A benefit for Ha‘iku youth.What better way to spend a lovely Maui day than at an Upcountry flower festival. The annual Ha‘iku Ho‘olaule‘a and Flower Festival fundraiser will be held Saturday, March 8, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Ha‘iku Community Center on Hana Highway in Ha‘iku. This popular event is a yearly attraction where community members and island visitors can enjoy live entertainment, a Ha‘iku history display, great food, a bake sale, silent auction, arts and crafts, plants and produce, and flowers and fun for the whole family.
Entertainers at this year’s event include: Hui Lanikila Halau; Mapenzi Marimba; Garrett Probst & Peter D’Aquino; The Ukulele Boys, who performed on the Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key CD, a Hawaiian Music Grammy Award-winner for three consecutive years; The Gina Martinelli Band; The Jerry Caires Band; Marty Dread; and Mantokuji Taiko Drum.
The food booths will showcase some of the island’s best restaurants and caterers: Mama’s Fish House, Fiesta Time, Mana Foods, Cafe Des Amis, Pauwela Cafe and Consuelo’s Catering. Menu items include fruit smoothies, coffee and espresso drinks, hamburgers, French fries, chili cheese fries, hot dogs, chili and rice, kalua pork plates, chicken Caesar salad, Mana Foods wraps, enchilada plates, chimichanga plates, chow fun and soup. Ha‘iku Boys & Girls Club will provide beverages.
There is something for everyone at the festival—activities are geared towards all ages. Keiki will love the games, book swap, mini golf and the jumping castles. Free activities include a floral design contest, lei contest and various art activities.
A silent auction will include a variety of wonderful items from which to choose, including specialty gift baskets created by each grade. The Ha‘iku School Produce Market will offer a bounty of plants and cut flowers for sale, and Mrs. Nakahashi’s delicious Bake Sale will provide sweet tempting treats.
Proceeds from the silent auction, produce market and bake sale will benefit Ha‘iku Elementary School. This is the main fundraising event for the school, Ha‘iku Boys and Girls Club and Ha‘iku Community Association. Money raised goes towards programs for local youth education enrichment and activities.
The vendor booths feature “Made on Maui” arts and crafts with jewelry, clothing, original artwork and “special find” items by local artists. There are also numerous farmers’ market booths, where you can find unique plants, flowers and local produce at reasonable prices. These usually sell out quickly, so shop early for your favorite fresh items.
Everyone will enjoy the expanded Ha‘iku Living Legacy Historical Display, which includes photographs and memorabilia from Ha‘iku’s early days, as well as a new book, Holoholo to Wen I Wuz—Kolohe Days, Ha‘iku, Maui, 1930s–1950, the memoirs of Louis Baldovi. Learn about life “back in the day” at the Kupuna Talk Story from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., part of the Ha‘iku living legacy project. During this time, residents may donate historic photos and memorabilia for the Ha‘iku Historical Display, to be shared with the community. (Donations may also be submitted to be copied and returned.)
Community information booths from local nonprofits will also be on hand with information.
If you would like to donate to the Ha‘iku School Produce Market, bake sale or silent auction (donations are tax-deductible), call 575-3004 to arrange pick up or delivery.
Event sponsors and contributors include Goodfellow Brothers, Alexander & Baldwin, Dowling Foundation, Dorvin Leis, Monika Riker of Wells Fargo, Kula Produce, All Star Produce, Love’s Bakery, Ha‘iku Grocery, Hanzawa’s, Fukushima’s, Pukalani Superette, Hana Hou Cafe, Veg Out, Pa‘ia Fish Market, Mana Foods, Flat Bread Pizza, Makawao Steak House, Tiffany’s Salsa, Cafe Des Amis, Pauwela Cafe, Consuelo’s Catering, Mama’s Fish House, Milagro’s Food Co., Maui Electric Company and Haleakala Times.
Admission and parking are free; parking will be located at the top of Pilialoha Street, next to the Community Center.
For more information on the event or vendors, visit http://haiku.hidoe.us.