Concert at Moana Bakery and Cafe in Pa'ia | Thursday, August 5, 7:30-9:30PM

As part of Kimo's other life as a singer/songwriter, he'll be performing a 2-hour set on Thursday, August 5th, at Moana Cafe in Pa'ia.

Kimo's songs range from eclectic covers on guitar and 'ukulele to his own compositions, many of them rooted in Hawaiian myth and history. For a preview of his songs, visit http://listn.to/jameskimonevius.

Moana Cafe is located at 71 Baldwin Avenue in Pa'ia, just mauka of the public parking lot. They have a great menu, a full bar, and a relaxed atmosphere. You can check them out at http://www.moanacafe.com/.

Hope to see you there!

Don't Miss the 18th Annual East Maui Taro Festival

This coming weekend, April 24 and 25, the town of Hana will once again play host to the annual East Maui Taro Festival, a celebration of kalo (as taro is known in Hawaiian) and local culture.

On Saturday, April 24, the festivities will take place at the Hana Ball Park. There will be food, educational booths about taro, demonstrations on how to pound poi and carve the stone poi pounder and poi board, and lots of entertainment. My halau, Halau Maui Nui a Kama -- under the direction of Na Kumu Keli'i Tau'a and Kapono Kamaunu -- will be performing in the morning, so be certain you are there early! (Unfortunately, I will not be performing with them as work takes me to the mainland. Oh well -- next time.)

On Sunday, April 25, there will be a taro pancake breakfast and tours of Kahanu Garden and Kahanu Living Farm.

All the details can be found at http://www.tarofestival.org/ and there was also an excellent article about the festival -- and about taro cultivation in general -- in the Maui News: http://www.mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/530612.html.

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A Day of Culture and Art at UH Maui College

This Sunday, April 11, from 10:00AM to 5:00PM, join in a celebration of Maui's rich and diverse heritage at Maui College (formerly MCC) in Kahului. Entertainment will range from MAPA to Hawaii Ballroom Dancers to Frank DeLima and there will be craft and food booths. (We are especially looking forward to dishes presented by International House of Taro.)

Admission is free and you can find out a complete schedule of everything happening at http://aecg.org/2010/cultureandart.htm.

A hui hou!

Celebrate Queen Ka'ahumanu's Birthday

This weekend the Queen Ka'ahumanu Center in Kahului is celebrating the birth of one of Hawaii's most revered queens -- and their namesake -- Ka'ahumanu. The queen was born on March 17, 1768, in Hana, Maui. Through her mother's lineage she was descended from the great chiefs of Maui, including Kekaulike, and on her father's side she was related (distantly) to Kamehameha I, to whom she was betrothed in 1781. She went on to be the king's favorite wife and, after Kamehameha's death, to be co-regent of the Kingdom of Hawaii with both Kamehameha II and Kamehameha III.

On Friday (March 12), opening ceremonies will be led at the mall by the 'Ahahui Ka'ahumanu Society beginning at 6:00 p.m. On Saturday (March 13) there will be musical entertainment in the queen's honor:

• 11:00am: Hulu Lindsey
• 12:00pm Derick Sebastian and Joshua Kahula
• 1:00pm George Kahumoku
• 2:00pm Jason Sedang and the men and women of Kealaokala, .

  The events are sponsored by radio station, KPOA.

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Christopher Columbus Talk

Aloha kakou,

This doesn't have much to with Maui (all right -- it doesn't have anything to do with Maui!), but James is giving a talk to the The Italian American Social Club in Kiheil on Tuesday, February 23, at 7:00 p.m.

The talk will be held in Stawarz Hall at St. Theresa Church in Kihei.

James will give a multimedia presentation on "1892 - Christopher Columbus and the Making of Modern America." Nevius is the author of Inside the Apple: A Streetwise History of New York City.

A potluck dinner will precede the presentation.

For more information, contact Don Tedesco 214-6366 or e-mail dstedesco@gmail.com.

If you are interested in learning more about why it's so important that everyone learned the rhyme "In 1492 Columbus Sailed the Ocean Blue," then join us on Tuesday!

A hui hou.

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Polynesian Voyaging Lecture at the Maui Ocean Center

On Tuesday, January 19, at 6:00 p.m., the Maui Ocean Center is hosting a free lecture about Polynesian sea voyaging with Kekai Kapu.

Kekai Kapu will speak about ancient Polynesian navigation as well as the upcoming voyage of the Mo'okiha O Pi'ilani, the sixty-two-foot double-hulled voyaging canoe that is going to circumnavigate the globe in 2012. Kapu is a board member of Hui O Wa'a Kaulua (the Assembly of the Double-hulled Canoe), a Hawai'ian cultural practioner, and an expert on Hawai'ian weaponry.

The doors open at 5:50 p.m. (enter through the Ocean Center's front gate). The lecture is slated to run about an hour.

The Maui Ocean Center is located in Ma'alaea, just off the highway. For more information about the center -- and directions -- please visit http://www.mauioceancenter.com/.