Anyone interested in the practice of Aikido is invited to try a four-week introductory course given by the instructors of Maui Ki-Aikido. Starting Feb. 4, the class will meet from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursdays in February at Shunshinkan Dojo at 194 S. Market St. in Wailuku. Instructors will provide an introduction to the history and principles of Aikido, cover basic Aikido posture and meditation, and teach one or more simple Aikido arts. The cost is $40. Participants receive an instructional book and can apply the fee to membership if they decide to join the dojo. Come 15 minutes early to the first class to register and sign in. Founded in 1953, Maui Ki-Aikido is the oldest Aikido dojo in the United States, with some of the highest-ranking instructors outside of Japan. Learn more about the dojo’s programs at mauiaikido.com. E-mail mauikiaikido@gmail.com or call 357-5172 for information.

Sacred Hearts School to host open house events

LAHAINA – Terranova test results are in, and Sacred Hearts School students continue to perform well above the national average across all grade levels and in every subject tested.

Enrollment for the 2016-17 school year opens to new students on Feb. 16. Go to shsmaui.org or phone the school at 661-4720 for more information.

On Monday, Feb. 8, from 10 a.m. to noon, Sacred Hearts School will host an open house for keiki heading to kindergarten in the 2016-17 school year. Preschoolers will get a chance to be kindergarteners for a day! Penne Pasta will provide lunch for this kindergarten open house.

On Saturday, Feb. 20, at 8:30 a.m., Sacred Hearts School will host its school-wide open house for current students as well as the entire community. Come see what makes Sacred Hearts so special!

George Kahumoku Jr.’s Grammy Award-winning “Slack Key Show-Masters of Hawaiian Music” will host Nathan Aweau for his new CD release called “‘Aina Hanau” at a special show on Feb. 10 at 7:30 p.m. at Napili Kai Beach Resort’s Pavilion. Other featured performers include host Kahumoku, Peter deAquino, Sterling Seaton, and Wainani Kealoha performing beautiful hula. Get tickets online at www.SlackKeyShow.com or call 669-3858.

A drawing will be held for a $500 tuition award for new Sacred Hearts School families at both of these open houses (a parent must be present to participate). To register for either of these open house events, call 661-4720 or e-mail “mailto:yrichard@shsmaui.org”>yrichard@shsmaui.org.

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Orchid show set

KAHULUI – Valentine’s Day is not just about red, white and pink.

The Maui Orchid Society (MOS) will introduce new colors into the spectrum of Valentine’s Day, glorifying the exotic, the amazing and the rare at its Valentine’s Day Show at Maui Mall on Feb. 11-13 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Amy O’Neal’s “Opposing Forces” will be staged on Thursday, Feb. 11, at 7:30 p.m. in the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s McCoy Studio Theater. “Opposing Forces” is an exploration of feminine perceptions in our culture through the lens of hip-hop created by O’Neal, a dancer, performer, choreographer and dance educator based in Seattle, WA. The cast of five world-class B-Boys examines the value systems of race and gender within the environments of battling, commercial dance, contemporary performance and cyphering. O’Neal has taught and performed throughout the world, and she has choreographed for stage, commercials, rock shows, galleries, dance films and music videos. Her work is an amalgam of her diverse movement and life experiences, presenting social commentary with dark humor and heavy beats. “With ‘Opposing Forces,’ Amy O’Neal takes the form one step further, turning hip-hop into nuanced, haunting, beautiful, concert art,” noted Alice Kaderlan of the Seattle Times. Tickets are $30; call 242-SHOW. PHOTO BY GABRIEL BIENCZYCKI.

On display will be a fascinating array of orchids grown by some of Maui’s premier hobbyists and professionals, including the award winners, and many of the orchids will be offered for sale.

“It’s a Maui Valentine tradition,” Jeff Bagshaw, MOS board member, said. “Generations of Mauians know where to shop for blooming bargains and that one-of-a-kind gift for that special someone.”

There will also be orchid art for sale and an interactive corsage making class.

Celebrating its 75th year, the Maui Orchid Society, a Hawaii nonprofit, is all about sharing and raising awareness. Meetings are held monthly on the third Tuesday at the Wailuku Community Center commencing at 6:30 p.m. The next meeting is on Feb. 16.

During this landmark year, other shows have been scheduled, including an Easter Show on March 24-26; Mother’s Day Show on May 5-7; and “Orchidland” at the Maui Fair on Oct. 6-9.

Lahaina Restoration Foundation now offers guided tours of the Baldwin Home Museum at the corner of Dickenson and Front streets. Friendly docents share the stories of Lahaina’s 180-year-old missionary home daily on the hour and half-hour between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. These tours are 30 minutes in length. Walk-in registration is welcome any day at the museum. Purchase a Passport to the Past for $10 and receive admission to three Maui museums or buy a single ticket at $7 for adults or $5 for kama‘aina, military and seniors (ticket includes admission to the Wo Hing Museum). Children 12 and under go free when accompanied by a paying adult. For information, call 661-3262.

These shows and the monthly general membership meetings enable members and the public to learn more about the unique opportunity to grow orchids on Maui. For more information, including membership, call 283-5486.

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LAC holding short story contest

LAHAINA – Maui life, heritage, culture, the land and the ocean surrounding the island; LahainaTown Action Committee’s third annual Maui Short Story Competition is designed to encourage previously unpublished writers to explore writing about the Hawaiian island of Maui from a unique perspective.

This competition is open genre; however, LAC strongly recommends keeping the subject to Maui.

Entries will be accepted until March 21, 2016. The entry fee is $25 per submission with a limit of three entries per person. Enter online at www.visitlahaina.com or submit your entry via regular mail. Entry forms are also available at the Lahaina Visitor Center located in the Old Lahaina Courthouse

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Conservation awareness training slated

KAHULUI – Maui Mauka Conservation Awareness Training will be offered at the University of Hawaii Maui College on Tuesday, Feb. 9, starting at 9 a.m.

The goal is to educate tour operators and guides about native ecosystems and species found in Hawaii, as well as the projects that are helping to conserve them.

Presentations about conservation and the natural environment are given by representatives from the Maui Invasive Species Committee, East Maui Watershed Partnership, and Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project.

Training is held at the CHTAR Community Service Building at UHMC. Training is free; tour operators and guides are encouraged to come. Reserve your spot by e-mailing pr@eastmauiwaterhed.org or calling 573-6999.

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Kaufman to hold book signing

KAANAPALI – Join Pacific Whale Foundation Founder and Executive Director Greg Kaufman as he reveals exciting new scientific discoveries at a free talk and book signing on Saturday, Feb. 6, at 6 p.m.

“Beyond the Breach: Tales from a Whale Research Pioneer” will be held in the Haleakala Ballroom at the Westin Maui in Kaanapali.

He will also sign copies of his latest book, “Hawaii’s Humpback Whales: The Ultimate Guide,” which will be available for purchase at the event. The book features over 100 full-color photos and illustrations.

Free and open to all, the event is part of the Maui Whale Festival’s “Weekend with the Experts.” For more information, visit mauiwhalefestival.org or call (808) 249-8811, extension 1.

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Gandona Winery Dinner set at Cane & Canoe

KAPALUA – Montage Kapalua Bay, set atop picturesque Kapalua Bay, will present a Gandona Winery Dinner on Wednesday, Feb. 10, at the resort’s signature restaurant, Cane & Canoe.

Join Manuel Pires, proprietor of Gandona Winery, for a special evening featuring his renowned Napa wines from his esteemed hillside property in Napa Valley. Crafted by one of Napa’s most highly regarded winemakers, Philippe Melka (also named one of the top nine wine consultants in the world by Robert Parker), the wines are crafted to tell the story of the unique microclimate of Pritchard Hill.

Growing up in Portugal, Pires spent summers on his grandfather’s estate in the famed wine region of Douro. There, he made a promise to one day live life working the land. In 2006, Manuel and his wife, Cristina, purchased an estate on Pritchard Hill and began development of what would become Gandona Estate. Together with Philippe Melka and Viticulturist Jim Barbour, they dedicated themselves to producing world-class wines characterized by their elegance, depth and longevity.

Share an elegant five-course dinner created by Executive Chef David Viviano and his culinary team, specially designed to pair with exquisite wines.

The event begins with a 5:30 p.m. champagne reception, followed by dinner at 6 p.m. Price per person is $150. Advanced reservations are required by calling (808) 662-6681. For information, visit www.montagehotels.com/kapaluabay.

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Lahaina Massage to hold grand opening

LAHAINA – Lahaina Massage Day Spa & Wellness Center will hold its grand opening on Saturday, Feb. 6, from 6 to 9 p.m.

The event will include a Hawaiian blessing, pupus and drinks, free chair massages and special discount offers.

Lahaina Massage is located in Dickenson Square, Suite 201, at 180 Dickenson St. Call (808) 214-6167.