Traffic on Front Street came to a halt on Wednesday, Feb. 10, when firecrackers were lit at the makai entrance of The Wharf Cinema Center to awaken the sleeping lions and ring in Chinese New Year. The center was packed — with hundreds of spectators lining every level of The Wharf — as the dancing lions made their way to center stage, where more than 300 Lahaina school children anxiously waited for their appearance. Au’s Shaolin Arts Society performed a martial arts demonstration and lion dancing, then the children fed the hungry lions their Lai See for good luck and blessings during the Year of the Monkey.

The Outlets of Maui to host Maui Masters Invitational Show 2016

LAHAINA – The Outlets of Maui Lahaina is excited to sponsor and host the Maui Masters Invitational Show 2016, a community-wide fundraiser benefitting Lahaina Arts Association and arts education for Maui County youth.

The month-long pop-up gallery will be in Suite H-4 at The Outlets of Maui through March 12 in between Solstice Sunglass Outlet and Maikai Woods Hawai’i.

The first of its kind, the show represents Lahaina’s commitment to arts education of Maui’s keiki. Proceeds from the sale of artwork will be donated to LAA programs for children arts education and initiatives.

The Maui Masters gallery will feature over 20 renowned artists and seven participating Front Street galleries. Master artists will include Wyland, Vladimir Kush, John Pitre, Mick Fleetwood, Jim Kingwell, Roy Tabora, Walfrido, Jack Hamilton, Mary Ann Leigh and many more.

Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunrise President Tara Paleka (center) recently presented a $2,000 check to Richard and Pat Endsley, coordinators of the Lahaina Complex After School Tutor Project. Serving over 300 students with 90 volunteers, this program is credited with substantially improving students’ abilities in reading and math. This is one of the many community programs that the Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunrise supports. The club meets every Tuesday at 7 a.m. at the Pioneer Inn for a one-hour breakfast meeting. Interested members of the public are invited to attend. There is a fee of $10.

Visit “http://www.theoutletsofmaui.com”>www.theoutletsofmaui.com for information.

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MECO announces notice of road closure

LAHAINA – Maui Electric Co. will conduct work on Wainee Street in Lahaina on Friday, Feb. 19.

Electrical service will not be affected, but a small section of Wainee Street – between 818 and 843 Wainee St. – will be closed on this day from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Congratulations to the 2016 Lahainaluna High School HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) state qualifiers. Students in grades 9-12 competed in medical and leadership events on Jan. 18, 2016 at Maui High School. Students who achieved qualifying scores advanced to the CTSO (Career Tech Student Organization) Conference that will be held Feb. 24-26, 2016 at the Hawaii Convention Center. Students who attend this conference will have the opportunity to compete for the top three places in the state in their respective event. National qualifiers will compete in Nashville, Tennessee this summer at the HOSA National Leadership Conference in June.

The Wainee Street entrance to Lahaina Center will remain open with access from the southbound direction.

Maui Electric thanks the public for its patience and understanding.

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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.

Makawao Public Library will offer free musical events for all ages this month. On Saturday, Feb. 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., join instructor Wes Forest Hada and learn how to play the didgeridoo, an Aboriginal Australian wind instrument. From 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Hada will introduce the instrument, demonstrate how to play it using the circular breathing technique, and share an Aboriginal story about the creation of the first didgeridoo. From 2 to 4 p.m., participants will have the opportunity to practice and play one of the instruments that will be provided. Hada has nearly 20 years of experience teaching and performing on the didgeridoo with bands throughout Maui. On Monday, Feb. 22, at 6:30 p.m., musician Joel Katz (pictured) will lead “A Musical History of Hawaiian Steel Guitar.” Katz will share his passion for the Hawaiian steel guitar, explain how the instrument’s technique developed and perform some songs. Katz has performed steel guitar music on Maui for 30 years and is also a music instructor at the University of Hawaii Maui College. The Maui Friends of the Library is sponsoring both of these programs. Young children must be accompanied by a parent or caregiver. Contact the library as soon as possible if a sign language interpreter or other special accommodation is needed. Makawao Public Library is located at 1159 Makawao Avenue. For more information, call 573-8785.

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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Home ownership workshop set

KAHULUI – “Home Ownership-Steps to Success” with instructors Jaimie Brown and Jeannie Kong will be held on Friday, Feb. 19, from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Maui County Business Resource Center in Maui Mall.

An Angkor Wat International Film Festival fundraiser will be held on Saturday, Feb. 20, at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, with showings of “IMAX-Under The Sea 3D” and “The Ultimate Wave Tahiti-3D” from 3 to 5 p.m., “Storm Surfers-3D” (pictured) from 5 to 7 p.m., and “Alfred Hitchcock’s Dial ‘M’ for Murder” from 7 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $12 per time slot for adults and $10 per time slot for keiki 17 and younger; call 242-SHOW.

Information on upcoming affordable housing projects, tax advantages of home ownership, credit score requirements and loan products are among the many topics that will be covered. Admission is free; call 270-5770.