Lahaina hosts festival to celebrate canoes

Lahaina is home to canoe masters from Hawaii, the Cook Islands, New Zealand, Tahiti, Tonga and the Marshall Islands this month.

The "In Celebration of Canoes" festival kicked off yesterday with an awa ceremony and continues today with carving of canoes at Kamehameha Iki Park from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The canoe carving also takes place 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, moving to Banyan Tree Park Wednesday and running daily through May 24.

The fest culminates with a 6 p.m. May 23 Parade of Canoes along Front Street, from Lahaina Center to Kamehameha Iki Park, followed by a 7-10 p.m. concert starring the Sons of Hawai'i and Brother Noland at Lahaina Harbor Point.

Then ,at 6 p.m. on May 24, there will be a ceremonial launch of canoes at Kamehameha Iki Park, with a ho'olaule'a featuring island food, canoe display, Hawaiian crafts, music and dance to 10 p.m.

For more details, call the LahainaTown Action Committee at 808-667-9175 or go online at www.MauiCanoeFest.com

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