The Emma Farden Sharpe Hula Festival will be held in Banyan Tree Park from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 12-13. The festivities also include "Celebrating Hula, Lahaina Style" at Lahaina's Second Friday Town Party from 5 to 8:30 p.m. on Aug. 12 in Campbell Park.

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 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.

The Shops at Wailea will welcome talented musician and Kumu Hula Kamaka Kukona on Wednesday, Aug. 16, at 5:30 p.m. at the Fountain Courtyard. Concerts at The Shops is a free monthly concert series that is open to the public and features headlining musicians from all the Hawaiian Islands. This music event occurs on the third Wednesday of every month from 5:30 to 7 p.m. with performances at the main Fountain Courtyard.

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Dramatic reading set

KIHEI – Kihei Public Library will host “Discovering the Classics” with Papa Lopaka on Wednesday, Aug. 16, at 3 p.m.

Keiki ages six and older can join Papa Lopaka (Robert DeVinck) for a dramatic reading of a Classics Illustrated comic book, “Green Mansions” by W. H. Hudson.

A brief discussion and Q&A session will follow. Read more about the event at www.librarieshawaii.org /event/discovering-the-classics-with-papa-lopaka-9/.

“The Roots of ‘Ulu,” a documentary film that follows the journey of breadfruit in Hawaii, starting with the Polynesian voyaging canoes that brought the plant from Tahiti, will be shown on Saturday, Aug. 12, in the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s McCoy Studio Theater at 5 p.m. The story continues to the present day efforts of native practitioners, medical specialists and agricultural experts who share a vision of the ‘ulu tree playing an important role in cultural preservation, health restoration and food sustainability. The screening will be followed by a discussion with Co-producers John Antonelli and Matt Yamashita along with some Maui-based ‘ulu experts, including Mike Opgenorth, director of the Kahanu Garden and Preserve. Tickets are $10; call 242-SHOW.

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Blood drive set

WAILUKU – Summer is in full swing and the perfect time to save lives. This season is traditionally challenging across the nation. For Hawaii, it has been exceptionally challenging to get enough donors in the door to meet Hawaii patients’ blood needs, the Blood Bank of Hawaii reported.

As a special mahalo for blood donors rallying to save lives, BBH has an enter-to-win promotion for a vacation and grocery giveaway.

For people donating between now and Sept. 4, 2017, donors will be entered to win a weekly giveaway of a $100 Foodland gift card, as well as the grand prize of a three-night Neighbor Island getaway compliments of Castle Resorts & Hotels, including airfare on Hawaiian Airlines and a $250 gift card. For more details and official rules, go to BBH.org/promotions.

Sign up to save lives today. The general requirements to be a blood donor are simple: be in good health, 18 years of age or older (16- to 17-year-old donors need a signed Blood Bank of Hawaii parent/legal guardian consent), weigh 110 pounds or more (additional height/ weight requirements apply for female donors 16-18 years old), and bring a photo ID with date of birth.

A blood drive will be held in the Cameron Center Auditorium on Aug. 21 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Aug. 22 from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Aug. 23 from 7:45 a.m. to 3 p.m., Aug. 24 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Aug. 25 from 7:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. To make an appointment, or for more information, call the Blood Bank of Hawaii at (808) 848-4770 or visit BBH.org.

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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).

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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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 270-7443.