LahainaTown Action Committee produces ten major events annually in addition to ongoing promotions and festivals, which showcase the diverse cultural aspects of the town of Lahaina.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY
CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATION – The Year of the Rooster:
Friday, February 11 and Saturday, February 12, 2005
LahainaTown welcomes the lunar New Year with colorful and exciting lion dances on Front Street. On Friday, February 11 in the evening, the lions parade through town visiting shops. On the following evening, February 12, the 800 block of Front Street is closed to vehicle traffic for a street festival that begins with a Chinese martial arts demonstration, followed by live music with traditional drums, gongs and cymbals, and firecrackers. Enjoy booths with food, children’s crafts, calligraphy drawing, Chinese massage and more. Free admission; 6 to 9pm. Click for more info!

MARCH
OCEAN ARTS FESTIVAL:
Saturday & Sunday, March 12 & 13, 2005
Lahaina celebrates the annual migration of Pacific Humpback Whales with an Ocean Arts Festival in Banyan Tree Park. Artists display their best ocean-themed art for sale, Hawaiian musicians and hula troupes entertain. Enjoy marine-related activities, games and a Creature Feature touch pool exhibit for children. Free admission; 9am to 5pm.

APRIL
BANYAN TREE BIRTHDAY PARTY:
Saturday & Sunday, April 23 & 24, 2005
Honoring the 132nd birthday (April 24, 1873) of LahainaTown's famous landmark, the Banyan Tree, this fete includes a birthday cake, artists displaying nature artworks, plus hands-on art activities for children. Admission is free; 9am to 5pm.

MAY
INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF CANOES:
May 14-29, 2005
"Maui's Signature Cultural Heritage Event"
Master Carvers from nations across the Pacific come together with carvers from Hawai`i to create real canoes from wood logs during this two-week event in Lahaina, held daily 9am-5pm (at two parks on Front Street). Each nation is welcomed in a traditional `awa ceremony at Kamehameha Iki beach park (May 14). Enjoy demos of old-style surfboard, drum making, Hawaiian house thatching, cultural arts lessons, and a crafts fair daily in Banyan Tree Park. On Friday (May 27), see the Parade of Canoes along Front St. at 6pm. Watch the ceremonial launch of completed canoes at 6pm on Saturday (May 28), followed by an island food and music festival at Kamehameha Iki Beach Park. An ocean procession to welcome canoes home concludes May 29. Free admission to most events.
See www.MauiCanoeFest.com

JUNE
KAMEHAMEHA CELEBRATION and HO‘OLAULE‘A:
Saturday, June 18, 2005
A colorful floral parade through LahainaTown at 10am features Pa'u riders on horses decorated with exotic island flowers representing each island, marching bands, floats and more, all honoring King Kamehameha the Great. An awards ceremony and festival take place at Banyan Tree Park with food, crafters and Hawaiian entertainment. Free admission; 9am to 5pm.

JULY
OLD-FASHIONED FOURTH OF JULY:
Monday, July 4, 2005
Come to Historic LahainaTown and enjoy the many oceanfront restaurants and retail shops for an old-fashioned Independence Day celebration with fireworks lighting the night sky over Lahaina’s roadstead. Free! Fireworks show at 8 pm.

SEPTEMBER
MAUI CHEFS PRESENT THE WORLD’S FARE
Friday, September 2, 2005
13th annual Maui food-lovers’ tradition, which spotlights twelve of the island’s most innovative chefs at an elegant themed dinner and cocktail party under the stars at an oceanfront location. Paid admission of $125.00 includes an evening of gourmet food, wine, open bar, valet service, entertainment and silent auction. Benefits Maui community groups. Limited to 800 guests; 6:30 to 10 pm.

Click HERE to purchase tickets online.

A TASTE OF LAHAINA & THE BEST OF ISLAND MUSIC:
Friday & Saturday, September 9 & 10, 20054
Maui’s largest culinary festival celebrates 14 years. The event showcases new and popular restaurants in Maui County offering “tastes” of signature dishes. Features include a beer and wine garden, country store, kids’ fun area, 25 restaurant tents and continuous live entertainment on stage with Hawaii’s current and legendary musicians. Benefits Maui youth groups. Admission is $5; kids 12 and under are free. Lahaina Recreation Park II behind the soccer field; 5 to 10 pm.

OCTOBER
ALOHA FESTIVALS HO'OLAULE'A:
Saturday, September 17, 2005
This all-day festival, which culminates the end of Maui island’s Aloha Festivals, is held at Banyan Tree Park and features Maui’s Royal Court, Hawaiian food, music and dance, along with arts and crafts on display and for sale. Free admission; 9am to 5pm. For more details, call (808) 870-8047 or see alohafestivals.com.

HALLOWEEN IN LAHAINA:
Monday, October 31, 2005
The Legend of Halloween, celebrated since 1990, is more than just a night on the town in costume! Over 30,000 revelers come to Front Street on Halloween night, which is closed to vehicle traffic from 3pm to midnight. Annual children's costume parade down Front Street at 5:00 pm kicks-off the evening. Other features are crafters, activities and food booths, live music and dancing. LahainaTown sponsors The Maui Tacos Halloween Costume Contest in Banyan Tree Park that begins at 7pm. Restaurants and retail merchants offer costume contests throughout the evening. Shopping centers feature Haunted Houses for kids during the week.

DECEMBER
HOLIDAY LIGHTING OF THE BANYAN TREE:
Saturday, December 3 & Sunday December 4, 2005
At 6:30pm Saturday, Dec. 4, Lahaina’s historic Banyan Tree is lit up with thousands of Christmas lights for the entire holiday season. Santa Claus makes an appearance and choirs sing Christmas carols accompanied by hula. Kids are invited to play in the snow at the “snow zone” while parents can take family photos with a Hawaiian snowman. Enjoy a holiday arts and crafts fair beginning at 11 am, as well as Hawaiian musical entertainment. Indoors, the Old Lahaina Courthouse is decorated with tropical flowers, and a cookie decorating workshop is held for kids. Saturday: 11 am to 7pm. Sunday: 9 am to 5 pm Craft fair and music only. Free admission.

ONGOING:
HE U'I CULTURAL ARTS FESTIVAL:
Varied weekend schedule
A gathering of Hawaiian artists and crafters display, sell, and demonstrate cultural arts and crafts under the Banyan Tree in Lahaina. Saturdays & Sundays from 9am to 5pm. Live Hawaiian music is featured all day. Something special for the whole family to enjoy; free admission.

FRIDAY NIGHT IS ART NIGHT:
Every Friday Evening, Year-round
Stroll through dozens of art galleries in LahainaTown each Friday from 7 to 10 pm for special gallery shows, featured artists-in-action, and refreshments, all free and open to the public! Lahaina has earned its nick-name of "The Art Capital of the Pacific," due to more art galleries per capita than any other American town. A walking map of participating galleries is available in Lahaina Visitor Center.

STOP BY THE LAHAINA VISITOR CENTER:
Open Daily from 9am to 5pm
This information center and retail shop is staffed by volunteers from the community, and is located on the ground floor of the Old Lahaina Courthouse at Banyan Tree Park. Managed by LahainaTown Action Committee, its purpose is to provide free, friendly and unbiased information to visitors and others seeking cultural, historical or current knowledge about Lahaina and old LahainaTown.
Direct phone is 808-667-9193.