The BYU Hawaii Shaka Steel Drum Band will arrive on Maui Thursday, Feb. 2, for five performances on the island. The 14-member ensemble performs the lively, fast-paced music of Latin America and the Caribbean on steel drums (or “pans”), native instruments of Trinidad. This unique group creates a tropical ambience with crowd favorites such as samba, reggae, spicy calypso, and rumba. Formed in 2001 at BYUH in Laie, the band is under the direction of Dr. Darren Duerden. All of the performances are free, and the public is cordially invited. The schedule is: Thursday, Feb. 2, at 6 p.m. at Lahaina LDS Church at 85 Ulupono St.; Friday, Feb. 3, at noon at Lahaina Cannery Mall and 6 p.m. at Queen Ka’ahumanu Center; Saturday, Feb. 4, at 6 p.m. at the Maui Lani Kahului West Stake Center at 1300 Maui Lani Parkway; and Sunday, Feb. 5, at 5:30 p.m. (musical fireside) at the Maui Lani Kahului West Stake Center.

Lahaina Intermediate accepting nominations for Honors Program

LAHAINA – From now through Feb. 13, 2017, Lahaina Intermediate School is accepting nominations for students into its Honors Program for the 2017-18 school year.

The program includes Honors Math for grades 6-8, Honors English Language Arts for grades 7-8, and Honors Science for grades 7-8.

Parents, students, educators and community members are invited to nominate students.

Acceptance into the program is based on a variety of assessments, such as teacher evaluations, writing samples, teacher-developed assessments, standardized reading and math scores, and report card grades.

The Lahaina Dojo of the Japan Karate Shotokai bid a fond aloha to Shodan (first-degree black belt) Maybell Benito, who left Maui this week to begin United States Air Force Basic Training at San Antonio, Texas. Benito, the 18-year-old daughter of Aldrin and Janet Benito of Lahaina, is a 2016 academic honors graduate of Lahainaluna High School. She was also named the Outstanding Female Competitor for three consecutive years at the Maui Karate Association Fall Tournament in 2013 through 2015, in which she took first place in both her kata (forms) and kumite (sparring) competitions.

Nomination forms are available at King Kamehameha III School, Princess Nahienaena Elementary, Sacred Hearts School and Lahaina Intermediate School.

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Community loses James Wesley Boonstra

LAHAINA – James Wesley Boonstra, 86, of Lahaina, passed away peacefully on Jan. 15, 2017, surrounded by his loving family and wife.

“Jack” was born on Aug. 27, 1930 in Chicago to a hard-working family; he was the middle of 12 children. Jim married his love, Verna, and together they raised an extended family.

Recent plein air paintings by Michael Clements (“Ulupalakua Ranch, Morning Light” is pictured) will be featured in a show at Village Galleries, 120 Dickenson St., through Feb. 16. Join Clements for Art Night Painting Demonstrations on Feb. 3 and 10. He has been busy these past months capturing Maui from many angles with his amazing plein air oils and pastels. Recent honors include an ongoing exhibition of large-scale works at the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua. For more information, call 661-4402 or visit villagegalleriesmaui.com.

Friends of Lahaina Parasail, Arabesque, Boonstra Concrete, Old Lahaina House – all companies of which Jim was an integral part – are invited to a celebration of his life at 1423 Front St. in Lahaina on Saturday, Feb. 4, at 5:30 p.m. (sunset) for pupus and talk story.

Jim is survived by wife Verna, son James Kenneth Boonstra, daughter Sherry-Ann Barbier, (predeceased) son-in-law John C. Barbier, and grandchildren John-James, Tiana and Bryce Barbier and Jayme Boonstra.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Jack’s name to the Alzheimer’s Foundation. Condolences may be sent to Ballard Family Mortuary at www.ballardfamilymortuaries.com.

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Students encouraged to enter Source Water Protection Video Contest

WAILUKU – The Department of Water Supply is currently holding a Source Water Protection Video Contest. This contest is open to all Maui County public, private and home-schooled high school students from grades nine to 12. Classroom teachers are invited to encourage their students to participate.

Video entries must be 1.5 to 3 minutes long and highlight source water protection efforts of an existing locally based company or organization. Video entries must be submitted by student groups of 3-4 high school students.

The purpose of this contest is to provide county youth with an opportunity to learn about source water protection and to utilize their creative talents to produce a video showcasing the importance of protecting valuable ground and surface water sources.

The theme for the video contest is “Keep Our Water Clean and Pure.” By protecting source water, we reduce the risk of exposing the public to contaminated water, minimize potentially negative environmental impacts on natural resources, and reduce water treatment costs.

Every student group who creates and submits an entry will receive a Certificate of Participation. Winners will receive an electronic device as a prize, will be recognized by taking a photo with the mayor or his representative, and will be featured on the Department of Water Supply’s website.

Entry forms and contest rules are available online at www.mauiwater.org and at the Department of Water Supply, Water Resources and Planning Division, 2200 Main St., One Main Plaza, Suite 102, in Wailuku. Entries must be received by Friday, March 10, 2017. For inquiries, call Lori Delbello in the Water Resources and Planning Division at 463-3110.

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Entries sought for Maui Short Story Competition

LAHAINA – LahainaTown Action Committee last week announced that it is accepting entries for the fourth annual Maui Short Story Competition.

Entries will be accepted until March 20, 2017. The entry fee is $25 per submission, with a limit of three entries per person.

The contest 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, but LAC strongly recommends keeping the subject to Maui (life, heritage, culture, the land and the ocean surrounding the island).

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. Call 667-9175 for information.

The 2016 winner was Elaine Galant for “oliwa.”

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Westside Hoops to hold basketball giveaway

LAHAINA – Westside Hoops will present the first 200 keiki with a basketball to celebrate the Maui Interscholastic League leading and undefeated Lahainaluna High School boys basketball team at Senior Night on Saturday, Feb. 4, at Lahaina Civic Center.

Kids wearing a Lunatic or West Maui Youth Basketball League T-shirt will receive the basketballs and free admission to the game.