Ha‘ikū Ho’olaule’a and Flower Festival
The 25th annual Ha’iku Ho’olaule’a and Flower Festival will be ground zero at Haiku Elementary School on April 14 for ono food, live music, entertainment and just plain fun for young and old alike.
Saturday, April 14, 2018
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Ha‘ikū Elementary School
Admission will be free to the event from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. that draws an estimated 7,000 people annually, according to event organizers.
Visitors attending local festivals get a chance to engage with the rhythm of Maui living in a way that paid activities can’t provide. Get to know what it’s like living in an island paradise, see the island traditions, ways and local style. It’s so well worth attending a local event and Ha‘ikū (pronounced high-koo) is such a magical town!
Planned as a “colorful, unique, family-friendly community celebration,” the event also will feature art, keiki games and activities and “tents overflowing with brilliant tropical blooms and plants of every description.” One of Maui’s largest silent auctions will be staged in the school buildings and grounds, and there will be a bake sale and restaurant row with some of Maui’s favorite restaurants.
Also being featured will be a Haiku history “pop-up museum” in the school library. It will have a new display revealing the story of Haiku’s internment camp.
The Maui community and visitors alike are invited to spend the day, bring their families and lawn chairs and join the Ha‘ikū community to enjoy fabulous live entertainment, culinary delights from local restaurants and the Ha‘ikū PTA, the famous Haiku bake sale, one of the largest silent auctions on Maui, floral design and lei-making contests, a Ha‘ikū historical display, an artisan marketplace, plenty of activities for Keiki and much more.
The event will have a new interactive Keiki Zone with games and activities and the addition of Digital Bus Maui, a Mobile Science & Technology Education Laboratory, offering the keiki hands-on educational adventures.
Haiku is a small, close-knit, unique, Upcountry town that really cares about its keiki,”Gagne said. “The founding committee wanted to create an event that celebrated Haiku as a destination and as a community, and to showcase its wealth of history, culture and community.”
Scheduled musical acts include Dr. Nat and Rio Ritmo; singer/songwriter Terri Garrison (fresh from opening for Willie Nelson); ‘Ulalena star Nara Boone; the Maui Samba Band; the King Kekaulike Jazz Band; The Troublemakers; the Kalama Ukulele Band; Jay Auweloa; Maui Ohana Band; and Jarrett Roback Trio. Haiku resident Tim Wolfe will be the event master of ceremonies.
Also, the late falsetto master Uncle Richard Ho’opi’i will be honored. He performed every year at the Ho’olaule’a. And there will be a tribute to the late David Florence, who chaired the event in 1997 and created a magical train ride for keiki.
Event Features
Live Entertainment
Our community celebration brings together Maui’s most talented performers with live music all day on the main stage, and special performances on the keiki stage.
Restaurant Row
We have restaurants and food trucks from across Maui coming to serve their most popular dishes.
Silent Auction
Maui’s largest silent auction brings you great deals on items and gift certificates, while you support the keiki of Haiku.
Artisan Marketplace
The Ha`iku Ho’olaule’a offers made-on-Maui arts and crafts from our local artisans.
Flower & Plant Growers Market
Get ready to buy fresh flowers, plants, produce and value-added products from local Flower and Plant Growers!
Keiki Zone
Keiki Zone has child friendly activities, carnival games, face-painting, and much more!
Community Living
The community living tent, hosted by the Haiku Community Association, lets you meet many community groups and local businesses active on Maui.
Another popular draw is the Ha’iku Community Association Community Living Tent, sponsored by Ha’iku Mill. Visitors will be treated to free hands-on activities like making haku lei with the Native Hawaiian Plant Society and painting coconuts for Malamalama Maui’s Maka o Ka ‘Aina (“Eyes of the Earth”) community art project.
Visitors to the community living tent also may register to vote, catch up on local issues at the community association booth, learn about local equestrian activities, check out free pet spay-and-neuter programs, and see how to combat invasive species and prepare for emergency response to natural disasters.
Event sponsors include Mana Foods, the Aloha ‘Aina Center of Ha’iku, Alexander & Baldwin, Savitt Family Foundation, Family and Friends of Agriculture, County Council Member Elle Cochran, Maui Tempe Co. and the King Kekaulike Culinary Academy. All of those sponsors are donating 100 percent of their food booth profits to the event. Many other supporting sponsors will be honored on the day of the event.
The Ha’iku Ho’olaule’a started 25 years ago as a way to raise funds for Haiku Elementary School beyond what is budgeted for it by the state Department of Education. Because of community fundraising, the school has been able to supplement costs for field trips, equipment and classroom supplies and offer programs in art, music, drama, creative movement, science, technology, engineering, math, physical education and gardening.
The Spring School Bazaar has long been a fundraiser for the school, but 25 years ago, school parents Mike Gagne and the late Ed Silverstein came up with the idea of holding a second, larger Haiku community event to help raise money for the school.
They turned to the Ha’iku Community Association and the then recently formed Boys and Girls Club of Ha’iku for support and created the hoolaulea and flower festival.
Parking for the event will be available for $5 across Hana Highway from the Haiku Community Center. Visitors also may park and enter the event via the community center grounds.
For more information, visit www.haikuhoolaulea.org.
Looking for more Maui vacation ideas? Lots of things to see and do,
come on over and visit our Local Maui Guide or Maui Events Calendar!
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