90th Maui Fair Kicks Off

Aerial file photo of Maui Fair grounds in Kahului. Courtesy image Maui Fair.

By Wendy Osher

The 90th Maui Fair kicks off this afternoon with a parade down Ka’ahumanu Avenue beginning at 4:30 p.m.

The parade will proceed from the entrance of UH Maui College to the fair ground entrance near the Kanaloa/Ka’ahumanu intersection.

The Grand Marshal this year is Archie Kalepa, the 2012 Duke Kahanamoku Waterman Hall of Fame Inductee and Ocean Safety Officer for the County of Maui.

Road closures and detours are scheduled to go into effect at 4:15 p.m. just before the start of the parade, and bus schedules have been altered to accommodate the festivities.

Attendance last year was up 3% from the year before with more than 92,700 people passing through the gates over four days in 2011, according to Fair Managing Director Sherri Grimes.

The Maui Fair serves as the primary source of funding for many of Maui’s non-profit and community organizations who host vending and food booths at the fair grounds.

In addition to opening ceremonies, entertainment tonight includes: Miss Maui 2012 Catelin Nawahinekoa Aiwohi, Mister Maui Hawaii 2012 Eha Souza, the Mana’o Company, Robi Kahakalau, and Hypnotist James Kellog Jr.

In the events arena, performances and exhibition events include Maui K-Pop Dance, Maui Martial Arts, and Hot Hula Fitness with Zumba.

Gates open at 5 p.m. today, and the fair grounds remain open until 11 p.m.  The fair continues with daily food, rides and attractions through Sunday, Sept. 30th.

Hours for the rest of the week are:

• Friday, September 28, 2012: 5 p.m. to midnight.
• Saturday, September 29, 10 a.m. to midnight.
• Sunday, September 30, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Admission is $7 for adults, $3 for keiki ages 5 to 11, and free for children 4 and under.