David Wolfberg

This Saturday, Donovan McNab, the owner of the Lahaina Skate Company, is organizing a Grand Opening with several sponsors–one that kids can attend without ditching school.

The concrete park was designed by Gridline Skateparks, an industry leader that’s already built more than 100 skateparks around the world.

The event starts at 4pm and will go till 9pm with food and drink, music, prizes and giveaways. Oh yeah, and lots of skateboarding.

]]> http://mauivents.com/maui-events/west-maui-skate-park-grand-opening-party/feed/ 0 http://mauivents.com/maui-events/maui-community/lahaina-second-friday-and-the-2nd-annual-lahaina-front-street-jazz-and-blues-walk-2012/ http://mauivents.com/maui-events/maui-community/lahaina-second-friday-and-the-2nd-annual-lahaina-front-street-jazz-and-blues-walk-2012/#comments Thu, 12 Apr 2012 21:46:55 +0000 Anu Yagi http://mauivents.com/?p=8372

LAHAINA SECOND FRIDAY AND THE

2ND ANNUAL LAHAINA FRONT STREET

JAZZ AND BLUES WALK

FRI., APR. 13 – At this month’s Lahaina Second Friday, a weekend of live jazz kicks-off at Campbell Park–first with Phil Smith & The Gentlemen of Jazz (5-7pm) followed by Brian Mansano (7-8pm)–as part of Lahaina Town Action Committee’s ongoing “Music Series in the Park!” Also along Front Street, catch the Hot Club of Hulaville (Pioneer Inn; 6-9pm)–a group from Oahu that just earned another Na Hoku Hanohano nom–and Uncle Louie Williams & All That Jazz (Wharf Cinema Center; 4-8pm). Other highlights include a Hawaiian blessing by  cast members of ‘Ulalena (at the seawall across from Longhi’s), plus performances by Marion Meadows, Paul Taylor, Jenny Kerr, Kelly Covington and David Choy with Slam.  Art Night offerings feature wine and pupus art various galleries, as well as artist demonstrations. Also, as part of the “Ha’ina Hou!” (Let the Story be Told!) educational series, Ke’eaumoku Kapu lectures on Hawaiian warfare and weaponry (Baldwin Home lawn; 7:30pm) and Dr. Busaba Yip-Douglason shares the story of Sun Yat Sen, the first President of the Republic of China, and his remarkable connection to Hawaii (Wo Hing Temple Museum; 6:30pm). Of course, no town party would be complete without ono grinds, and local groups like Waiola Church, Kula Kai ‘apuni Na Kekaulike (sponsored by Kimo’s), the Boys and Girls Club of Maui’s Lahaina Club (sponsored by Leilani’s), the Soroptimists of Lahaina and Lahaina Canoe Club all host food booths. Free. 4-9pm. Lahaina Town; mauifridays.com

MEET THE AUTHOR OF SMALL ISLAND’S “STEAMY ACTION AND HARD-BOILED SUSPENSE”!

SAT. DEC. 17 – Anthony Pignataro, investigative reporter. You know might know him as the guy who edits MauiTime (you know, the newspaper you’re now reading–er, for you online readers, the web semblance of our print edition), but did you know he also writes books? Yeppers. If you love him–or hate him–the best date n’ place to meet him in person is today at Barnes & Noble, where he’ll be autographing copies of his new novel Small Island. Pignataro says Small Island is an “old-timey noirish tale of intrigue, violence and sex” which was inspired by the “personalities, places and events encountered while living on Maui.” OK, while you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, its first line certainly says a lot: “You know she used to be a porn star or something.” Intrigued? You should be. 2-4pm. Barnes & Noble (Lahaina Gateway, 205 Keawe St.); anthony@mauitime.com

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Seeing as this is Boss’s first Small Island book signing, there aren’t any video references yet. But I imagine it will be just like this:

THIS WEEK’S PICKS:

PLANTATION DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN

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THU., OCT., 20 – The Lahaina Restoration Foundation’s third annual Lahaina Plantation Days kicks off with a screening of Great Grandfather’s Drum, “an inspiring, century-long story” that follows Maui Taiko drum ensemble’s “journey back to rural Japan to seek their ancestral roots,” and celebrates Japanese-American culture in Hawaii, “unlock[ing] the door to a colorful culture that’s unique to Hawaii, a world seldom seen by people outside the community.” The event continues on Fri. and Sat. (5-10pm, Oct. 21 & 22), paying tribute to West Maui’s rich plantation heritage with historical displays and exhibits, restaurant food booths, a beer tent, kid zone, and live entertainment. $3 general / free for keiki five-years-old and younger / $5 three-day pass. 6:30-8:30pm. Pioneer Mill Co. smokestack (275 Lahainaluna Rd., Lahaina); 808-661-3262; lahainarestoration.org
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Delicious wine, amazing food, and good company. This month’s theme is astrologically playful, come exchange notes with the believers and skeptics.

They will have someone airbrushing tattoos for a new twist on their art element: temporary skin art. Excite your senses at I’o tonight! $35, no reservation needed.

Call 661-8422 for more info.

THIS WEEK’S PICKS: SEA HUGGERS

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LECTURES: TUESDAYS, OCTOBER 11-25. The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary launches another three-week series of “Ocean Awareness” lectures to help us properly educate visitors (and ourselves) about Hawaii’s unique marine environment. 6-8pm. Lahaina Civic Center (1840 Honoapiilani Hwy., Lahaina); register online (oceanawarehawaii.org) or call 879-2818 ext. 22

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RELATED EVENTS

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10TH SEMI-ANNUAL MAIN HAWAIIAN ISLANDS MONK SEAL COUNT TRAINING: THU., OCT. 13 – Includes a longer presentation on Hawaiian monk seals especiall for OAT attendees.

WATER QUALITY MONITORING COMMUNITY WORKSHOP: THU., OCT. 27 – Learn about water quality and how you can get involved in local efforts; from instructors Robin Knox, Ka’au Abraham, Robyn Walters and Liz Foote. Free. 6-8pm.

VOLUNTEER NETWORKING POTLUCK: SAT., OCT. 29 – Break bread with your fellow sea-huggin’ volunteers. Free. 9am-12pm. Kahekili Beach Park (65 Kai Ala Dr., Lahaina)

HERBIVORE ENHANCEMENT AREA VOLUNTEER SURVEY TRAINING:  TUE., NOV. 1 – Learn how you can help collect valuable data to support the Division of Aquatic Resources and the Kahekili Herbivore Fisheries Managment Area. This workshop also includes an overview/tutorial of the Coral Reef Monitoring Data Portal (where you can input and share your data). Lead by instructors Darla White and Liz Foote. Free. 6-8pm.

OUTREACH VOLUNTEER TRAINING: WED., NOV. 2 – Learn how you can get involved in local efforts across Maui (focused on West Maui, but with an eye toward efforts within hotels in South Maui). Lead by instructors Luna Kekoa, Donna Brow and Liz Foote. Free. 6-8pm.

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MORE ABOUT THE LECTURES…HELPING HANDS FOR HUMPBACK WHALES

<<< by Micki Ream (education and outreach specialist) >>>

Have you ever experienced that growing feeling of frustration as the knot you are trying to untangle tightens despite your best efforts? Now imagine the added pressure that comes when working to disentangle a 40-ton, free swimming marine mammal.

“The whales may not know you are there to help them, and react on instinct if they feel threatened,” said Ed Lyman, marine mammal response manager for Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. “A frightened whale can cause pretty serious damage with a thrashing fluke or pectoral flipper. It can be quite dangerous for any rescue team, as well as for the entangled animal.”

Lyman will share his experiences with humpback whales and some of over 65 on-water large whale disentanglement efforts at the Lahaina Civic Center on October 11 at 6 p.m. His talk is part of a free Ocean Awareness Training series that is presented twice each year.

Entanglement is one of the primary threats to humpback whales today. The sanctuary, a network of partner agencies, non-government organizations, and the public all work together to provide a safe and authorized response to entangled large whales. The goal is not only to free them, but also to gain valuable information to help reduce the threat of entanglement in the future.

Lyman has been instrumental in helping to establish this vital conservation network, but he is quick to stress the importance of ocean user community.

“Ocean users are the foundation of the effort.  They are the ones that locate the distressed animal and then assist by providing initial documentation and assessment on the animal and the entanglement,” Lyman said. “Ocean users can typically monitor the animal from a safe distance prior to a trained, appropriately equipped response team’s arrival.”

The community-based Large Whale Entanglement Response Network in the main Hawaiian Islands has removed enough lines and other debris from whales statewide since 2002 to stretch more than 22 football fields.

The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary organizes Ocean Awareness Training two times each year and provides the classes free to the community. Lyman’s presentation kicks off this fall’s training and covers humpback whales, background on the threat of entanglement, what is currently being done, and how you can help.

In all, there will be three class lectures and four community action workshops in the series. Participants may attend one or all of the sessions. Each session is designed to provide resources for anyone serving in a water activity business, for those interested in learning about our marine environment or for people wanting to volunteer in the community. 

Additional lectures include “Dolphin Behaviors” and “Reef Fish Ecology” on Tuesday, October 18, then “Blue Whales and Sperm Whales” on Tuesday, October 25. Community action workshops include “Joining a Monk Seal Count” on Thursday, October 13, “Water Quality Monitoring” on Thursday, October 27, “Understanding Maui’s Herbivore Enhancement Area” on Tuesday November 1 and “Volunteering 101” on Wednesday, November 2. All sessions begin at 6 p.m. and end by 8 p.m. There will also be a “Volunteer Networking Potluck” on Saturday October 29 at Kahekili Beach Park from 9 a.m. to noon.

Instructors are from the University of Hawaii Maui College, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the state Department of Land & Natural Resources, Pacific Whale Foundation, Digital Bus and other community organizations.

MORE ABOUT THE LECTURES… HAWAII’S DOLPHINS AND REEF FISH

<<< by Robyn Walters (sanctuary volunteer) >>>

The humpback whales are just now returning to Maui, but that’s not all to see on the water. Our dolphins, fish and reefs provide abundant opportunities all year round for wildlife watching.

Learn more about what dolphins do, where they are seen and about the many fish that inhabit your favorite snorkel and dive spots as part of Ocean Awareness Training, a series of classes provided by the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.

The public is invited Tuesday, October 18th, at the Lahaina Civic Center from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. to presentations by local instructors from Pacific Whale Foundation, University of Hawaii – Maui College and the Digital Bus.

Dr. Daniela Maldini, Pacific Whale Foundation Chief Scientist, will discuss findings of her research into dolphin behavior. Her passion for marine mammals, marine birds, coral reefs, sharks and rays derives from her New Zealand and Italian seafaring family history and her childhood exploration along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea.

Dr. Maldini, who earned her PhD in Zoology at UH Manoa, says, “You will find me in the field, where I am most at ease, working on the behavioral ecology, predator-prey relationships, and behavioral conservation biology of Hawaiian marine life.” She will talk about our Hawaiian dolphins and why they are important but often unnoticed.

Following that, Donna Brown, Coordinator for the Marine Option Program at University of Hawaii – Maui College and an avid research diver and fish watcher, will team up with John Mitchell, Education Director of the Digital Bus to explore reef fish behavior, identification and ecology.

“Fish are busy animals. They all have their own personalities and jobs on the reef,” said Brown. “We will answer questions such as how fish eat while avoiding being eaten in a fish-eat-fish world.”
Mitchell will incorporate how fish attract mates and some of their mating strategies. His organization, Digital Bus, promotes science, technology, engineering, and mathematics careers among Hawaii’s youth. Families and students are encouraged to attend.

Each session is designed to provide resources for anyone serving in a water activity business, interested in learning about our marine environment or wanting to volunteer in the community.

The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary organizes Ocean Awareness Training two times each year and provides the classes free to the community. The dolphin and reef fish program is the second in this fall’s series that promotes public awareness of our ocean and provides opportunities to help our environment and wildlife.

This Week’s Picks: “Home Bon”

Friday & Saturday (July 29 & 30), 7pm service/8pm dance, Wailuku Hongwanji Misson; free

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Planets in orbit. Ripples in water. Bon dancing. Proof positive that concentric circles are the coolest. If you’ve never participated in a bon dance, fret not — there’s no need to bone-up with dance step diagrams. Simply squeeze yourself into the rings around the yagura (i.e. the towering bandstand centerpiece), keep your eyes locked on da kimono-clad aunties, and follow along. Oh, and remember to grab a tenugui (towel) at the entrance — not only as a sweet festival memento — but so you can twirl it in time during songs like “Yagi Bushi.” If you’re like me, you’ll (finally) find your rhythm right around the time each song ends. But, you’ll have a blast and get a belly full of laughs (at yourself). Speaking of full bellies, the whole obon shebang stems from the story of Mokuren the monk and his passed-on mom — who was relegated to The Realm of Hungry Ghosts; hence ono obon offerings at altars and in graveyards. Naturally, every festival features mean kine grinds for the living, too. These seasonal festivals are almost at their end, so (in addition to this weekend in Wailuku) here’s a list of your remaining chances to get out your getas and hop into your hapi coats:  (Saturday) August 6, 6:30/7:30pm, Kula Shingon Mission; (Friday & Saturday) August 12 & 13, 6/7pm, Lahaina Hongwanji Mission; (Saturday) August 20, 6/7pm, Paia Rinzai Zen Mission.

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MORE MUSINGS:

“Keeping your eyes locked on da kimono-clad aunties” amidst concentric circle line dancing is kind of a pain in the neck. Literally. But because I promise it hurts so good, what I’m really here to discuss is whether or not the word’s “kink” or “crick.” Some are flexible in this lexical discussion, saying “kink” vs. “crick” is a matter of locale. But I want a definitive definition once and for all! So, dear readers, what do you think?

This Week’s Picks: It’s Electric! (Boogie Woogie Woogie)

(Friday) July 8, 9pm-3am, The Underground, Lahaina; $15 general/$20 VIP

by Anu Yagi

The UNITY Summer Electronic Music Massive is slated to be 2011′s biggest electronic music hui, featuring the isle’s most notable names and best on-isle sound systems. So if you’ve gotta feel it pumpin’ like a matic, boogie woogie your way down to the West side’s The Underground—the isle’s only, drug-and alcohol-free all-ages party place. If there’s house music anywhere in the shadow of the House of the Sun, DJ Del Sol (LoveHouse) and DJ CIA (Suck My Beat) are certainly its instigators. Professors of the perfect playlist, their residencies include Wednesday nights at Ambrosia. Plus, Fxxx Rogers (Fuzz Box) will be on hand to spoon feed deliciousness into your “earholes,” as will Honolulu’s famed DJ Rayne (IOS Productions). And though Dublin Crew is new blood ’round these parts, they’ve come out swinging by getting jungle parties a-jigglin’. If that’s not enough, Team Awesome heads the decorating committee with Fuzz Box manning visuals plus live art by Taryn Alessandro. And to keep you hoppin’ the whole night through, the Smart Bar will feature the innovative, antioxidant rich—and locally made—magic elixir, Kona Red. Some say it’s mystic, so don’t bother resisting it. Just go.

[Photo: DJ Del Sol by Sean Michael Hower]

This Week’s Picks: Still Celebratin’

(Friday) July 15, 8-10pm, I’o on the Beach, Lahania; $35

by Jen Russo

Independence Day is over but we can still celebrate our feisty freedom at Lahaina’s best monthly cocktail party, hosted by I’o. Here’s to liberty to set your social meter where you dare, and the freedom to share it with inventive menu items, pupus and wine. The Rissoto action station is a festive place to gather round, with wine in hand, and beer will be a surprising twist in this wine club party. Thirty five bucks American gets you in for the evening from 8 to 10pm, and as usual all you last minute peeps are welcome—no reservations are necessary. Call 808-661-8422 for more info.