Paintings and drawings that provided Jessica Kingwell with her Art Maui Scholarship Award and Lahaina Arts Society Banyan Tree Award will be on display and for sale at her dad’s studio, Kingwell Island Art, at 834 Front St. The exhibit will start Aug. 2 and run through the end of the month. All proceeds will go toward Jessica’s college fund. For more information, call (808) 281-2945.

Hawaiian 101 class to be offered in Lahaina

LAHAINA – The University of Hawaii Maui College’s Lahaina Education Center is offering Hawaiian 101 – a four-credit class – on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 5 to 7:20 p.m. for the fall 2017 semester.

This will be a live class with the instructor onsite. If anyone is interested in registering for this class or other distance offerings from the Lahaina Education Center, applications may be submitted online via maui.hawaii.edu.

Please note that prior to registration in the course, the applicant will need to submit a TB clearance form and proof of MMR vaccination. Additionally, a placement test may be required for some courses.

Placement tests may be taken at the Lahaina center located at 60 Kenui St. (in the Front Street Apartments complex).

Join Betty Hay Freeland for oil painting demonstrations at Village Galleries, located off the lobby at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, on Thursdays during August (Aug. 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. An exhibition of available work is featured in the gallery and Anuenue Room. Freeland is one of Hawaii’s most highly regarded artists. Her compelling impressionist landscapes are widely collected. She portrays the staggering beauty of Hawaii with a tender touch.

For more information, call the UH Maui College Lahaina Education Center at 662-3911. The fall semester is just around the corner; it begins the week of Aug. 21 and continues through mid-December.

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Lahaina Hongwanji Mission to host Obon Festival

LAHAINA – Lahaina Hongwanji Mission is holding its annual summer Obon Festival on Friday, Aug. 11, and Saturday, Aug. 12, on the church grounds at 551 Wainee St.

This is the last scheduled Bon Dance for West Maui. Everyone is invited to dance to the beat of the taiko drums and enjoy traditional local Japanese food.

The Maui premiere of “A Plastic Ocean,” a feature-length adventure documentary that brings to light the consequences of our global disposable lifestyle, will be held on Thursday, Aug. 3, at the Historic Iao Theater at 68 North Market St. in Wailuku. Doors open at 5 p.m., the screening starts at 6 p.m. and a discussion on marine debris begins at 7:40 p.m. Admission is $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Proceeds will fund ongoing research and outreach projects conducted by Pacific Whale Foundation’s Research Team. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https://www.pacificwhale.org/plasticocean. PHOTO BY DAVID JONES.

The memorial service begins at 6 p.m., and the Bon Dance is slated for 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Food concessions open at 5:30 p.m.

There will be assorted sushi, bentos, nishime, somen salad, chow fun, andagi and many more prepared food items for sale. There will be games to play as well as craft items for sale. Contact “Noosh” Nishihara at 870-6478 for more information.

A Bon Dance practice session will be held on Aug. 8 at 7 p.m. on the temple grounds. Practice is open to anyone in the community interested in learning the dances. No experience is required; dress comfortably and prepare to have fun.

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New Scouting program coming to Maui

In many ways, "Chicho" was a man of mystery. Very few knew his history or his living situation. Residents would see him hitchhiking to and from his base somewhere in Kahana to Lahaina, always by himself. We do know he helped out at the Lahaina Christian Fellowship in Kahana, and, most of all, he was/is Lahainaluna High School’s number one fan. As far back as we can recall, Chicho was in the stands cheering on the Luna teams. No matter the sport, Chicho was there. He even made it to Honolulu to catch state tournament playoff games for the Lahainaluna football, basketball and softball teams. He endeared himself to the Lady Luna teams with lollipop bouquets and plumeria blossoms at practice times, and he always added to the good humor in the Lahainaluna bleachers. Chicho left this world recently, but there will always be a reserved seat for him in the Luna stands. Aloha to Lahainaluna’s number one fan. "Cheehoo" for Chicho!

KAHULUI – The Maui County Council of the Boy Scouts of America announced that a new Scouting program called Lion for kindergarten-age boys will be available as a national pilot for select councils, including the Maui County Council, this fall. It is unique, as it reaches out to a slightly younger group of boys than in years past.

The Lion program weaves traditional Scouting concepts of character development, leadership skills, personal fitness and citizenship into activities that are age-appropriate and fun for the boys and their parents.

The activities introduce the family to Scouting activities/principles and provide an exciting way for the boys to explore the world around them.

The program will fuel their imagination, creativity, and fun as they experience the growth Scouting can provide. At the end of the Lion year, they “graduate” to Tiger and advance through Cub Scouting.

For more information, visit the Scouting table at the Back to School event at Queen Ka’ahumanu Center on Saturday, Aug. 5, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. or call Maui County Council Scout Executive Duc Button at 244-3724.

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Fur Ball to benefit Maui Humane Society

PUUNENE – After a successful, sold-out event in 2016, the Fur Ball is back! Tickets are on sale now for the 2017 benefit, being presented by the Maui Humane Society and YourVet Maui.

“The Great Catsby: A Night of Purr-hibition” will be held on Saturday, Sept. 9, at the Four Seasons Resort Maui.

Transporting guests back to the magical era of the Roaring Twenties, the evening will include a premier buffet dinner, no-host bar (two drink vouchers are included with each ticket), live music and dancing, silent and live auctions, and much more. Each ticket also comes with $100 in casino chips to use in the speakeasy casino.

Individual tickets are $175 each, tables of ten are $1,750, and there are also a limited number of sponsorships still available.

All proceeds from this event will support Maui Humane Society’s many life-saving efforts. To buy tickets, or for more information, visit www.mauihumanesociety.org, e-mail Donate@MauiHumaneSociety.org or call (808) 877-3680, extension 219.

The event sold out a month in advance last year, so get your tickets now!

Maui Humane Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving the community for over 60 years, is Maui’s only open-admission animal shelter. Its mission is to protect and serve the lives of Maui’s animals (accepting all in need), educating the community and inspiring respect and compassion toward all animals.

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One-lane road closures in Kaupo expected through Sept. 1

WAILUKU – The county Department of Public Works announced that traffic closures related to pavement preservation work in Kaupo have switched to one-lane, rather than full closures. The contraflow measures are expected to continue through Sept. 1, while crews complete shoulder work and roadway traffic control remarking.

During the one-lane closures, the six advance warning signs from Hana to Kula will be updated.

The pavement preservation project began July 6 along Piilani Highway between mile markers 31 and 32. Work is being done (weather-permitting) between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding weekends and county holidays. Crews were overlaying hot mix on the highway as part of the department’s pavement preservation and roadway rehabilitation program.

For more information on the project, contact the Department of Public Works at 876-4590.