It’s Time to Celebrate Kites at Chinese Kite Festival & Kite Flying Day!

This weekend, there’s a wonderful world of kites to explore and celebrate at our Chinese Kite Festival & Kite Flying Day! Two days of free family fun activities are planned for Friday, April 6 and Saturday, April 7 in Lahaina:

Friday, April 6
Wo Hing Museum & Cookhouse, 858 Front Street

10 am-8 pm  Displays of Ancient and Modern Kites from Around the World
Kites are available for purchase

2 pm  Presentation on Ancient Chinese Kites by Dr. Busaba Yip and
East Indian Kite Fighting by Kite Master Robert Loera

3-8 pm  Kite Making Craft for Kids of All Ages – design, make and fly your own kite, using mixed media
Trendsetting Smart Games for Kids by Maui Toy Works
Chinese Food and Desserts for sale by Only ‘Ono BBQ
Traditional Chinese Music

6 pm  Presentation on Ancient Chinese Kites by Dr. Busaba Yip and
East Indian Kite Fighting by Kite Master Robert Loera

Saturday, April 7
Lahaina Cannery Mall South Lawn, Hwy. 30 & Keawe Street

10 am-2 pm  Kite Making Craft for Kids of All Ages – design, make and fly your own kite, using mixed media
Kite Flying with Your Own Kite
Acrobatic Sport Kite Air Show with Kite Master Robert Loera

Questions?  Contact us here, or call the Wo Hing Museum at 808-661-5553.

 

Save These Dates for Chinese Kite Festival and Kite Flying in Lahaina!

On Friday, April 6 and Saturday, April 7, join us in celebrating the wide, wonderful world of kites and national kite month in Lahaina during this annual family fun event!

Chinese Kite Festival begins on Friday evening at Wo Hing Museum and Cookhouse on Front Street. From 2 to 8 pm, check out displays of ancient and modern kites from around the world. Kites are available for purchase. Enjoy presentations on Ancient Chinese Kites and East Indian Kite Fighting, then join a kite making project to design and decorate your own kite. There will be smart games for kids, traditional Chinese music, and Chinese food available for sale.

Let’s go fly a kite on Saturday morning at the Lahaina Cannery Mall open space lawn off Honoapi‘ilani Hwy! Beginning at 10 am, kids and teens can design, decorate and make kites to fly. Kite Master Robert Loera will demonstrate acrobatic sport kite flying. Colorful kites in all shapes will be flying high. Bring your own kite to fly and get tips from the pros until 2 pm.

Presented by Lahaina Restoration Foundation, Wo Hing Society and Maui Toy Works, Chinese Kite Festival & Kite Flying Day offer free admission to all events.  For updates, call the Lahaina Restoration Foundation office at 808-661-3262 or contact us here.

 

Veteran Musicians Wilson Kanaka‘ole & Friends to Perform at Free Hawaiian Music Concert

Popular island musicians Wilson Kanaka‘ole, Brian Haia and Haime Meyer will perform at this month’s free Hawaiian Music Series concert on Thursday, March 29 from 6 to 7:30 pm outdoors at the Baldwin Home Museum on the corner of Dickenson and Front Streets in Lahaina.

Wilson Kanaka‘ole is a veteran musician and recording artist who has been performing for 30 years on the music scene in Hawai‘i. Raised in Lahaina, he comes from a musical family, including his father, Eric Kanaka‘ole and uncle, the late ‘ukulele legend, Nelson Waikiki. Wilson recorded a self-titled solo album that was released in 1998, featuring the hit song “Sabor a Mi,” which was also included in the 2003 compilation record, Legends of the ‘Ukulele – Hawaiian Masters. He has appeared on records by the Barefoot Natives and other island musicians, and attended University of Hawai‘i Maui College’s Institute of Hawaiian Music.

Watch Wilson performing on stage:

 

Brian Haia is a popular Maui guitarist who performs regularly in the Cane & Canoe restaurant at Montage Kapalua Bay. He is also a member of the local band, An Den. Wilson and Brian are accompanied by bass player, Haime Meyer.

Limited seating is provided on the lawn; blankets, mats and low beach chairs are welcome. This ongoing Hawaiian Music Series program is sponsored by Hawai‘i Tourism Authority and the County of Maui Office of Economic Development with support from KPOA 93.5FM.

For more information, call the Lahaina Restoration Foundation office at 808-661-3262 or contact us here. For updates, visit Facebook @LahainaRestoration, Twitter @LahainaRestFnd or Instagram @LahainaRestoration.

Celebrate Chinese New Year in Lahaina & Ring in Year of the Dog!

Lahaina will celebrate the lunar new year of the dog with festivities for the whole family to enjoy. We invite you to the Wo Hing Museum & Cookhouse on Friday, February 23 for a full day of cultural art activities, exciting lion dancing and historical presentations that pay tribute to Chinese New Year. The museum will be open between 10 am and 8 pm with free admission.
2018 Year of the Dog

 

Lion dances with drums, gongs and cymbals will be performed in the museum yard at 858 Front Street. The new year blessing by Au’s Shaolin Arts Society begins at 5 pm by the entrance to the Wo Hing temple building. Lai see envelopes will be handed out to feed the lions for good luck. After firecrackers are lit in the yard, the lions dance down Front Street, stopping in shops and restaurants.
 Chinese lions entertain crowd at Wo Hing
The Chinese cultural celebration at Wo Hing Museum & Cookhouse features a variety of free activities between 2 and 8 pm. To kick-off festivities, Dr. Busaba Yip will present the history of Chinese New Year and special guest, Dennis Ryan, a collector, will talk about ancient dogs made from pottery and the importance of charms, amulets and talismans to the Chinese for good luck, health, prosperity and protection. Guests can pet a 2,000-year old pottery dog.  Busaba and Dennis will do a second presentation at 6 pm.

 

From 6 to 8 pm in the museum yard, kids can make Year of the Dog paper lanterns. Cultural activities for all ages include:  Chinese calligraphy with Rev. Takayuki Meguro, the art of Chinese knot tying with Brenda Wong, and the skill of mahjong playing.  Chinese dishes and desserts by Only ‘Ono BBQ will be offered for sale.

 

In China, Chinese New Year is not only the longest celebrated event but also the most important social holiday. The lunar new year begins on the second new moon following the winter solstice and ends two weeks later on the full moon. Today, the new year is a week-long public holiday so families can reunite and relax together, celebrating a year of hard work and offering wishes of good luck and prosperity in the coming year.

 

The dog is the 11th of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac and is especially auspicious since Chinese legend credits the dog with saving all of mankind when, during a famine, a dog collected rice grains in his bushy tail and brought them back to  feed the starving people. People born in the Year of the Dog are usually independent, sincere, loyal and decisive. They are not afraid of difficulties in daily life.

 

On Friday, February 23, join Wo Hing Society, LahainaTown Action Committee and Lahaina Restoration Foundation to celebrate the new Year of the Dog in Lahaina. Sun Nien Fai Lok – Happy New Year! Chinese New Year is sponsored by Hawai‘i Tourism Authority and County of Maui Office of Economic Development.

 

For a program with schedule of activities, call the Lahaina Restoration Foundation office at 808-661-3262 or contact us here.  You can also visit Facebook @LahainaRestoration, Twitter @LahainaRestFnd and Instagram @LahainaRestoration.

Beloved Hawai‘i Entertainer Robi Kahakalau Featured at Free Concert in Lahaina

Robi Kahakalau, one of Hawai‘i’s most beloved musical entertainers, will be featured at our free outdoor Hawaiian Music Series concert on Thursday, February 22 from 6 to 7:30 pm in front of the Baldwin Home Museum on the corner of Dickenson and Front Streets in Lahaina.

Kahakalau, or “Sistah Robi,” is considered one of Hawai‘i’s most versatile female vocalists and popular entertainers. She is renowned for her distinctive voice, creative energy, and mastery of mutiple languages, including Hawaiian and Tahitian. Born into a musical Hawaiian family and raised in Germany, Robi first moved to Hawai‘i in 1980 along with her sister, Ku. By 1990, Robi’s musical career began to take off when she joined the Hawaiian Style Band and sang lead on two highly acclaimed albums, Vanishing Treasures (1992) and Rhythm of the Ocean (1994).

Robi moved on to her solo career with the debut of Sistah Robi (1995), which made her a star in Hawai‘i. The 1997 follow-up release, Keiki O Ka ‘Aina, solidified Robi’s status as a beloved vocalist and musician. She placed her recording career on hold for a few years to become a teacher of Hawaiian language and studies, then returned in 2000 with All I Want. In 2013, she released her fourth solo album, Robi Calling.

Kahakalau has been honored with three Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, a Hawaii Music Award and a Grammy Award nomination, and has toured all over the world. These days, Robi stays busy performing as a soloist and with some of Hawai‘i’s finest musical artists.

Watch Robi and Friends performing at last year’s Hawaiian Music Series concert:

Limited seating is provided; blankets, mats and low beach chairs are welcome. This ongoing Hawaiian Music Series program is sponsored by Hawai‘i Tourism Authority and the County of Maui Office of Economic Development with support from KPOA 93.5FM.

For more information, call the Lahaina Restoration Foundation office at 808-661-3262 or contact us here.

Lehua Kalima & Shawn Pimental Entertain at Lahaina’s Free Hawaiian Music Concert

Celebrating 10 Years of Free Hawaiian Music in Lahaina!

The stars will be shining brightly when popular duo Lehua Kalima and Shawn Pimental entertain at our first 2018 Hawaiian Music Series concert on Thursday, January 25. From 6 to 7:30 pm, enjoy the free outdoor concert in front of Baldwin Home Museum on the corner of Dickenson and Front Streets in Lahaina.

Award-winning recording star, Lehua Kalima has been performing for over 30 years in Hawai‘i and beyond from the time she and two friends formed Nā Leo Pilimehana in high school. When they won an original song competition for their single, “Local Boys,” it became a cult hit. The trio has garnered over 20 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, and Lehua has won an unprecedented three individual songwriter awards for Song of the Year. Her solo release, Rising in Love (2011) was honored as Contemporary Album of the Year. She continues to entertain audiences as part of Nā Leo Pilimehana and also with Shawn Pimental as a duo.

Consummate musician and award-winning record producer, Shawn Kekoa Pimental has performed with some of Hawai‘i’s leading recording artists, offering his talents on guitar, drums, bass and vocals. He has toured the world as a music director and member of several world-renowned artists’ bands. He is co-owner of a premier recording studio in Honolulu, Studio Ala Moana. Shawn owns the record label, Koops2 Entertainment, which represents both top artists and emerging independents from Hawai‘i whose musical styles range from reggae to traditional and contemporary Hawaiian. For the past five years, he has recorded and performed with Lehua Kalima.

Listen to Lehua and Shawn performing their hit single, “Ku‘u Lei Puakenikeni.”

Limited seating is provided for the concert; blankets, mats and low beach chairs are welcome. The ongoing Hawaiian Music Series program is sponsored by Hawai‘i Tourism Authority and the County of Maui Office of Economic Development with support from KPOA 93.5FM. For more information, call the office at 808-661-3262 or contact us here. For updates, visit Facebook @LahainaRestoration and Twitter @LahainaRestFnd or post your favorite photos on Instagram tagging @LahainaRestoration and #HawaiianMusic, #HMS2018.

Popular Recording Artist John Cruz Featured at Lahaina’s Free Hawaiian Music Concert

Popular recording artist and performer John Cruz will be featured at our free monthly Hawaiian Music Series concert this holiday season on Thursday, December 28 from 6 to 7:30 pm in front of Baldwin Home Museum at the corner of Dickenson and Front Streets in Lahaina.

Born into one of the great musical families of Hawai‘i nei, John Cruz is a kī ho‘alu (slack key) master known for his soulful vocals and unique acoustic style. He has released two Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award-winning albums, Acoustic Soul (1996) and One of These Days (2007). He was named the Best Singer-Songwriter by Hawai‘i Magazine in 2008, and Honolulu Magazine recognized his second album as one of the Top 25 Greatest Hawaii Albums of the New Century in 2012. John has performed for the President, is a favorite stage partner of Jack Johnson, and continues to perform with his musical siblings as well as Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award-winning group, The Rough Riders, with Henry Kapono and Brother Noland. Cruz’ hit song, “Island Style” was recently released as a medley with “ʻŌiwi Ē” in an all-star, intergenerational collaboration by Mana Maoli, featuring the Cruz ‘Ohana and more of Hawai‘i’s Mana Mele Collective artists along with 1,000 Hawaiian Charter School youth. It was recorded live in 15 locations around the islands.

Get a real “Lucky I Live Hawai‘i” moment during this laid-back outdoor concert. Limited seating is provided; blankets, mats and low beach chairs are welcome.

The ongoing Hawaiian Music Series program is sponsored by Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, the County of Maui Office of Economic Development and Outlets of Maui with support from KPOA 93.5FM. For more information, call the office at 808-661-3262 or contact us here. For updates, visit Facebook @LahainaRestoration and Twitter @LahainaRestFnd or post your favorite photos on Instagram tagging @LahainaRestoration and #HawaiianMusic.

Get Ready to Celebrate Chinese New Year & The World of Kites at These Festivals

Lahaina honors its long Chinese heritage with community festivals throughout the year. In 2018, you can get ready to celebrate Chinese New Year in February, and the wonderful world of kites in April at these upcoming events:

Friday, February 23 • from 5 pm to 9 pm
Chinese New Year Celebration

Ring in the lunar new year in Lahaina during this free community celebration, featuring Chinese lion dancing with drums, cymbals and firecrackers at the Wo Hing Museum and Cookhouse on Front Street. After firecrackers are lit, the lions dance down Front Street, stopping in shops and restaurants. Throughout the day and evening, enjoy cultural art activities, like calligraphy, knot tying and kids’ crafts. Presentations about Chinese New Year history and the fortune-telling arts will be held in the Cookhouse. There will be martial arts demonstrations and instrumental performances along with Chinese tea served in the garden. It’s fun for the whole family to celebrate the Year of the Dog!

Friday, April 6 & Saturday, April 7 
5 pm to 9 pm & 9 am to 2 pm
Kite Festival & Kite Flying Day

Celebrate the wide world of kites and national kite month in Lahaina during this annual family fun event! On Friday evening at Wo Hing Museum and Cookhouse on Front Street, check out displays of ancient and modern kites from around the world; kites are available for purchase. Enjoy presentations on Ancient Chinese Kites and Sport Kites, then join a community kite making project. There are hands-on craft activities for kids, like kite making, and Chinese food available for sale. Go fly a kite on Saturday at the Lahaina Recreation Center field on Honoapi‘ilani Hwy. Kids can design and make a kite and teens can make free-form kite structures. At 11 am, the community’s Chinese serpent kite will take to the air in a kite flying demo. The sky becomes a canvas with colorful kites in all shapes. Bring your own kite to fly and get tips from the pros until 2 pm. Free admission to all events.

To find out more, call the Lahaina Restoration Foundation office at 808-661-3262, Wo Hing Museum at 808-661-5553, or contact us here. For updates, visit Facebook @LahainaRestoration and Twitter @LahainaRestFnd.

Kamehameha Schools Maui Hawaiian Ensemble Entertains at Free Concert in Lahaina

We welcome the return of Kamehameha Schools Maui Hawaiian Ensemble to our free monthly concert outdoors at Baldwin Home Museum on the corner of Dickenson and Front Streets in Lahaina. On Thursday, November 30 from 6 to 7:30 pm, take a well-deserved break and relax under the stars to the melodies and harmonies of these talented student voices.

The entertaining Kamehameha Schools Maui Hawaiian Ensemble is comprised of qualified students with talents in voice and dance who share their Hawaiian culture through mele, hula and oli. Students learn an extensive repertoire of Hawaiian songs, dances and chants. They have performed at various venues in the Hawaiian Islands, Aotearoa (New Zealand), Tahiti and Japan. The ensemble often serves as an official representative of Kamehameha Schools Maui at community functions.

Watch an excerpt from last year’s concert with Kamehameha Schools Maui Hawaiian Ensemble:

 

Limited seating is provided; blankets, mats and low beach chairs are welcome. This ongoing Hawaiian Music Series program is sponsored by Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, the County of Maui Office of Economic Development and Outlets of Maui with support from KPOA 93.5FM.

For more information, call the Lahaina Restoration Foundation office at 808-661-3262, or contact us here. For updates, visit Facebook @LahainaRestoration, Twitter @LahainaRestFnd or Instagram @LahainaRestoration.

Master Slack Key Guitarist Mike Kaawa to Perform Hawaiian Music at Free Concert

Renowned master slack key guitarist Mike Kaawa will perform at our free monthly Hawaiian Music Series concert on Thursday, October 26 from 6 to 7:30 pm outdoors at the Baldwin Home Museum on the corner of Dickenson and Front Streets in Lahaina.

A Hawaiian master 12-string guitarist, vocalist and songwriter, Mike Kaawa is one of Hawai‘i’s most highly regarded musicians. He started performing at a young age and briefly flirted with rock-and-roll before committing himself to Hawaiian music and becoming known as “The Hawaiian Boy” in the 1970s. Describing his musical style as “Hawaiian with attitude,” Mike has created a distinctive, robust sound and vocal expression that comes straight from the heart.

He’s a regular performer at Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festivals and popular venues around Hawai‘i. Mike often teams up with master slack key guitarist, Led Kaapana. The duo released Force of Nature in 2008, which garnered a Grammy Award nomination for Best Hawaiian Music Album. He has also performed with Kaapana, Dennis Kamakahi and Nathan Aweau as The Hawaiian Legends. Mike released four solo albums in his career, including Kuapaka‘a (2012), two albums with the band, Nā ‘Oiwi (featuring Dennis Kamakahi) as well as his record with Led Kaapana. He has been featured on three Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar compilation albums.

Watch Mike performing ‘Opelu with The Hawaiian Legends Live:

Limited seating is provided on the lawn; blankets, mats and low beach chairs are welcome. This ongoing Hawaiian Music Series program is sponsored by Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, the County of Maui Office of Economic Development and Outlets of Maui with support from KPOA 93.5FM. For more information, call the Lahaina Restoration Foundation office at 808-661-3262 or email us.