susan Halas photo.
The musical group Sundance was one of many that won approval from the crowd. Susan Halas photo.	Paul Reyes of Paia enjoyed the music, walked around, and went home with a free coco palm in his pack. Susan Halas photo.
Scott Stevens (right) pointed to a display about the dangers of "chemtrails." Susan Halas photos.	Aymara Mosquera (left) showed off her cheetah face with her neighbor Amelie Wertheim of Haiku. Susan Halas photo.