[Picture (L-R back row): 2010 grand prize winners Mika Kane, Gabriel Goebbert and Austin Carvalho; and (L-R front row) Santana Sebastian and Kaulike Pescaia.]

REGISTER NOW: 15th Annual Maui Youth ‘Ukulele Players Contest, September 17

Calling all amateur ‘ukulele players and Hawaiian music enthusiasts!

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Kindergarten keiki through high school seniors are invited to strum, pick and sing their way down to Hula Grill (at Whalers Village, Ka’anapali) for the restaurant’s 15th Annual Youth Ukulele Players Contest (Saturday, September 17). Compete for prizes (everyone gets something) and bragging rights in solo and group divisions. Judges include Grammy-and Na Hoku Hanohano Award-winners Peter DeAquino, Derick Sebastian, and Garrett Probst (all of whom are prodigies/proteges of this very contest)! Advance registration is required (deadline to enter is Saturday, September 10; $15 fee includes breakfast and Hula Grill souvenir), with entry forms available at Bounty Music, Mele Ukulele and online at hulagrillkaanapali.com. Check-in runs from 8-8:30am followed but a keiki ‘uke workshop. The competition begins at 10am. Plus, the contest will be video-recorded and broadcast by the event’s media sponsor, Hawaii On TV (hawaiiontv.com)! PS: Too old to compete? Go and give a chee hoo to da keiki who are competing — the contest is free for spectators. Call 808-667-6636 for more information.

DRUM ROLL: AND (LAST YEAR’S) WINNERS ARE…

Division 1 (K – 2nd grade)
1st             Santana Sebastian – Emmanuel Lutheran

Division 2 (3rd – 5th grade)
1st            Bryson Faafiti – Lihikai Elementary
2nd           Namaka Cosma White – Paia School

Division 3 (6th – 8th grade)
1st            Kaulike Pescaia – Kamehameha Schools
2nd           Johnathan You – Iao School
3rd            Kieran Clark – Sacred Hearts School
4th            Nick Ricca – Kalama Intermediate

Division 4 (9th – 12th grade)
1st            Mika Kane – Kamehameha Schools
2nd           Gabriel Goebbert – Maui High School
3rd            Ashley Toda – Seabury Hall School
4th            Max Becerra – Lahaina Intermediate School

Group Division
1st            Gabriel Goebbert & Austin Carvlho
2nd           Edward Juan, Shae Johnson-Eugenio & Johnathan LumLung
3rd            Shai Ibara, Kaiani Kiaha, Isaac Kala & Destinee Murray
4th            Makanahele Emmsley, Katie Marie Jacinto & Kamuel Dudoit

Plus, CLICK HERE to read a mauivents.com post about 2009′s winners!

Tickets on Sale: Citrus College Night Shift ensemble to play “Savor the Sunset” benefit for Lahaina Public Library renovation

(Thursday) July 14, 5:30-9pm, Royal Lahaina Resort, Kaanapali; $35 advance

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Supporting the Rotary Club of Lahaina’s campaign to renovate the Lahaina Public Library, the Citrus College Night Shift ensemble will headline the second annual “Savor the Sunset” benefit. The band’s notable director Robert Slack has toured professionally with Buddy Rich and Paul Anka, and performed with the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Celine Dion and Whitney Houston.

“Attracting the best young musicians in the nation and training them to become professional performers, (last year) the Citrus College group stole the show, help[ing] make it the party of the year, ” says newly elected Rotary Club of Lahaina president Eric van Ketel. He adds that their West side club committed to three years-worth of fundraising for their bookish cause. “This is a major effort for our Rotary to be spearheading and we are so gratified [by] the community’s response,” van Ketel says.

The renovation committee co-chair says their fundraising efforts will sponsor an ambitious initiative to give the interior of the library a much-needed facelift.

Event tickets have been kept modestly priced to encourage attendance and support, and the evening will feature wines from Better Brands, signature pupus from Royal Lahaina chefs, as well as a live and silent auction. Highlighting the auction will be an oil painting created for the occasion by plein air artist and gallery owner Jim Kingwell. Hawaiian music precedes the Citrus College performance.

Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Lahaina, Royal Lahaina Resort, Better Brands, and Citrus College. Tickets available through 5A Rent-A-Space (located at 3600 L. Honoapiilani Rd.; 808-669-5200) or at the Royal Lahaina Resort (808-661-3611 ext. 2348)  808-669-5200; rotaryclublahaina.org

(PS: If you can’t make it to the event, but would like to support the Rotary’s renovation of the Lahaina Public Library, you can write a check payable to Maui Friends of the Library for Lahaina Library. The Rotary Club of Lahaina is also seeking contributions of pre-selected building materials as well as professional contractor services.)

Photo Note: Personally, I’m on board with necessary interior renovation efforts to the Lahaina Public Library, but pray desperately that they don’t touch the exterior. The palate is old-school pistachio and just perfect.

GET THE DA KINE CALENDAR LISTING HERE!

Saturday (June 5), The Rainbow House, Ka’anapali, 5-10pm, $100 suggested donation

Ugh…“swank.” Overused, it’s fast becoming antiquated in my personal dictionary (its roots do go back nearly two centuries). Everything is swanky this, swanky that—so much so that things with real swagger garner a little less (insert onomatopoeia of choice) when the word is applied. So while still in search of a replacement term, I’ll stress that when we at MauiTime say “swank,” we mean it; and plans for the Plantation Jazz benefit for the Arts Education for Children Group (AECG) promise nothing but. The organization, “dedicated to improving the quality of education in our schools by restoring music programs,” scored with crackerjack community-organizer Matt Lane orchestrating Saturday’s event. To be held on the grounds of the multi-million dollar Rainbow House at Ka’anapali Coffee Farms, the event will feature the 17-piece big band The 1 O’clock Jazz Band from Montana State University, plus steel guitar master Henry Allen and other musical guests. Peruse art installations, informational booths, and play “Family Feud” with GameShow Fanatics. From the beverages and pupus by Chef Casey Piquet and Kona Red Coffee Fruit, to the panoramic views from the saline infinity pool, attendees will do good for our keiki and feel, well, swanky. 808-357-0920 / m_lane@hotmail.com

SPONSORSHIP PROVIDED BY: Ka’anapali Coffee Farms, Mana’o Radio and AECG

Wanna know just how bad-ass this Rainbow House venue is? I had a look at the spec-sheet (it’s for sale). Seeing as I don’t think the event lets you go inside, this may be as close as you get. Here’s the verbatim scoops:

Situated on 5.13 acres. / Approximately 3,600 sq ft of living space and 2,400 sq ft of lanais overlooking breathtaking panoramic views. / 3 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms. / One-story open floor plan perfect for island-style indoor/outdoor living. / Dramatic 18 foot vaulted cedar ceiling in the Great Room. / African mahogany, Jatoba (Brazilian cherry), granite and travertine finishes throughout house. / Master bedroom retreat with private lanais, wet bar and en suite bathroom with whirlpool tub and walk-in shower. / Gourmet custom kitchen. / State-of-the-art Media Room and home security system. / Furnished with an eclectic collection of pieces that enhance the plantation-inspired architecture. / Energy efficient solar photovoltaic system. / Saline infinity pool with spa and outdoor shower.

Drooling? Dreaming? See more at: http://www.kaanapalicoffeefarms.com/farms/rainbow_house.html

Early bird donors, revel in your awesomeness HERE.

medicineworld.com

Is she your best friend, biggest fan, psychologist, stockholder, cook, maid, or prison warden? I’ll bet she’s some combination of the above… and whether she microwaves frozen burritos or designs four course meals, continually warns you that your boyfriend is a closet flamer or shamelessly comes on to him, and calls once a year or clumsily texts multiple times a day, it all boils down to a simple fact: she’s your mom. And she loves you. Which is not easy to do. So appreciate one of the few people in the world who would do anything to make your life a little better, and take care of her for a change.

Maui’s Hotel Zone is a pampering paradise…Make reservations at the Hyatt Regency Maui Swan Court for a champagne brunch ($29-$39), then treat her to an organic body treatment at Spa Moana for $99. Or take her to Kaanapali Beach Hotel for a buffet brunch, champage, music and hula dancing – including an appearance by Melveen Leed – for $47, half price for children.

Or, if you aren’t morning people, take her out that evening to Leilani’s on the beach, where mom eats free with the purchase of two entrees. Also, on the eve of Mother’s Day, Melveen Leed of Moloka’i will perform for free at the Tiki Courtyard at Kaanapali Beach hotel from 6-9pm in honor of island mothers. Most importantly, tell your mom what I plan on telling mine – “Happy Mothers Day Mom, I Love You.” (And don’t worry, you can go right back to being ungrateful and bitter on the tenth.)

Image Src: Aloha-hawaii.com

Newly opened Duke’s Beach House in Ka’anapali, Maui, is Henry Kapono’s new home on Friday nights, beginning February 19th, 2010.  Kapono, “The Wild Hawaiian,” will perform from 4 to 5 PM at Duke’s Beach House, on the beach at Honua Kai Resort and Spa.  It’s guarenteed the Wild Hawaiian will perform February 19 and 26th, as well as March 5th, 12th, and 19th.  If all goes as planned, Kapono and Duke’s Beach house should become a regular friday night staple. Curious about the new restaurant? Read up on it at Jen Russo’s MAUIDISH blog. Call (808) 662-2900 for reservations.

Kapono is a Grammy-nominated singer/songwritter, and winner of the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards… listen to him yourself right here. By: Sierra Brown

The grand opening will continue on Jan. 30th, from 10 AM – 12 PM.  There will be free entertainment from Hana-based Leokane Pryor and his band Pohai Kealoha, and Roselani Haupia ice cream will be served. Yum… By: Sierra Brown