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    Maui Fair

    3.8 (14 reviews)

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    Roast Pork, delicious!
    Maria P.

    Maybe I am getting older, but the county fair just does not have that same appeal to me that it used to when I was in high school. These days, we go to the county fair to entertain our little boy. He's still a toddler, so there's not TOO much for him to do, but the flashing lights from all the rides keep him fascinated long enough. There's only a handful of games that my son could play and a few rides that he could go on if accompanied by an adult. My husband had a great suggestion that the fair should create a kiddie zone and have more games/activities for the little ones to enjoy in order to attract more families. The fair felt oddly empty this year and I am not surprised. Perhaps it was the $10 entrance fee (children under 5 are free), parking fees ($5), food costs, etc. Parking, entrance, and food alone set us back $50. I also noticed there were less entries in the exhibits, no bonsai trees, not as many business vendors in years past, etc. Bummer! This year they also instituted the Fun Pass card to be used for ALL rides, games, & EK Ferndandez food concession stands (not the food booths, those are cash only). I think it's more efficient in the sense that there's no cash handling and transactions are made almost instantly. However, you can only get them in specific increments ($5, $10, $20, etc) and in order to even get a card, you need to load it with $20 minimum. So, if you don't plan out exactly what food, games, rides, to go on... you'll more than likely be left with some type of balance on your card. Once you get a card though, you can use them at subsequent carnivals and fairs. With all that said, we actually still had a lot of fun this year and stayed later than usual! Many of the games seemed to be priced more "reasonably" so we were able to play more and spend less. Although... I'm still trying to convince myself that 85 credits for the kiddie fishing game where everyone's a winner was worth the 30 seconds of fun for my son. Lol. The prize was a 'donut' floatie, which basically cost us $8.50. Ouch! The best part of the fair for us was the food. We opted for the dry mein this year vs. the chow fun and we tried the roast pork plate for the first time too. They were both SO good we devoured every single piece and it made us totally forget about the Flying Saucers, which sadly... I only now just remembered. 'doh! It finally made a come back this year and the line was ridiculous. Anywho, the fair only comes once a year and the island is greatly lacking in family friendly activities. So, despite the costs, we go anyway and this year was fun! My kiddo still can't stop raving about how fun the helicopter ride was and the smiles I captured on camera made it worth it for me.

    Tre X.

    The Maui Fair is a timeless tradition and Maui's biggest event. This huge four-day event is organized by a hardworking group of volunteers for the purpose of supporting local businesses and non-profits. It's a fun, positive and family-friendly venue for the Maui community. The Maui Fair brings its visitors a big parade, great local vendors, entertainment, arts and crafts, agriculture and horticulture, livestock for viewing, games, rides, dozens of food booths and more. I've attended this event since I was a little girl, and I still look forward to it each year. To be honest, I mostly look forward to the food. ;) Back in the day, the flying saucers, pronto pups, teriyaki, cascaron and malasadas were the thing. Now it's more about the smoked meat plate, chow fun, waffle cake, fried ice cream and poi mochi. Either way, such wonderful fair fare with a side of nostalgia.

    Joyce Z.

    How did I never get around to reviewing the Maui Fair? I admit that I rarely go to the County or State Fairs in Cali but will always try to go the Maui Fair if it is while we're on island. The main initial draw was originally the entertainment as they always have first rate Hawaiian musicians performing and this year, even in the audience. Always great seeing Uncle Richard! Makaha Sons, Keali`i Reichel, and Ekolu are just a sample of the treat we were in for in the past. This year was no exception with the great Mark Yamanaka who braved the tropical storm on a flight from Hilo just to perform for Maui. Usually it is during the last week (Th-Su) of September or first week of October but this year it was a week earlier than normal giving me the chance to finally go on the last day when I would normally be leaving the islands. A parade kicks off this timeless tradition on Thursday afternoon followed by evening hours on Th and Fri and Sat and Sun allows attendees to see the fair while it is still light out. Rides, food booths that are fundraisers, contests, product and services tent, livestock, arts and crafts and first rate entertainment makes this a great local experience. I love how the community really comes together for this annual event. Parking: There are free shuttles from a few satellite parking lots in Wailuku or Queen K Center but check the shuttle hours as they do not necessarily run until the end of the fair especially on Sundays. We normally park at Queen K but realized this year that they have on site parking for $5 close to the War Memorial. Price: Pre-sale tickets are $5, $7 at the door Th-Sat. Discount Sunday = rides for about 3 tickets are less, $5 admission. Food: Ono grindz for a good cause with poi mochi and Hawaiian plates my must have. Always long line for poi mochi so go during peak lunch/dinner time when most ppl are buying other food. This year they experimented with opening up the entertainment tent so those in the food area can see as well which is great. But would be great if they can cover the seating in the entertainment tent more in the future as only the first row was fully covered so was a challenge when it started raining hard.

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    Chelsea R.

    Fair season is back upon us. The combined power of mass body heat and the temperatures will make you sweat. The fair is broken down into these main components: food, games, rides, vendors, and art/agricultural displays. Food booths are plentiful and you've got an array of choices but expect to spend at least $10 for a plate and $2 to start for a drink. These booths are fundraisers so adjust your perception on portions and bring cash. My meal was Maui High's furikake salmon which was presented nicely and cooked well. The salmon wasn't dry at all. The proportion of mayonnaise and furikake topping was spot on. Came with rice and corn. Kiwanis Kahului's malasadas are delicious but you're in for a long wait time to get the goods. The malasadas are fluffy, hot and with an abundance of sugar. I also tried Made in Hope's boba booth. I had their banana and avocado flavor and the taro and coconut flavor. Another standard for food fare that you can't go wrong with is Baldwin's fettuccine and garlic bread and the Wailuku Hongwanji's chow fun. This year there is a great photo opportunity with giant pumpkins for families with their littles near the entrance of the War Memorial Stadium. Kula Country Farms also provided some cute Halloween themed props as well. Additionally, there were little "John Deere" scooters and a wheelbarrow for children to play with free of charge nearby. FYI passes for rides are electronic now and the same for the games. You must first purchase a card and then load it with money to use as electronic "credits". Fun Pass stations are located at the front of the entrance, within the middle of the game tent, next to the Magic Maze and near the bumper cars. Concession stands run by the fair accept the cards only and the prices listed are in credits. Porta potties are by the Pharaoh's Fury ride. They are marked for men and women. Livestock remains in its traditional place in the back area which is furthest from the main entrance. There are chickens, rabbits, goats, turkeys, cows, and mini ponies (which won Keiki's Choice this year, I'm sure you can guess why). Despite the "livestock aroma" there are printed animal facts that you can share with children to turn it into an educational experience.

    Kalbi Plate $10 ALL FAT.  Hoohana Volleyball at Maui Fair.  Waste of money - VN
    Vince N.

    Sadly, the Maui Fair sure isn't what it used to be. First of all, the original and permanent fairgrounds on Puunene Avenue are long gone. The parade's gorgeous floats of yesteryear have given way to people simply walking from point A to B, and has become extremely boring, sans for the high school marching bands who put lots of effort into their routines, with music and uniformity. And who knew all these beauty pageants existed with car after car carrying unknowns dawning tiaras. Inside, food choices are less, like no Portuguese bean soup for the past several years, and this year no flying saucers!? The audacity! Prices are up, and quantities less, which are my biggest gripes for not attending for the past 2 years. Getting your money's worth depends on the individual organization running the food booth. For instance, at the 2016 event: The folks running the kalbi ribs booth (Hoohana Volleyball) charged $10 for a plate of 2 ribs, rice, and canned corn. The ribs had about 5% meat on it, the rest was ALL FAT. If I hadn't known the person working in the booth, I would've taken it back. That was such a ripoff! Contrary to that, the booth that served the roast pork (Kalama Intermediate School Band Boosters) was on the other end of the spectrum, with big slabs of pork lathered in a tasty turkey gravy, rice, and corn. Great job, guys & gals! Other recommended fare which have been consistently good throughout the years are the pronto pup (Boy Scouts) and chow fun (Wailuku Hongwanji). Bottom line, stick to what you know is good. If you're unsure, just observe the plates being served or simply ask to see what the plate consists of. Better safe than sorry! One positive aspect I noticed this year was that they had the entertainment stage facing the food tent, so those eating could also see or at least hear better as to whoever was on stage. In years past, the stage faced its own limited audience and no one else. But, a loud speaker echoed badly, giving you twice the lyrics. The "better living" tent is still alive, featuring local entrepreneurs and businesses selling their goods and services, but on a much smaller scale than before. A favorite area of mine has always been the exhibits, held inside of the War Memorial Gym. It features art work from grades K-12, amateur photography, orchids, and fruits & vegetables which are judged and awarded ribbons. Sadly, the bonsai trees were absent this year. Though I didn't venture to look for it this year, a livestock tent features a handful of farm and domestic animals, which are awarded ribbons as well. The midway used to be a favorite of mine, like 30 years ago lol. Now, I find the rides rickety, overpriced, with too short of a short riding duration. OVERALL: My priorities have changed, I guess. I'd still go for the food but all my favorites have been disappearing. I'll return, but not for a couple years.

    Winning jackfruit - the largest & heaviest
    Jo Y.

    W/ an attendance nearing 100,000 people, the 93rd annual Maui Fair is a big event in Maui that it brings the entire community together! Normally held for four days during the first weekend in October, the 2015 fair was held during the last weekend in Sept. at the War Memorial Sports Complex in Kahului. This year's theme "A Fair w/ Local Flair" highlighted the local foods & products of Maui. The fair's offerings include: * Events: baby of the year contest, robotics competition, lego competition, lip sync battle, home-baked pie contest, chili cook-off, fried rice challenge. * Exhibits: huge orchid display, bonsai; fruits & vegetables; hobbies & crafts (clothing, fabric crafts, needlework, novelty, holiday); student art; photography; livestock; poultry; horticulture (pests, weeds, flower arranging, seed starting, gardening, mango grafting). * Hot foods: corn on the cob, Hawaiian plate, loco moco, spaghetti, pastelle, shoyu chicken, BBQ pulled pork, crepes, orange chicken, Greek food, pork and peas, panko crusted fish, pork adobo, chicken hekka, chili, pansit, teri beef, sweet sour spare ribs, Korean plate, dry mein, roast pork, smoked meat, malassadas, & more. They even had balut (no, I didn't get it; for those who don't know what it is, it's a partially developed chicken embryo that is eaten from the shell). * Products & services: individual companies selling clothing, cosmetics, jewelry, home services, massage, & unique, innovative products. * Community services: Maui governmental services such as police, parks & recreation; non-profit organizations such as bone marrow donor registry, hospice, substance abuse. * Entertainment: local professional Hawaiian groups, such as Anuhea, Willie K, Mark Yamanaka; & talented local community groups & organizations. * Midway rides & games by EK Fernandez. The fair starts off with a parade, which is Maui's largest, down Kaahumanu Ave. on Thurs. late afternoon; this signifies the start of the fair. Friday is designated a day when family, neighbors, & friends of those who have physical limitations & special needs can enjoy the fair which prevent them from attending during regular hours. Certain rides, games, entertainment, & a picnic lunch are provided at no charge. There's even a Park & Ride arrangement where a fairgoer may park their car at one of several designated areas w/in the city & take a free shuttle bus ride to & from the fairgrounds. Not bad, considering that it costs $5 to park your car on the fairgrounds. There's an interesting Lost Keiki Tent, sponsored by the Girl Scouts of Hawaii, which prevents kids from getting lost instead of the usual being lost after-the-fact. Parents may register their child, w/ the child getting a wristband w/ a number on it in exchange for the parent's cell phone number. If the child gets separated from its parents, the troop leaders can easily call the parents on their cell phones! What a novel idea! The fair is somewhat pricy, as there is a $7 admission charge for adults ($3 for kids age 5-11 years) on top of the $5 parking fee. Now that's just to get into the fair, & you'll need more $$ for food, rides, games, & plants. Despite the cost, it's all for worthy causes, as the fair is a major fundraiser for many of the Maui civic & non-profit organizations w/ proceeds used to defray their annual operating costs. For example, each of the food booths is sponsored by a specific organization which will pre-sell tickets to the community weeks before the fair opens; & that organization will be cooking the food at the fairgrounds. People of all ages from the young to the very old came in droves w/ their pre-sale tickets to pick up their food. Organizations such as the Kiwanis Club of Kahului makes malassadas (batter from Homemaid Bakery), Maui High School Band Boosters makes chili & rice, Future Chefs of Maui makes waffle cakes w/ ice cream & fruit toppings, Kahana Canoe Club makes a smoked meat plate, & the list goes on. Even nearby private landowners & businesses allowed non-profit & civic groups to fundraise by charging a flat $5 fee for fairgoers to park on their properties; what was amazing was that this was coordinated so that it was $5 no matter where you parked your car. I was amazed as to the commitment of the organizations & the support of the community to assist the many groups for their causes! And it's not surprising to see the support of some of the major sponsors of the fair, such as Alaska Airlines, HMSA, Kaiser Permanente, Monsanto, Maui Hotel & Lodging Association, Queen Kaahumanu Center, & many others. The Maui Fair is one of the biggest, & I wouldn't be surprised if it's THE biggest event of the year for the community. There is much pride in Maui to host this event, but more importantly, Maui's non-profit & civic organizations stand to gain, as this is their major fundraiser. I enjoyed the time spent there and would definitely return, especially since I know that my attendance will help in giving back to the comm

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    Made In Maui County Festival

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    4.1(7 reviews)
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    If you missed it ....you missed it! Be sure to mark your calendar for next year. So much fun so…read moremany crafters to visit. And if that isn't enough fantastic entertainment and giveaways. Get there early for the best selections. See you next year!

    This year I finally made it to the Made In Maui County Festival. I went with my cousin and we had…read moreso much fun. We already had our eyes on certain vendors so we could not wait. LOCATION: Located at the MACC. We wanted to get there super early on Saturday to park there but we didn't so we parked at War Memorial Stadium and caught one of the free shuttles. We were prepared to buy tickets at the box office but we didn't have to because a nice lady on the shuttle gave us a bunch of free tickets. That was so nice of her. After shopping we were going to eat food from the Food Trucks there but because it was super hot that day, we decided to go somewhere else for lunch. Maybe next year. HIGHLIGHTS: Maui Mules with Pau Vodka, sampling various local treats, Na Koa Brand/Ho'omana Poly Apparel, Moloka'i Bread, Rosebuds , HI Spice Hot Sauce, Maui Olive Company, Bella Vita Apothecary, Maui Lavender & Tea, Upcountry Maui Favorites and Skelefin Studios (Amanda Joy Bowers). There were so many great vendors TIPS: Bring a fan and a big bag/bags for your purchases. Wear a hat too and bring a beverage like we did. OVERALL: So much fun. Got a lot of Christmas shopping done as well as shopping for myself of course. I plan on going every year from now on. Check it out!

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    Wailuku First Friday - Da Pupuhale

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    I love coming to Wailuku First Friday! So many things to buy. So many food to try. Today we got…read morehot dogs from Kaeo kine grindz, she's absolutely sweet. She has the best service ever! We also got popcorn tako from Pupus on Da Go! Those guys are awesome too. Always kind service we receive. Follow both of them on Instagram to see where they'll be next!

    I've been to Wailuku First Friday a handful of times over the years. This is the original town…read moreparty that started all the town parties (Maui Friday's) around the island. Every FIRST Friday of the month in Wailuku town you'll find a collective of vendors that range from food trucks to arts and crafts to clothing to sweet, delectable treats. There's a little bit of everything so do walk around a bit first before deciding to make your purchases. Many of the brick & mortar businesses in and around Market St. where the party is held also remain open like Wai Bar, Wailuku Coffee Company, 808 On Main, & even Mystery Maui. This event is such a great opportunity to support local owned, Maui businesses. So far, my favorite finds are Only Ono Barbecue, HI Thai food truck, & the infamous Moloka'i Bread (technically not Maui, but Maui County!) which sometimes makes an appearance here. They also have live entertainment on both ends of the street and another section where you'll often find people line dancing or doing Zumba. One thing to keep in mind is that this is a really popular town party. There is a large municipal parking lot located up the street from the Banyan Tree. Although the lot is large, it often fills up quickly. People sometimes resort to making their own parking in the patches of grass, but street parking is also an option. Just be sure to plan accordingly! I highly recommend making a stop here at least once. You're guaranteed to find good food, good entertainment, and a lively crowd.

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    Maui Nui Botanical Gardens

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    Dedicated to native Hawaiian costal and dry forest plants, the Maui Nui Botantical Gardens is…read morewithin (long) walking distance (under 2 miles) from the Kahului Cruise Port. It's collection started in the 1970s and once was a site for a zoo (which closed in 1997). Our party of four spent an early afternoon here, taking an Uber (got unlucky and hit surge pricing of $35) from a takeout lunch spot. The caretaker (who took our admission price of $10 per non-resident) was super nice, explaining how there is an app that one can download and can then use without internet to hear audio commentary on many of the plants in the collection. There is a modern bathroom building in the same area, along with a place to refill your water bottles. One can probably walk through the entire garden in about an hour if going fast, 2 hours if taking one's time and reading/listening. There are plenty of shaded places to sit, and because it wasn't too crowded, we never felt hurried. My favorite places were where they had the agricultural plants like taro, sweet potato, banana, and sugar cane (many varieties). They also had a small grove of coconut trees, cordoned off to prevent unfortunate accidents from falling ripe coconuts. They did have some flowering plants, including a hibiscus. But you wouldn't come here for that; instead its to learn about the plants native to Hawaii and pick up a bit of history along the way.

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