This Week’s Pick for Friday Night: Wailuku First Friday
Friday (September 3), 6-8pm, Market Street, Wailuku, Free
Whereas “spreading da aloha” is code for promiscuity, to “practice aloha” is entirely pono—and the theme of this month’s Wailuku First Friday festivities. The night plays host to the opening ceremonies for the annual Festivals of Aloha (6pm), with honorary chairperson Danny Mateo and cultural adviser Kaponoani Molitau presiding, as well as a Mayoral Forum (8pm) hosted by the Maui Young Business Roundtable at the Iao Theater. Folks 21 and over will be happy to hear there will be both a beer garden (starting at 5pm)—in support of the Na Aikane O Pu’ukohola Heiau, a national historic site—and an organic wine tasting at Cafe O’Lei (call 986-0044 for reservations). But mostly, it’s an event for the whole ‘ohana, with lots of street vendors and ono grinds. And there’s always an abundance (sometimes an over-abundance) of entertainment up and down the blocked-off-to-traffic Market Street. This month features Weldon Kekauoha (pictured) at Native Intelligence, Kua’aina at Maui Thing, Keoni Manuel’s Halau Hula o Na Pua o Pakipika and Te Tiare Patitifa at the Wailuku Banyan Tree Park, plus the Arts Education for Children Group presents live music at the Wailuku Coffee Company throughout the night. Come hungry, bring everyone you have aloha for, and have enough fun to hold you over ’til next month.
Neat photo, huh? See more from Jack Grace Photography.
