Residents and visitors can meet Author Norm Bezane at a book signing at Barnes & Noble in Lahaina Gateway Center on Saturday.

LAHAINA – The community and visitors can meet Norm Bezane, former award-winning columnist, and attend a book signing for his “Voices of Aloha on Magical Maui” from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 19, at Barnes & Noble in Lahaina Gateway Center.

The new book includes the best of 60 short tales from his popular column in Lahaina News. The book is divided into five sections that portray monarchs, missionaries, musicians and artists, colorful characters, makers of modern Maui and those who shape the visitor experience.

The late Kupuna Ed Lindsey, interviewed in the first column, noted that new residents and visitors “have a responsibility to learn about the place where they live or visit.”

The book provides the opportunity to quickly learn about Maui’s history and read colorful interviews telling the little-known stories of Old Lahaina Luau, Trilogy Excursions, Lahaina Galleries and legendary, colorful characters like the late Blackie Gadarian or the pop artist Davo. The author also brings to life his own passion for Maui over 50 years.

“This is the only book on the contemporary people of Maui and what today’s Hawaiians think about the loss of their kingdom and their views on what has happened to the island in the last 50 years,” Bezane said.

“Most of us know the name Kamehameha but little about how he took 12 years to unify the islands. The story of Queen Liliuokalani covers her love of America before, ironically, she lost her kingdom to the U.S.,” the author said.

More on the book and author can be found by going to Google and searching “Voices of Aloha on Magical Maui.”