Calendar of Events

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Back to MauiMaui, Hawaii Calendar of Events

As with any schedule of upcoming events, the following information is subject to change; always confirm the details before you plan your schedule around an event. For a complete and up-to-date list of events throughout Maui, Molokai, and Lanai, point your browser to www.visitmaui.com, www.molokai-hawaii.com, or www.visitlanai.net.

January

PGA Kapalua Mercedes Championship, Kapalua Resort. Top PGA golfers compete for $1 million. Call tel. 808/669-2440 or visit www.kapaluamaui.com. January 2 to January 8, 2006.

Ka Molokai Makahiki, Kaunakakai Town Baseball Park, Mitchell Pauole Center, Kaunakakai, Molokai. Makahiki, a traditional time of peace in ancient Hawaii, is re-created with performances by Hawaiian music groups and hula halau, ancient Hawaiian games, a sporting competition, and Hawaiian crafts and food. It's a wonderful chance to experience the Hawaii of yesteryear. Call tel. 800/800-6367 or 808/553-3876; www.molokai-hawaii.com. Late January.

Hula Bowl Football All-Star Classic, War Memorial Stadium. An annual all-star football classic featuring America's top college players. Call tel. 808/874-9500 or visit www.hulabowlmaui.com; ticket orders are processed beginning April 1 for the next year's game.

Chinese New Year. Lahaina town rolls out the red carpet for this important event with a traditional lion dance at the historic Wo Hing Temple on Front Street, accompanied by fireworks, food booths, and a host of activities. Call tel. 888/310-1117 or 808/667-9175. Also on Market Street in Wailuku; call tel. 808/270-7414. January 29, 2006.

February

Wendy's Champions Skins Game at Wailea, Wailea Golf Courses. Longtime golfing greats participate in this four-man tournament for $600,000 in prize money. Call tel. 800/332-1614; www.seniorskinswailea.com. Early February.

Whale Day Celebration, Kalama Park, Kihei. A daylong celebration in the park with a parade of whales, entertainment, a crafts fair, games, and food. Call tel. 808/249-8811 or visit www.visitmaui.com. February 18, 2006.

March

Ocean Arts Festival, Lahaina. The entire town of Lahaina celebrates the annual migration of Pacific humpback whales with an Ocean Arts Festival in Banyan Tree Park. Artists display their best ocean-themed art for sale, and Hawaiian musicians and hula troupes entertain. Enjoy marine-related activities, games, and a Creature Feature touch-pool exhibit for children. Call tel. 888/310-1117 or 808/667-9194; www.visitlahaina.com. Mid-March.

Run to the Sun, Paia to Haleakala. The world's top ultramarathoners make the journey from sea level to the top of 10,000-foot Haleakala, some 37 miles. Call tel. 808/891-2516 or visit www.virr.com. March 27, 2006.

East Maui Taro Festival, Hana. Here's your chance to taste taro in many different forms, from poi to chips. Also on hand are Hawaiian exhibits, demonstrations, and food booths. Call tel. 808/248-8972; www.calendarmaui.com. Generally the end of March or early April.

Molokai Hawaiian Paniolo Heritage Rodeo, Molokai Rodeo Arena, Maunaloa, Molokai. A celebration of Hawaii's paniolo (cowboy) heritage. Call tel. 808/552-2791.

April

Buddha Day, Lahaina Jodo Mission, Lahaina. Each year this historic mission holds a flower festival pageant honoring the birth of Buddha. Call tel. 808/661-4303; www.calendarmaui.com. April 1, 2006.

Maui Polo Spring Season Begins. For a complete list of all the polo matches in the cool, upcountry area of Maui, call tel. 808/877-7744.

Annual Ritz-Carlton Kapalua Celebration of the Arts, Ritz-Carlton Kapalua. Contemporary and traditional artists give free hands-on lessons. Call tel. 808/669-6200; www.celebrationofthearts.org. The 4-day festival begins the Thursday before Easter. April 13 to April 16, 2006.

David Malo Day, Lahaina. Lahainaluna High School celebrates its famous Hawaiian scholar with a luau and hula performances. Call tel. 808/662-4000; www.visitmaui.com. Usually mid- to late April.

Banyan Tree Birthday Party, Lahaina. Come celebrate the 133rd birthday of Lahaina's famous Banyan Tree with a weekend of activities. Call tel. 888/310-1117 or 808/667-9194; www.visitlahaina.com. April 22 and 23, 2006.

Earth Day, Kahului and Maalaea. Maui Nui Botanical Gardens in Kahului (tel. 808/249-2798) and the Harbor Shops in Maalaea (tel. 808/249-8811) host Earth Day celebrations. April 22 and 23, 2006.

That Ulupalakua Thing! Maui County Agricultural Trade Show and Sampling, Ulupalakua Ranch and Tedeschi Winery, Ulupalakua. The name may be long and cumbersome, but this event is hot, hot, hot. It features local-product exhibits, food booths, and live entertainment. Call tel. 808/878-2839; www.ulupalakuathing.com. April 29, 2006.

May

Outrigger Canoe Season, all islands. From May to September nearly every weekend, canoe paddlers across the state participate in outrigger canoe races. Call tel. 808/261-6615, or go to www.y2kanu.com for this year's schedule of events.

Annual Lei Day Celebration, Fairmont Kea Lani, Wailea. May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii, celebrated with lei-making contests, pageantry, arts and crafts, and concerts throughout the islands. Call tel. 808/875-4100; www.visitmaui.com. May 1.

Kapalua Jr. Vet/Sr. Tennis Championships, Kapalua. Men and women ages 35 and over compete in singles and doubles championship tournaments. Call tel. 808/669-5677. May 5 to May 7, 2006.

International Festival of Canoes, West Maui. Celebration of the Pacific islands' seafaring heritage. Events include canoe paddling and sailing regattas, a luau feast, cultural arts demonstrations, canoe-building exhibits, and music. Call tel. 888/310-1117; www.calendarmaui.com. May 13 to May 27, 2006.

Molokai Ka Hula Piko, Papohaku Beach Park, Kaluakoi, Molokai. This daylong celebration of the hula takes place on the island where it was born. It features performances by hula schools, musicians, and singers from across Hawaii, as well as local food and Hawaiian crafts, including quilting, woodworking, feather work, and deer-horn scrimshaw. Call tel. 800/800-6367 or 808/553-3876; www.molokai-hawaii.com. Third Saturday in May.

He Makana Aloha, Molokai. The fourth annual Hawaiian performing-arts competition with workshops, lectures, and a Hawaiian luau. Call tel. 808/630-5861. May 23 and 24, 2006.

June

Neil Pryde Slalom, Kahului. Annual windsurfing slalom race at Kanaha Beach Park. Call tel. 808/877-2111. Early June.

King Kamehameha Celebration, statewide. It's a state holiday with a massive floral parade, hoolaulea (party), and much more. Call tel. 888/310-1117 or 808/667-9194 or visit www.visitlahaina.com for Maui events; tel. 808/567-6361 for Molokai events. June 10 and 11, 2006.

Maui Film Festival, Wailea Resort. Five days and nights of screenings of premieres and special films, along with traditional Hawaiian storytelling, chants, hula, and contemporary music. Call tel. 808/579-9996; mauifilmfestival.com. The second or third week in June.

Hawaiian Slack-Key Guitar Festival, Maui Arts and Cultural Center, Kahului. Great music performed by the best musicians in Hawaii. It's 5 hours long and absolutely free. Call tel. 808/239-4336; www.hawaiianslackkeyguitarfestivals.com. Late June.

Kapalua Clambake Pro-Am Golf Tournament, Kapalua Resort. This 20th annual Pro-Am tournament ends with a giant clam bake on the beach. Call tel. 808/669-8802. June 23 to June 25, 2006.

Makana Aloha Performing Arts Competition, Molokai. Free competition featuring Hawaiian song and dance, with Hawaiian food, arts and crafts, and games for kids. Call tel. 808/552-2800; www.molokaievents.com. Last Saturday in June (June 24, 2006).

July

Polo Season, Olinda Polo Field, Makawao, Maui. Polo matches featuring Hawaii's top players, often joined by famous international players. Call tel. 808/572-7326. Held every Sunday at 1pm throughout the summer.

Pineapple Festival, Lanai City, Lanai. Celebrates Lanai's history of pineapple plantation and ranching and includes a pineapple-eating contest, pineapple-cooking contest, entertainment, arts and crafts, food, and fireworks. Call tel. 808/565-7600; www.visitlanai.net. First Saturday in July (July 1, 2006).

Fourth of July. Lahaina holds an old-fashioned Independence Day celebration with fireworks lighting the night sky over Lahaina's roadstead. Call tel. 888/310-1117 or 808/667-9194 (www.visitlahaina.com). Kaanapali puts on a grand old celebration with live music, children's activities, and fireworks. Call tel. 808/661-3271.

Makawao Parade and Rodeo, Makawao, Maui. The annual parade and rodeo event have been taking place in this upcountry cowboy town for generations. Call tel. 800/525-MAUI or 808/572-9565. July 4, 2006.

Kapalua Wine and Food Festival, Kapalua. Famous wine and food experts and oenophiles gather at the Ritz-Carlton and Kapalua Bay hotels for formal tastings, panel discussions, and samplings of new releases. Call tel. 800/KAPALUA; www.kapaluaresort.com.

Bon Dance and Lantern Ceremony, Lahaina. This colorful Buddhist ceremony honors the souls of the dead. Call tel. 808/661-4304. Usually early July.

August

Maui Onion Festival, Whalers Village, Kaanapali, Maui. Everything you ever wanted to know about the sweetest onions in the world. Food, entertainment, tasting, and the Maui Onion Cook-Off. Call tel. 808/661-4567; www.whalersvillage.com. August 5 and 6, 2006.

Hawaii State Windsurf Championship, Kanaha Beach Park, Kahului. Top windsurfers compete. Call tel. 808/877-2111. August 5, 2006.

Tahiti Fete, Wailuku. Annual Tahitian dance competition, arts and crafts, and food, held in the War Memorial Gym, Wailuku. Call tel. 808/244-5831. August 12 and 13, 2006.

September

Aloha Festivals, various locations. Parades and other events celebrate Hawaiian culture. Call tel. 800/852-7690 or 808/545-1771 or visit www.alohafestivals.com for a schedule of events.

LifeFest Kapalua, Kapalua Resort. A 3-day health-and-wellness event featuring lectures and panel presentations by leaders in the health and wellness field, plus ocean sporting events, fitness activities, a health and wellness expo, and sumptuous gala dinners. Wailea resorts and condominiums offer special package rates. For more information, call tel. 866/669-2440 or 808/669-2440 (www.lifefestmaui.com). September 8 to September 10, 2006.

Maui Writer's Conference, Marriott Wailea, an Outrigger Resort. Workshops, lectures, and panel discussions with writers, agents, and publishers. Call tel. 888/974-8373 or 808/879-0061; www.mauiwriters.com. Labor Day weekend.

A Taste of Lahaina, Lahaina Civic Center, Maui. Some 30,000 people show up to sample 40 signature entrees of Maui's premier chefs during this weekend festival, which includes cooking demonstrations, wine tastings, and live entertainment. The event begins Friday night with Maui Chefs Present, a themed dinner/cocktail party featuring about a dozen of Maui's best chefs. Call tel. 888/310-1117 or 808/667-9194; www.visitlahaina.com. Early September.

Hana Relays, Hana Highway. Hundreds of runners, in relay teams, crowd the Hana Highway from Kahalui to Hana (you might want to avoid the road this day). Call tel. 808/871-6441; www.virr.com. September 9, 2006.

Maui Marathon, Kahului to Kaanapali, Maui. Runners line up at the Maui Mall before daybreak and head off for Kaanapali. Call tel. 808/871-6441; www.virr.com. Sunday, September 17, 2006.

Maui County Fair, War Memorial Complex, Wailuku. The oldest county fair in Hawaii features a parade, amusement rides, live entertainment, and exhibits. Call tel. 800/525-MAUI or 808/244-3530; www.calendarmaui.com. September 28 to October 1, 2006.

October

Aloha Classic World Wavesailing Championship, Hookipa Beach, Maui. The top windsurfers in the world gather for this final event in the Pro Boardsailing World Tour. If you're on Maui, don't miss it -- it's spectacular to watch. Call tel. 808/575-9151. Depending on the waves and the wind, the championship could be held in October or November.

Aloha Festivals Ho'olaule'a, Lahaina. This all-day cultural festival, which culminates the end of Maui island's Aloha Festivals Week, is held at Banyan Tree Park and features Hawaiian food, music, and dance, along with arts and crafts on display and for sale. Call tel. 888/310-1117 or 808/667-9194 (www.visitlahaina.com). Either in September or October.

Molokai Hoe, Molokai to Oahu. This men's 40-mile outrigger contest starts in Molokai and finishes at Fort DeRussy Beach in Waikiki. Call tel. 808/261-6615 or visit www.molokai-hawaii.com. Mid-October.

Halloween in Lahaina, Maui. There's Carnival in Rio, Mardi Gras in New Orleans, and Halloween in Lahaina. Come to this giant costume party (some 20,000 people show up) on the streets of Lahaina; Front Street is closed off for the party. Call tel. 888/310-1117 or 808/667-9194 or visit www.visitlahaina.com. October 31, 2006.

November

Hawaii International Film Festival, various locations on Maui. A cinema festival with a cross-cultural spin, featuring filmmakers from Asia, the Pacific Islands, and the United States. Call tel. 800/752-8193 or 808/528-FILM or visit www.hiff.org. Mid-November.

Maui Invitational Basketball Tournament, Lahaina Civic Center, Maui. Top college teams vie in this annual preseason tournament. Call tel. 312/755-3504. Usually held around Thanksgiving.

December

Hui Noeau Christmas House, Makawao. The festivities in the beautifully decorated Hui mansion include shopping, workshops and art demonstrations, children's activities and visits with Santa, holiday music, fresh-baked goods, and local foods. Call tel. 808/572-6560; www. huinoeau.com. Late November and early December.

Festival of Lights, island-wide. Festivities include parades and tree-lighting ceremonies. Call tel. 808/667-9175 on Maui or 808/567-6361 on Molokai. Early December.

Na Mele O Maui, Student Song and Art Competition, Maui Marriott Ballroom. Students from kindergarten to 12th grade perform traditional Hawaiian songs in a scholarship fundraiser. Call tel. 808/667-1200. December 1, 2006.

Festival of Trees, Lahaina Cannery Mall. Look for decorated trees, along with entertainment. Call tel. 808/661-5304. December 2, 2006.

Lightening of the Banyan Tree, Lahaina, Maui. At 6:30pm Lahaina's historic Banyan Tree is lit up with thousands of Christmas lights for the entire holiday season. Santa Claus makes an appearance and choirs sing Christmas carols accompanied by hula. Kids can join a cookie workshop. Banyan Tree Park on Front Street. Call tel. 888/310-1117 or 808/667-9194 or go to www.visitlahaina.com. December 2 and 3, 2006.

Tree Lighting Ceremony, Ritz-Carlton Kapalua. With the flick of a switch, more than 250,000 sparkling lights will illuminate the 25-foot holiday tree and dozens of pine and palm trees around the courtyards of the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua and throughout the resort. Call tel. 808/669-6200 or visit www.kapaluaresort.com. December 3, 2006.

Annual Christmas Light Parade, Kaunakakai, Molokai. A light parade with music and holiday arts and crafts. Call tel. 808/567-6180 or visit www.visitmaui.com. Mid-December.

First Light 2006, Maui Arts and Cultural Center, Maui. The Academy of Motion Pictures holds major screenings of top films. Not to be missed. Call tel. 808/579-9996; www.mauifilmfestival.com. December 26 to December 31, 2006.

Ongoing Events

Every Friday night from 7 to 10pm, as part of Friday Night Is Art Night in Lahaina, the town's galleries open their doors for special shows, demonstrations, and refreshments. There are even strolling musicians wandering the streets.

On the first and third weekends of the month, Hawaiian artists sell and share culture, arts, and crafts under the famous landmark Banyan Tree in Lahaina. On the other weekends the Lahaina Arts Society has an exhibit and sale of various works of art in the same place.

Every Wednesday at 4:30 and 7:30pm, outstanding contemporary and art films are shown at the Maui Arts & Culture Center in Kahului as part of the Maui Film Festival (tel. 808/242-SHOW; www.mauifilmfestival.com).

You don't have to spend a good chunk of change and order two drinks to experience the Hawaiian art of hula. There are free hula performances every week. In Lahaina: every Saturday and Sunday at 1pm and Tuesday and Thursday at 7pm in the Lahaina Cannery Mall; and every Wednesday at 2pm and every Friday at 2 and 6pm at the Lahaina Center. In Kaanapali: every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 7pm at the Whalers Village. In Kapalua: every Thursday at 10am at the Kapalua Shops.

It's also fun to check out Maui's outdoor markets, where you can find good deals on gifts to bring home, try the local produce, and meet the locals. Every Saturday from 7am to 1pm, the Maui Swap Meet is held next to the post office on Puunene Avenue in Kahului. This is Maui's largest outdoor market, filled with everything from produce to Hawaiian art. For upscale culinary items, stop by the Aloha Friday Farmers Market, held every Friday from 7am to 1pm at Maui Community College in Kahului. Here you'll find gourmet vendors like Surfing Goat Dairy, Waipoli Hydroponic Greens/Pacific Produce, Alii Lavender, and terrific baked goods from the MCC culinary art students. If you want to sleep in, you can always go to the Kaahumanu Shopping Center, Kaahumanu Avenue, Kahului, where the parking lot is filled with bargains every Friday from 9am to 5pm. The Hana Farmer's and Crafter's Market, Hasegawa Service Station, Hana Highway, Hana, is a chance to meet local artists and farmers every Thursday from 9:30am to 3:30pm. At the Kahului Shopping Center, also on Kaahumanu Avenue in Kahului, you'll get great deals on produce every Wednesday morning from 7am to noon. Arrive early to get the best bargains at the Suda Store, on Kihei Road in Kihei, which hosts an outdoor market every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1:30 to 5:30pm. On Lower Honoapiilani Road in Honokowai, you'll find a great farmers market and other items for sale every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 7 to 11am.