Lahaina Skate Co. and Volcom held a contest with lots of prizes and giveaways at the Lahaina Skate Park on Sunday afternoon. Thomas Flierl is pictured attacking the concrete bowl. PHOTO BY CHRIS TURNER/RIMFIRE PHOTOGRAPHY.

Schools to coordinate college planning workshop

LAHAINA – On Thursday, Sept. 11, at 6 p.m., Maui Preparatory Academy and Lahainaluna High School will co-host a college planning workshop called “College Planning: A Family Affair.”

The workshop is sponsored by the Hawaii Association of College Admissions Counselors. Various college counselors from across the island will attend to conduct breakout sessions.

Open to the community, the event will be held in the Lahainaluna High School I Building behind the Administration Building. There is visible signage. Parking is available in the administration parking lot.

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Alexandria K. Johnson graduated from the Vancouver Film School in Vancouver, Canada, on Aug. 21. Allie attended VVS for two years and is graduating with a degree in Makeup Design for Film and Television. She learned techniques in aging and character makeup, airbrushing, beauty and glamour makeup, full head masks and much more. She was born and raised on Maui and graduated from Maui Preparatory Academy in May 2011.

O Bon Festival a gathering of joy

LAHAINA – Lahaina Hongwanji Mission at 551 Wainee St. invites the public to join in and experience its O Bon Festival on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 22-23, with services beginning at 6 p.m. and dancing starting at 7:30 p.m.

Both evenings will be integrated with live and recorded music, bright lanterns and booming drums.

Although many of the dancers will be wearing colorful kimonos or hapi coats, everyone is welcome to dance as they are.

O Bon is one of the major Buddhist observances during the year. It is a joyous time to remember one’s ancestors, express gratitude for their sacrifices and to be with them in spirit.

Uncle Willie K (above) will present “A Pair of Queens and A Pair of Jacks” on Thursday, Aug. 28, in the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s McCoy Studio Theater at 7:30 p.m. Willie K’s first comedy show will feature Alaka‘i Paleka, Francis Tau‘a, Kathy “Tita” Collins and Rodney Villanueva. Tickets are $25 or $40; call 242-SHOW.

On Maui, O Bon festivities begin in mid-June and extend through August. On each weekend during this period, services in remembrance of departed ancestors are held at different temples.

Dances begin after the services. Dancers in colorful kimonos form circles around the yagura (musicians’ tower) and dance to traditional and modern Japanese folk songs.

Food concessions will include traditional chow fun, nishime, bento plate, shave ice, sushi and soda. There will also be a craft sale and games for the young. Call Richard Nishihara at 870-6478.

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Keokea Ho’olaule’a set

Maui Ocean Center’s free Sea Talk Series continues on Wednesday, Aug. 27, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. with “The Real TMNT (Tracking Maui’s Nesting Turtles) Super-heroes” by Cheryl King. Renowned in Hawaii’s marine science community, King has researched turtles for over 17 years and is in her 15th nesting season running Hawaii Wildlife Fund’s Hawksbill Recovery Project, which focuses on the conservation of Maui’s nesting and foraging hawksbill population. Her presentation will focus on Hawaii Wildlife Fund’s research and conservation efforts that have saved hundreds of turtles since 1996. Guests are encouraged to wear their favorite turtle shirt or outfit. There will be a special prize giveaway for the best TMNT costume. Sea Talks are held in the Open Ocean exhibit. Seating is limited; register by calling 270-7088.

KULA – The inaugural Keokea Ho`olaule`a will showcase isle-produced foods, crafts and crops.

The event will unfold from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 30, at Keokea homestead at the 16.9 Mile Marker of Kula Highway at Kaamana Street. The site is two-tenths-of-a-mile past Grandma’s Coffeehouse in Keokea Town.

Daylong entertainment will reflect area talent; the Oahu musical group Na Hoku Pa’s members’ parents are Keokea farmers.

More than five dozen booths will offer arts, craft items and garden-fresh produce, such as Chinese long squash and gigantic zucchini cultivated at Kahikinui homestead. Also, leaders of the nine Valley Isle homesteads will unveil a raised-bed gardens project that they are producing to benefit Maui communities.

The nonprofit Keokea Homestead Farm Lots Association is sponsoring the Labor Day weekend event. A keiki play area will feature the `ulu maika (Hawaiian bowling) game. Call Karen Park at 870-3220 or e-mail keokeapark@aol .com.

Gallerie 505 in Lahaina will feature two artists “At The Easel” this week. Meet Anna Good on Thursday, Aug. 21, and Neo-Pop artist Davo (his work is pictured) on Friday, Aug. 22, both from 5 to 7 p.m. Call 667-7932.

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‘Ahahui Ka’ahumanu to hold rummage sale

KAHULUI – `Ahahui Ka`ahumanu will hold a rummage sale on Saturday, Aug. 30, offering diverse items ranging from home-baked goods and shoyu-chicken plate lunches to homemade snacks and gently used clothing, toys and household items.

‘Ahahui Ka’ahumanu Chapter IV Wailuku will host the rummage sale from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Hale Nanea. Pre-sale plate lunch tickets at $7 each are available by calling 264-9385. Other goods that organizers are planning to sell include used tools, bottled water and snacks of Chex Mix, trail mix, prune mui and li-hing fruits. Event proceeds will benefit the chapter’s scholarship fund.

‘Ahahui Ka’ahumanu is a Hawaiian women’s society with more than 500 members in nine chapters statewide. Its mission includes promoting Native Hawaiian language, history, culture and traditions. The Wailuku chapter, formed in 1923, has more than 100 members.

Hale Nanea is located in the Kahului Harbor vicinity. From Hobron Avenue, turn right into Amala Place; turn left (at a small “Hale Nanea” roadside sign) across from the VIP Cash n Carry grocery parking lot at 90 Amala Place. Drive along a short gravel road and through a gate into a large, fenced parking lot. Call Carol Lee Kamekona at 264-9385.

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Firefighters battle structure fire

WEST MAUI – At 5:49 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 16, firefighters from Lahaina, Napili, Wailuku and Kihei responded to 908 Kana Place for a report of a structure fire.

Crews arrived on scene to find a fully engulfed, single-family, two-story home. Everyone was out of the home by the time firefighters arrived.

The fire was called under control at 7:28 p.m. and extinguished at 11:28 p.m. No injuries were reported.

Damage estimates were $700,000 to the structure and $200,000 for the contents. The cause of the fire was undetermined after the investigation.

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Service trip slated

HALEAKALA – Volunteer in Haleakala Crater over the Labor Day weekend on a service learning trip to Paliku Cabin.

The ranger-accompanied trip includes some education about Haleakala, some service work and also some free time.

Participants will exit down the Kaupo Gap and ride back to the park.

Call Friends of Haleakala National Park at 876-1673 for information and reservations, or visit www.fhnp.org.