Source: Maui Time, Maui News, Best of Maui, Maui Activities

Picks%20of%20the%20Week

by Starr Begley

March 06, 2008

Haiku Ho‘olaule‘a and Flower Festival

Saturday (Mar. 8) 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at Haiku Community Center, 2830 Hana Highway

[EVENT] Haiku folks really know how to throw a party for a great cause–in this case, the kids of Haiku School, the Haiku Boys and Girls Club and the Haiku Community Association. This Saturday there will be a silent auction, with food and refreshments provided by Caf8E Des Ami, Consuelo’s Catering, Pauwela Caf8E, Ono Gelato, Fiesta Time and Mana Foods. There will also be “Mrs. Nakahashi’s famous bake sale,” a farmer’s market, flowers, floral design and lei contests, a “Made on Maui” arts and crafts show, community information booths (you can even register to vote!), keiki zone, book swap, Hawaii musicians and the Haiku Living Legacy Project . Also, the memoir by the late Louis Baldovi, Holoholo to Wen I Wuz: Kolohe Days in Haiku, Maui 1930s to 1950s, will be unveiled and on sale. For more information, www.haikumaui.org or email Daniellesears@gmail.com. [STARR BEGLEY]

San FranciscoMinistry of Sound

Thursday (Mar. 6) at 9 p.m. at Casanova, Makawao

[MUSIC] When I think of Spring Break, I think of booze, NHO’s at pool parties, boys without shirts and really good music. Basically, I visualize scenes from Girls Gone Wild. This year, Maui’s kicking off Spring Break 2008 a little differently with The San Francisco Ministry of Sound, featuring resident DJ Joey Mazzola of Club Ice. Mazola’s done shows in Detroit, San Francisco, Seattle, Cleveland, Chicago, Miami, Honolulu, Portland, Los Angeles, and Houston. He’ll team up with DJs Daniel J, Boomshot and JP from the Amphibeus Tungs for a night of superior hip-hop, funk, house and electro. www.myspace.com/joeymazzola

Friday Night Fever

Friday (Mar 7) 5-7:30 p.m. and beyond, Market & Vineyard Streets, Wailuku

[MUSIC/FOOD/ART] First Friday in Wailuku has been snowballing ever since it began several months ago. The biggie this month is a cameo by celebrity guest artist Mayor Charmaine Tavares, who will paint “something abstract” at Gallery Ha. I, for one, had no idea that the mayor painted. Even if she chokes, there’s still going to be lots of food and drink specials, street vendors, fine art work and entertainment. Down on the Requests end of Market Street, local band P.O.R.T.A.L and other DJs will play while the mellow blues-rock group Mojomana will set up by the Banyan tree. The Iao Theater always does something cool, too. And if for some ridiculous reason you can’t get your butt down to Main and Market that night, you can watch the festivities on www.wailukucam.com. Call 249-9710 for more info. [JESSICA ARMSTRONG]

Witching Hour

Friday (Mar 7), 10 p.m. at the Hard Rock Cafe, Lahaina

[MUSIC] Although Maui’s reggae scene isn’t hurting for performers, we’re still lucky to have The Virgin Island’s Midnight stopping by to deliver their minimalist brand of conscious roots music to our little local venue. Whenever they tour they draw a massive crowd loyal to their authentic reggae vibes and lyrics. Maybe that’s because in a time when much reggae is over-dubbed, sound-processed and polished, these guys bring a raw, old school sound with hypnotic rhythms and intelligent lyrics that stand on their own without a lot of refining. Or maybe it’s because they’re known for putting on epic shows with really long, non-stop sets and heavy bass lines. Front man Vaughn Benjamin has an edgy vocal style that seems fresh and reminiscent of the great reggae artists of old. Either way, these guys will bring the house down. Tickets:$30. 667-7400. [JA]

Cho-larious

Saturday (Mar. 8), 7:30 p.m.at the Castle Theater, MACC

[COMEDY] I don’t know why we in Hawai`i seem to identify with Margaret Cho so much. Maybe it’s because she grew up in San Francisco, which is, according to Cho, a melting pot of “hippies, ex-druggies, burnouts from the 60s, drag queens and Chinese people.” Just like Hawai`i, though I think we have less drag queens. On this tour, Cho returns to her stand-up roots. “I want to explore the nature of beauty,” she said. “What is funny and scary about it; why we often don’t feel beautiful because our society’s standards are so rigid and unattainable.” Only Cho could turn something so serious-sounding into a laughing matter. Tickets:$47, $37, $27. 242-7469.