Maui Arts & Entertainment

Hawai‘i REALTORS has announced its 2024 Fair Housing Keiki Art Contest winners. The annual contest is designed to help children learn about fair housing. Students from Kīhei Elementary and ʻĪao Intermediate were among the winners.

Samoan-American comedian, actor, writer, and producer Anette Arinix Aga has won the ‘OHINA Greenlight Award for her script of “Kamaʻāina Not Kanaka,” granting her $20,000-worth of production support toward her script becoming a completed short film.

Momentum Dance Maui and Maui OnStage open the festive and family-friendly holiday favorite “Nutcracker Sweets” on Saturday, Dec. 14 for six performances only. 

An oshogatsu mochi pounding event is set for 4 p.m. Dec. 28 at the Wailuku Hongwanji Mission in Wailuku.

Lahaina Cannery is inviting Maui residents and visitors to celebrate the holiday season with photos with Santa, local vendors, and live local holiday entertainment.

Following nine months of programming and development, a mural spread across the temporary campus of King Kamehameha III Elementary School will be blessed on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. The community is invited to participate in the event, which begins promptly at 12:30 p.m. 

The Shops at Wailea is spreading holiday cheer and inviting families to join in the festive fun this December with an exciting lineup of events, giveaways, and live entertainment for all ages. Throughout the month, Maui residents and Wailea visitors can enjoy these special offerings designed to celebrate the magic of the season. 

The University of Hawaiʻi Maui College will host a “Holiday Bash & Electric Light Parade” on Friday, Dec. 13 at 4:30 p.m. on the Kahului campus’s Great Lawn and Pā‘ina Building dining area. The event is open to the public and admission is FREE.

GRAMMY-nominated artist Kimié Miner is shining a light on Maui’s strength and spirit through “Christmas in Hawai‘i with Kimié Miner & Friends,” an Emmy-nominated celebration of aloha and music. Dedicated to Maui, this year’s event aims to bring hope and joy, especially in the wake of the 2023 wildfires.

A third Canoe Crop Corner will take place at the upcoming Wailuku First Friday. The event is touted as a rare opportunity to learn about Maui’s agricultural traditions and experience firsthand the tastes and stories behind vital canoe crops.

Queen Kaʻahumanu Center invites everyone to get in the holiday spirit through an exciting lineup of festive events throughout December. 

The Hex Press presents the return of Maui Comic Con Dec. 7 and 8, Saturday and Sunday at University of Hawaiʻi Maui College, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days. The convention is a family-friendly event and is always free to the public.

The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua welcomes a special holiday edition of the Kapalua Concert Series, featuring renowned hapa-Samoan artist Taimane. The complimentary event will take place on Friday, Dec. 6 from 6-9 p.m. at Alaloa Lounge, where Taimane and her band will bring the holiday spirit to life with a captivating performance.

Montage Kapalua Bay invites visitors and locals to a variety of festive events and dining experiences that celebrate the spirit of Christmas, Hanukkah and the New Year.

The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Kāʻanapali invites locals and visitors alike to ring in the holiday season with Spirit of the Season on Saturday, Dec. 7, starting at 4:30 p.m. This free, community event features festive entertainment and treats – all while enjoying the ambiance of a tropical winter wonderland.

The talented young musicians of Suzuki Maui and Haleakalā Waldorf School will join with seasoned artists in an annual holiday concert on Saturday, Nov. 30, at Makawao Union Church.

Celebrate the holiday season during Maui Ocean Center’s inaugural “Festival of Lights,” held from 6 to 9 p.m. on two consecutive Saturdays: Dec. 14 and 21, 2024. 

Moana 2 has arrived in Maui movie theaters with early community screenings drawing a swell of fans ahead of the Nov. 27 official opening in theaters. It’s been eight years since the original release, and movie goers were eager to see what new adventures abound beyond the reef for the wayfinder and her voyaging friends.

Hisako Film Lab, founded by Maui-raised filmmaker Destin Daniel Cretton, is partnering with Maui Huliau Foundation to offer an after-school filmmaking program available to youth in grades 9-12 from all schools.

The spirit of the season is in full swing as Wailuku First Friday brings the holiday cheer with “Winter in Wailuku,” happening on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, from 6 to 9 p.m. The Main Stage will light up the evening with performances by the Kamehameha Schools Maui Hawaiian Ensemble and Hālau O Ka Hanu Lehua.