Lahaina gets into holiday mood with festival

Advertiser Staff

LAHAINA, Maui — A daylong holiday celebration Saturday in Lahaina will reach its climax with the lighting of the historic town's 128-year-old banyan tree.

The tree is being adorned with 3,500 colored lights donated by Lahaina merchants, who also purchased battery-operated lights and wreaths for the town's street lamps.

A Festival of Arts & Flowers will run from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Banyan Tree Park, with the tree lighting set for 6:30 p.m. Local artists and crafters will offer items for sale, and members of the Maui Flower Growers Association will sell fresh flower arrangements. Entertainment will be provided throughout the day by O Kula, Keoki Kahumoku, Na Kupuna Serenaders, the Lahaina Baptist Church Choir and Pohaikealoha Hula Studio.

The Maui Flower Growers Association will be decorating the Old Lahaina Courthouse, home to the Lahaina Visitor Center and the Lahaina Arts Society, with fresh greenery and flowers for the holidays. Activities for kids at the courthouse Saturday include Santa's Workshop, with a cookie-decorating center open from 5 to 8 p.m., and holiday ornament and card making from noon to 4 p.m.

Santa will arrive at The Wharf Cinema Center across from the park at 6:45 p.m. to take free photos, courtesy of Wolf Camera, and hand out goodies. New to this year's Lahaina holiday celebration are free hay rides from 6 to 8 p.m.

Sponsors are the Maui Visitors Bureau, the Maui Flower Growers Association and Lahaina Town Action Committee.

For details call the committee's event hot line at (808) 667-9194 or the Lahaina Visitor Center at (808) 667-9193.