#Daryl Fujiwara

An estimate 30,000 people attended the 98th Maui County Fair on Thursday’s opening day, according to fair organizers. The historic return of the Maui County Fair kicked off festivities with the traditional parade up Kaʻahumanu Avenue.

Early photos of the 98th Maui County Fair have surfaced, and by the looks of it, we’re in for a full fair experience. This could easily be the biggest fair in the state this year—as it should be; Maui is nō ka ʻoi again.

The Maui County Fair is back Oct. 2-5 at the War Memorial Complex after a six-year absence, but organizers are now faced with the challenge of fundraising an additional $500,000 for infrastructure beyond the $1.5 million already allocated by the Maui County Council.

To make the return of the fair happen, Maui County is providing $1.5 million in funding — about double the cost of the event the last it was held in 2019.

After a six-year hiatus, the Maui County Fair is making its long-awaited return. For the first time since 2019, the Fair will bring back the joy, traditions and community spirit that Maui has celebrated for nearly a century. The 98th Maui County Fair will take place Oct. 2–5, 2025, at the War Memorial Special Events Complex in Wailuku.

Nā Kamehameha Commemorative Pāʻū Parade and Hōʻolauleʻa Committee announced Clifford Naeʻole as the Grand Parade Marshal for the 2025 celebration, set to take place on Saturday, June 21, along Kaʻahumanu Avenue in Kahului beginning at 9:45 a.m.

An evening honoring Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole returns to Queen Kaʻahumanu Center on Friday night.

Maui County’s efforts to secure funding for the 2025 Maui Fair have taken another step forward.

The Maui Fair is a beloved local tradition that drew about 90,000 people the last time it was held in 2019.

To cap off Friday’s community-inspired events honoring Lahaina, upwards of 500 people attended “Puana Aloha no Lahaina” at the Lahaina Civic Center on Friday night.

Several hundred people paddled surfboards and canoes, and hundreds more watched from shore at Hanaka‘ō‘ō Beach Park on Thursday morning in a Lahaina Paddle Out event to commemorate lives lost and changed forever by the Lahaina wildfire disaster a year ago.

In March of 2020, COVID precautions had caused sweeping closures of Maui’s Friday Town Parties. Over four years later, Wailuku First Fridays is making a comeback. The free community street party returns to Market Street on Aug. 2 from 6 to 9 p.m.

Awards for the 2024 Nā Kamehameha Commemorative Pāʻū Parade and Hoʻolauleʻa were announced during the event on Saturday, June 15. The annual celebration was moved to Central Maui this year due to the fires in Lahaina. Taking home the eventʻs perpetual trophy was the unit representing the island of Kahoʻolawe.

The 2024 Nā Kamehameha Commemorative Pā‘ū Parade and Ho‘olaule‘a will take place on Saturday, June 15, 2024. Due to the recent fires in Lahaina, this year’s commemoration has been relocated to Central Maui. The parade will proceed down Ka‘ahumanu Ave. and conclude at Queen Ka‘ahumanu Center. 

Liam Moleta of Oʻahu earned this year’s title for his performance of “Aloha Nō Kahului.” Also competing were Tevita Lisiate Apina-Pacheco from Waiʻanae, O‘ahu, Antonio Robles of Wailuku, Maui, and Via Tiumalu Jr from Kīhei, Maui.

The 2023 Festivals of Aloha culminates this month with the 21st Richard Ho‘opi‘i Falsetto Contest on Saturday, and events next week on the island of Molokaʻi.

The 21st annual Richard Ho‘opi‘i Leo Kiʻekiʻe Falsetto Contest is seeking contestants. The contest will be held at the Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023 at 6 p.m. Applicants may apply online by Sept. 8, 2023.

Teressa Deneen Welolani Medeiros Noury of Lahaina, Maui earned the title in the 2023 Carmen Hulu Lindsey Leo Haʻihaʻi Falsetto Contest held Saturday at The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua.

One highlight of the report: and East Maui Advisory Group was organized to provide input for the bureau’s East Maui Tourism Management Pilot Program.

Heua‘olu Sai-Dudoit of Hilo, Hawaiʻi earned the championship title at the 20th annual Richard Ho‘opi‘i Leo Kiʻekiʻe Falsetto Contest, held at the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua on Saturday night, Sept. 24.