Maui Fair

I admit that I rarely go to the County or State Fairs in California but will always make an effort for the Mau`i Fair if I am on island.  Formerly known as the Maui County Fair that is generally kicked off with a parade on Thursday evening and spans the first weekend in October, the island is gearing up for its 94^th annual fair at the War Memorial October 6-9.  Last year it was a week earlier than normal giving me a chance to finally experience a Sunday at the fair, when I would normally be leaving the islands and this year it is a week later than normal, missing it by 4 days. 

Rides, food booths that are fundraisers, contests, produce and services tent, livestock, arts and crafts, and first rate entertainment makes this a great local experience that brings the community together for this annual event. 

 

 

The main initial draw for us was originally the entertainment as they always had first rate Hawaiian musicians performing and if we are lucky, in the audience. 

 

 

 

The Makaha Sons, Ekolu, and Mark Yamanaka who braved the tropical storm on a flight from Hilo last year to perform for us are just a sample of the talent we were treated to in the past years. 

 

 

 

After the entertainment, the ono grindz for a good cause comes in a close second.  Poi mochi and Hawaiian plates are my must have with the poi mochi line boasting one of the longest lines, so go during peak lunch/dinner time when most people are buying their other food. 

 

 

There are free shuttles from a few satellite parking lots in Wailuku and the Queen K Center but check shuttle hours as they do not necessarily run until the end of the fair especially on Sundays which we discovered last year so we parked closer to the War Memorial for $5. 

Pre-sale tickets are $5, $7 at the door Th-Sat and Discount Sunday with $5 admission and rides for about 3 tickets or less. 

 

Check back on their website for updates on vendors and entertainment - https://www.mauifair.com/.  If rumors are true, you may be lucky enough to hear the sounds of Keali`i Reichel, making me wish I was lucky enough to live Hawai`i. 

Maui Marathon and Half Marathon

We are almost always on island the weekend of the Mau`i Marathon/Half Marathon and have always had such admiration for the participants.  Never in a million years thinking I would ever be one of them since running for long periods is hard on my knees.  One year, friends we have met over the years signed up for it, with one mentioning he was walking it.  What?  Walk a half marathon?  You can do that?  Ding, there goes the light bulb moment giving me that “bright idea” that I was going to walk one. 

Fast forward a year later to 2013 and what better place for my first Half Marathon than where the idea started.  After months building up my endurance and speed by literally walking around in circles at the nearby Marina Park with the Bay View, I was speed walking for 3+ hours along one of the most scenic routes with an ocean view. 

 

 

The full marathon starts in Kahului and ends at Whaler’s Village while the half starts and ends at the Whaler’s Village on Sunday while the 5K, 10K, and Front Street Mile is the day before on Saturday.  For the ambitious, the Warrior Challege of a full marathon + 10K + front street mile or half marathon + 5K + front street mile will really test your endurance - http://mauimarathonhawaii.com/

Although I arrived about a week before to acclimate to the weather as tropical conditions can vary greatly from what you are use to training in, it was still a challenge once the sun came out.  However, I am grateful to have completed it the year I did since the last two years sported unusual conditions, the lack of tradewinds last year and record breaking temperatures the year before that presenting an additional challenge even for the winners.  Hope this year the weather God’s will be on the side of the participants as I go back to cheering from the sidelines and/or my lanai next door this weekend!! 

 

Festivals of Aloha Maui Nui

The Aloha Festival has been celebrated all around Hawai`i for years with events planned among the islands and usually kicked off with an introduction of the Royal Court.  I first discovered it in September of 2004, during my 4<sup>th</sup> Mau`i visit and the same year I committed to coming back to the islands for 2 weeks a year.  Although not as extensive as the O`ahu celebrations, I loved the community feel of the Mau`i one right at the Banyan Tree Park where keiki greeted their neighbors “Uncle” and “Auntie” as everyone is treated like ohana.  Although tempted to join in and buy a bouquet of proteas to present to the Royal Court myself, I still felt like a malihini at that point so just sat back and observed for fear of inadvertently doing anything that could be construed as disrespectful. 

 

Twelve years later, that day is still memorable, not only because this girl who never wins anything actually won a 1 night stay at the Aston Waikiki and a dashboard hula doll from just spinning a wheel, but because my love for the islands were solidified as the entertainment gave me chicken skin.  Over time, the official events have been limited more to the island of O`ahu of which I was lucky enough to squeeze in an overnight stay in O`ahu to experience the Ho`olaulea in Waikiki before my 2 weeks in Mau`i one year.  However, it was the Mau`i one that I miss and yearn for.  Just when I thought it had met the same fate as the Taste of Lahaina and the Pineapple Festival, Mau`i came back with their own set of events, Festivals of Aloha Maui Nui style, including the long running Richard Ho`opi`i Falsetto contest which had remained a staple. 

 

Although it is no longer as extensive to include a Royal Court like in 2004, the return of the Ho`olaulea under the Banyan Tree often with the falsetto winners and at least one member of the Ho`opi`i ohana,

 

 

 

even if it meant Uncle Richard’s son had to fly back from the Big Island to represent,

 

 

the entertainment is top-notch.  Unlike some of the previous years’, this year’s Ho`olaulea is this weekend and therefore will be before the falsetto contest - http://www.festivalsofaloha.com/2016-schedule-of-events/ but it looks like the Ho`opi`i ohana will still be putting on a show this Saturday scheduled for 11:45AM and if the rumors are true, an appearance from the legendary Makaha Sons at 1PM, guaranteed to give you chicken skin.