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Parade on Big Isle

The 28th annual Aloha Festivals Paniolo Parade will begin at 10 a.m. Sept. 20 in Waimea on the Big Island.

The parade will begin near "church row" and wind its way through town to Waimea Park for the annual hoolaulea at the park, with music, crafts, food and dance.

Parker Ranch Tours will be on hand with many of their activity offerings and signature items from the Parker Ranch Store, which celebrates its first birthday Saturday. Visitors can also purchase tickets for many of the activities available at the ranch such as tours of the Historic Homes & Gardens, Cowboys of Hawaii horseback rides, Kohala Carriages wagon rides and more.

Parker Ranch Center Food Court will host the 10th Annual Paniolo Hat Lei Contest. Judges will choose a winner from dozens of colorful entries in this much-anticipated competition. Entries will be on display at 2 p.m. following the parade.

The 2003 Aloha Festivals mark 57 years of celebrations of Hawaii's music, dance, art, food and history with hundreds of events statewide. This year's theme is "Hula Lives Through Its People."

Aloha Festivals collector ribbons will be available at the Parker Ranch Store, Parker Ranch Historic Homes and also at Alapaki's, Keauhou Shopping Center in Keauhou, Cook's Discoveries in Waimea and U'i Design Co. in Kona. For more information on Aloha Festivals, check out www.alohafestivals.com.

For more information about Parker Ranch, visit www.ParkerRanch.com or call 808-885-2303.

Fair discount

Those planning to be around for the Maui County Fair Oct. 2-5 can shop at Ah Fooks, Ooka and Pukalani Superette Markets for a discount on an adult pass. If you spend $40 on groceries in a single or several visits beginning Wednesday, save your receipts and show them to purchase a $3.50 fair pass for 99 cents.

The offer is good through Oct. 1 or while supplies last. Only 2,500 passes have been allocated to each store.

For general questions about the fair, call Lei Kihm at the Maui County Fair Trailer at 808-242-2721.

A taste of Kona

Mark your calendar for the Kona Coffee Festival taking place Nov. 7-16 throughout the Big Island's Kona district.

The 175-year-old coffee tradition is celebrated through farm tours, workshops, art exhibits, a Kona Coffee Grand Parade Nov. 15 and, of course, tastings.

For more information, visit www.konacoffeefest.com.