This Week on Maui: June 28-July 4

Our week on Maui comes to a close this week with Independence Day. Did you know that the Declaration of Independence was actually approved on July 2nd? As John Adams wrote to Abigail, "The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival."

(Why do we celebrate the 4th instead of the 2nd? That's the day the Declaration was printed for the first time.)

Some great things are happening this week on Maui. First, on Friday, July 2nd, it's the First Friday celebration in downtown Wailuku. Every month, food and craft vendors come, stores stay open late, and there's plenty of live music and entertainment. This month, Maui Thing -- a clothing boutique on Market Street -- is celebrating its 2nd anniversary with a fashion show and a concert by the great Willie K. It should be a great night.

The next morning, head upcountry to the old cowboy town, Makawao, for the annual 4th of July paniolo parade starting at 9:00 a.m. Paniolo are Hawaiian cowboys and this annual parade coincides with the 55th Annual Makawao Rodeo at Oskie Rice arena on Olinda Road. Rodeo events on Saturday begin at 1:00 p.m.

This Week on Maui | June 14-20

The big event this week on Maui is the annual Maui Film Festival, which runs from June 16-20. Screenings and events take place in Wailea at the open air "Celestial Cinema" as well as at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center's Castle Theater.

Each year, a number of films focus on Hawaii and Hawaiian issues, and this year is no exception. Films include The Watermen Experience, about tow-in surfing, Ho'okele Wa'a (Turning the Canoe), Hana Surf Girls, Poi Dogs, and more.

Visit http://www.mauifilmfestival.com/ for a complete listing of films, information on tickets, and a schedule of all the wonderful non-film events happening as well.

This Week on Maui: June 7-14

Aloha and welcome to our new regular feature, "This Week on Maui" where we highlight two or three interesting events that will take place this week on the Valley Isle. As always, our focus is mainly on the culture, arts, and history of our island, but as you will see from below, we will also highlight other events that impact all of us, whether we live in Hawaii or not.

TUESDAY, JUNE 8, at 6:00PM

TAPPED

Under the auspices of the Pacific Whale Foundation, come to the Kihei Charter School for a free screening Tapped, a documentary about the bottled water industry's effects on our health, climate change, pollution and our reliance on oil. And in a place like Maui, with our reliance on so much imported material, our culture's addiction to bottled water takes on added dimensions. While the screening has been underwritten by the Pacific Whale Foundation, $5 donations are welcomed at the door. 

Kihei Charter School is located at 300 Ohukai Road.

FRIDAY, JUNE 11 -- ALL DAY

KAMEHAMEHA DAY

Friday marks the 138th annual celebration of Kamehameha Day, a holiday created by King Kamehameha V in 1872 to honor his grandfather, Kamehameha the Great, who unified Hawaii into one kingdom. It is a state holiday, so public offices and many banks will be closed.

SATURDAY, JUNE 12, at 9:45AMNA KAMEHAMEHA PA'U PARADE
In honor of Kamehameha Day (see above), come to Lahaina to see the Kamehameha Pa'u Parade and Ho'olaulea (celebration). The parade will include many local groups and floats but what is most stunning to see are the Pa'u riders -- women riding horseback in colorful pa'u (skirts) and wearing fragrant floral lei. The horses are are also garlanded with flowers making for a beautiful display. Following the parade, the celebration will continue in Banyan Tree Park with food, crafts, and music.

The parade will run down Front Street in Lahaina. Arrive early for a good spot.

Gig at Moana Cafe in Pa'ia | Thursday, June 3, from 6:30-8:30PM

In addition to all the other things we do (writing history, researching, leading walking tours, etc.), Kimo is a singer/songwriter and this Thursday, June 3, he'll be showcasing his material at Moana Cafe in Pa'ia.

Many of Kimo's recent songs are steeped in Hawaiian history and myth, telling the stories of everything from sugar cane workers to famous Hawaiian legends. He also writes songs that don't have anything to do with Hawaii (or history) and will include an eclectic array of covers on guitar and ukulele.

More info about Kimo's music can be found at http://www.walkmaui.com/music.htm.

Moana Cafe is located at 71 Baldwin Avenue in Pa'ia (just mauka of the Mana parking lot). You can read more about them at http://www.moanacafe.com/

Hope to see you there!

Raiatea and Keola Beamer in Concert on Saturday, May 22, in Lahaina

Keola Beamer -- famed slack key guitarist, composer, and all-around Hawaiian musical treasure -- has teamed up with Raiatea Helm to create a new album, Keola Beamer & Raiatea for Mountain Apple. Released at the beginning of the month, the album features everything from traditional Hawaiian songs to their cover of John Lennon "Imagine" (reworked in Hawaiian as "Ina-".)

On Saturday night, they will be performing at the Maui Theatre in Lahaina (home of 'Ulalena) on Saturday at 7:30PM. This will be a great opportunity to see two of the stars of the Hawaiian music scene in an intimate setting -- there really isn't a bad seat in the house.

Call 877-688-4800 for tickets. For more information on the album -- including a preview of the songs -- visit http://www.mountainapplecompany.com/keola/raiatea/.

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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Father Damien

In the midst of tax day yesterday, we neglected to post that it was also the anniversary of the death of Saint Damien of Molokai (more commonly known as Father Damien).

Born Jozef ("Jef") De Veuster in Belgium in 1840, Damien moved to Hawaii in 1864. He was ordained to the priesthood later that year at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace in Honolulu. In 1865, the Kingdom of Hawaii set up the colony at Kalaupapa for people suffering from Hansen's Disease (then known as leprosy) and Father Damient moved to Molokai in 1873. He died of the disease on April 15, 1889.

Last year, Damien was sainted by Pope Benedict XVI and his feast day was declared as May 10th. At the beginning of this month, Hawaii's governor, Linda Lingle, signed into law a designation that May 10 will also be a holiday in Hawaii to be known as "Saint Damien Day." Stay tuned -- if there are any Saint Damien activities planned on Maui, we'll be sure to post them here.

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