Whalers Village hosted the 25th annual Maui Onion Festival on Saturday. Featuring food booths, culinary demonstrations, entertainment and onion eating contests, the event pays tribute to the Valley Isle’s own signature crop: the world-famous Kula onion. Above, bartenders compete in the festival’s Mixed Drink Contest. PHOTO BY CHRIS TURNER/RIMFIRE PHOTOGRAPHY.

Registration slated for Junior Lifeguard program

WAILUKU – The county Department of Parks & Recreation’s Aquatics Division announced a date change for this year’s Junior Lifeguard registration at Lahaina Aquatics Center. The new signup date will be Saturday, May 10.

Registrants are asked to come to the Lahaina pool with a parent or legal guardian on May 10 between 9 a.m. and noon to take the required swim test (300 yards nonstop within 11 minutes). Registration is taken on a first-come, first-served basis; space is limited.

The North Shore Junior Lifeguard session is full, and only a few spaces are left in the South Shore program.

The popular water safety program is offered for youth ages 13-17 for a suggested donation of $15 to the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association-Maui Chapter. Training consists of familiarizing students with water safety skills, CPR, first aid, surf and rescue techniques, ocean swimming, paddle boarding and lifesaving skills.

Lahaina Intermediate School announced its Students and Staff of the Month for March (from left): front row — sixth-grader Khyle Marie SImon, seventh-graders Aizza Liwanag and Jean Ganoy, eighth-grader Darren Diga, sixth-grader Jeremiah McCall and eighth-grader Ayn Marie Eastridge; second row — Crosby Beam, who was nominated by students, and Patrick Pallett, who was nominated by colleagues.

For information on this year’s program, contact Cary Kayama at 270-6140 or Fran Yamamoto at 270-6138, or visit “http://www.mauicounty.gov/juniorlifeguards”>www.mauicounty.gov/juniorlifeguards.

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Celebrate Second Friday

LAHAINA – May’s Second Friday Town Party on May 9 will be a “Mango Madness” event.

Come celebrate mango season with a mango cooking contest, live music by Maui Jam, Soroptomist International of West Maui’s second annual silent auction, and ono food served by the Hawaiian Civic Club, Boys & Girls Club of Lahaina and Basketball Maui.

Japengo restaurant at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa on April 27 hosted 20 Lahainaluna High School Japanese Club students at its Sushi School. This hands-on class led by Sushi Chef Kaz Kim gives guests the opportunity to learn the art of sushi making. Participants are encouraged to taste their creations throughout the class and leave with recipes and tips to try at home.

Presented by LahainaTown Action Committee, the event will be held from 5:30 to 9 p.m. in Campbell Park across from the Pioneer Inn. For more information, call 667-9175.

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Berg to discuss protecting Hawaii’s aquatic resources

MAALAEA – On Thursday, May 15, from 6 to 7 p.m., join Pacific Whale Foundation’s Making Waves Lecture Series for a lively and enlightening exchange on “The Role of Volunteer Citizen Science in Protecting Hawaii’s Aquatic Resources” with Water Quality Specialist and Ecologist Dr. Carl Berg of Kauai.

Admission is free; reservations are not required. The presentation will take place at PWF’s Discovery Center on the lower level of the Maalaea Harbor Shops adjacent to Maui Ocean Center. For more information on the series, call (808) 280-4736.

The Wharf Cinema Center recently welcomed Shaka Vibe Bubble Tea & Treats. Shaka Vibe is family owned and managed by brothers Ramil and Rowel Basco. Stop in to try a thirst-quenching Bubble Tea — a cool, tropical, slushy drink in flavors like honeydew, mango, taro, papaya, coconut and passion fruit with pearls of sweet tapioca. Shaka Vibe also serves up Tornado Taters in a variety of flavors; try cheesy cheddar, barbecue, salt and vinegar, sour cream, onion, parmesan or good old ketchup. Fresh whole Idaho potatoes are spiral cut, fried to perfection and served on a skewer to take and share. Visit them on the plaza level of the center, call 662-3000 or visit www.info@shakavibe.com.

The 12th annual Hawaii Rhythm & Blues Mele, A Blues, Roots & Jazz Festival, will be held at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 16, in the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s Castle Theater. The 2014 festival will feature blues guitar masters Elvin Bishop (above), Duke Robillard with Little Charlie Baty and Tinsley Ellis, and Maui Blues & Company. Tickets are $45, $55 or $65; call 242-SHOW. PHOTO BY CHRIS TUITE.