#Daryl Fujiwara

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.

“We want to welcome everyone back safely to Lahaina for this event,” said Daryl Fujiwara event coordinator. “Sacred Hearts is celebrating 160 years and one of our partners, Lahaina Restoration Foundation is celebrating 50 years and the holiday itself honoring King Kamehameha is celebrating 150 years — lots to celebrate.”

Maui celebrates ali’i nui, King Kamehameha I and his legacy in the 2022 Nā Kamehameha Commemorative Pā‘ū Parade and Ho‘olaule‘a on Saturday, June 18.

The 2021 Nā Kamehameha Commemorative Pā‘ū Parade and Ho‘olaule‘a celebrate virtually at 10 a.m. on June 19. Parade participants interested are asked to submit entry forms by the deadline at 4:30 p.m. on April 16.

The Ka Ipu Kukui program completed its twelfth year with a Graduation Ceremony at UHMC on May 23 and is now seeking applicants for its thirteenth year.

Maui took top honors in the 37th Annual edition of the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, with Maui’s Hulu Lindsey winning the female vocalist of the year category, and Kamaka Kukona tying for first in the male vocalist of the year category.

This year, the event will celebrate Hawai’i’s ali’i through the State Commission theme: “Holomua Kamehameha” – Honoring the 125 years of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop’s educational legacy.