LAHAINA — Voters can meet the candidates for the West Maui seat on the County Council at a Pre-candidates’ Night on Sunday, Aug. 15.

Slated at Maui Theatre at Old Lahaina Center, the forum is sponsored by West Maui Taxpayers Association Inc. (WMTA) and Lahaina News.

Participation will be limited to hopefuls for the West Maui council seat.

The free event will begin with “Meet & Greet West Maui County Council Candidates” from 4:30 to 5:15 p.m.

Next, the candidates will give speeches on stage and take questions. Alaka‘i Paleka of KPOA will serve as emcee.

“At 5:30 p.m., these seven individuals will be brought on stage and will be given a few minutes each to tell us all why we should vote for them,” said WMTA Treasurer Joe Pluta.

“What are the issues they think are the most important in West Maui for our community, and what will they do to ensure that they are addressed by the whole County Council if they are elected as our West Maui council representative?”

Members of the community are encouraged to send questions to WMTA to pose to the candidates. Send the questions in by mail to WMTA, P.O. Box 158, Lahaina, HI 96761 or e-mail them to jdp@maui.net.  

“As a special incentive to send in questions, the names of those residents over 18 years of age who sent in questions will be recorded on cards and entered into a random drawing that evening,” Pluta explained.

“The first six names drawn will win dinner and show tickets for the special performance that evening starting at 7:30 p.m.”

All Maui County voters are invited to attend the event. Four-hour validated parking is available at Lahaina Center by Hilo Hatties.

After an intermission from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., the Maui Theatre will host a benefit for the West Maui Hospital & Medical Center.

Enjoy great food and entertainment at a nominal price for a good cause.

The fund-raiser will feature Outback Steakhouse special dinner plates and entertainment by Maui hula halau, An Den, Tiva and Pacific Vibes, Lexi and Mele Pono.

Dinner and show tickets are $30 per person (tax included); tickets for the show only are $20. Add $5 for VIP seating in the first five rows in the center of the theater.

Fifty percent of the net proceeds are being donated by the producers, Hit Mix Music Group, to the West Maui Hospital & Medical Center Foundation Inc., a nonprofit Public Charity, for a designated “Community Resource Fund.”

For reservations and tickets, call Maui Theatre at 661-9914, extension 1.