Ugale

LAHAINA — Chinese and Filipino “Cultural Camps” will be among the exciting lineup of activities at this year’s Lahaina Plantation Days on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 22-23.

Presented by Lahaina Restoration Foundation (LRF), the second annual event will be held on the Pioneer Mill site surrounding the historic smokestack on Lahainaluna Road.

Event hours are 5 to 10 p.m. on Oct. 22, and 4 to 10 p.m. on Oct. 23.

“This year, the event will highlight two of the many cultures that played an integral role in the creation of what we know as ‘local culture,’ “ said Nestor Ugale Jr., LRF program director.

“It’ll be an amazing showcase presented by generations of Chinese and Filipinos, and an opportunity to learn more about our island’s multicultural heritage.”

The Wo Hing Temple has been a part of the Front Street façade for over 100 years. The event will pay tribute to the contributions and lasting legacies of the Chinese culture in Hawaii and during Lahaina’s Plantation Era.

The Wo Hing Society and LRF are proud to present “Lahaina Chinatown” — a visual illustration of Chinese culture in Lahaina. Attendees will have an opportunity to observe traditional techniques for practicing good health of the body and mind.

Event attendees will also learn how to prepare Chinese recipes from the experts, learn Tai Chi from a master and explore their creativity at the Chinese arts and crafts area.

Fu Lin, Lahaina’s newest Chinese restaurant, will feature their traditional cooking styles through fresh and very popular modern dishes.

If this is not enough to entice your Chinese food fix, be sure to catch the strolling “Manapua Man” as he wanders through the event serving up freshly steamed manapua.

The Lahaina Filipino Catholic Club (LFCC) will proudly present their heritage through food, song and dance.

They say that the best way to understand a culture is by understanding its food. This year’s Lahaina Plantation Days will feature traditional lechon (Filipino-style roasted pig), balut (fermented duck egg), as well as the standard pancit, lumpia and various Filipino desserts known as cancanun.

Prepared ahead of time, the balut will bring forth lovers of this delicacy and tickle the curiosity of those who have never seen it before. Fresh lumpia, pancit and lechon will be prepared onsite for all to try.

The Filipino story is not complete without song and dance. The LFCC and the Junior LFCC, along with Lawrence Pascua’s dance troupe La Galeria: Compania Baile Filipino will present a series of traditional Filipino dances representative of the many regions of the Philippines.

The Filipino Cultural Camp will also feature a variety of other activities. Children ages 12-18 are invited to sign up to take part in the Greased Pole Climbing Contest on Friday from 7 to 8 p.m. for a cash prize.

Children and adults are encouraged to come and visit with some of the original Sakadas — original Filipino recruits to the plantation workforce of Hawaii in the early 1900s — who will be visiting and sharing their experiences with open hearts.

For tickets and more information, call 661-3262 or visit www.LahainaRestoration.org. General admission is $3 per person; keiki five and under will be admitted free. Special $2 early admission will be offered Saturday only from 4 to 5 p.m. Event parking is free.