Lahaina restaurateur Mark Ellman is donating the money for the 2011 Halloween costume contest.

LAHAINA – Halloween night in Lahaina is one of Maui’s largest and most popular events.

This year, take the Maui Bus and enjoy the evening without having to drive or find parking.

For only $3 each way, the Lahaina Halloween Express will take you straight to all of the fun and return you home in comfort and safety.

Tickets will be available until Sunday, Oct. 30, at 5:30 p.m.

Express tickets are being sold on a first-come, first-served basis. They can only be bought in advance, in cash, at the following locations: Shell Gas Station Super Stop at 370 Dairy Road in Kahului and the Shell Gas Station, Blackie’s Pit Stop, at 30 Mana’o Kala St. in Kihei.

The Lahaina Halloween Express will depart from Central and South Maui on Oct. 31 from the following locations: in front of the Wailuku War Memorial Stadium/Track (on the Iron Maehara parking lot side) at 700 Halia Nakoa St., and Kihei Aquatic Center’s mauka parking lot at 303 E. Lipoa St. Kihei.

At War Memorial, rides will depart at 6, 6:30 and 7 p.m. and return at 10:30 p.m., 11 p.m. and midnight.

From Kihei Aquatic Center, the buses will leave at 4:30, 5, 6 and 6:30 p.m. and return at 9 p.m., 10 p.m., 11 p.m. and midnight.

In addition, the regular Maui Bus service will be extended for both the Kaanapali Islander (Route 25) and Napili Islander (Route 30) on Halloween night.

No reservations are required; the cost is the normal rate of $1 each way.

Transit schedules for the Kaanapali Islander will be increased starting at 3:30 p.m. to run every 20 minutes, departing from Whalers Village in Kaanapali and stopping at Lahaina Cannery Mall and The Wharf Cinema Center. The last departing bus from Lahaina Town leaves from the Wharf at 11:30 p.m.

Transit schedules for the Napili Islander will be increased at 9 p.m. to run every hour from Whalers Village. The last Napili-bound bus will depart Whalers Village at midnight.

For more information on Maui County bus routes, visit the County of Maui’s website.

Featuring a keiki parade and major costume contest in Banyan Tree Park, Halloween in Lahaina will return to Front Street on Monday, Oct. 31.

LahainaTown Action Committee and the county Office of Economic Development aim to host a family friendly event for Maui residents and visitors. This year’s theme is “Halloween in Lahaina-Back on Front.”

“Kudos to the LahainaTown Action Committee and the county Office of Economic Development for putting this all together,” said Mayor Alan Arakawa.

“It’s these sorts of events which will help to jump-start Maui’s economy and reinvigorate our small businesses,” he continued.

“Just remember to stay safe, have fun, respect others and watch out for one another this Halloween.”

Front Street will be closed to vehicular traffic from 3:30 p.m. to midnight from Baker to Prison Street. No street parking will be permitted.

Employees parked in lots with ingress/egress only from Front Street will not be able to exit the lots from 3:30 p.m. to midnight.

A Halloween tradition, the 33rd annual Keiki Halloween Costume Parade sponsored by Lahaina Rotary Club, Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunrise and Soroptimist International of West Maui will begin at 4:30 p.m.

Maui keiki are invited to come in costume and parade down Front Street to Banyan Tree Park, where they will receive a congratulatory ribbon and bag of treats.

Come meet Mayor Arakawa and his wife, Anne, and enjoy The Royal Hawaiian Guard marching in the parade.

Live entertainment at Campbell Park (located between The Wharf Cinema Center and Baldwin Home) begins at 6 p.m. with 1810 and Sounds of Addiction.

All are invited to enjoy face painting and other keiki activities at Campbell Park, and enter the costume contest sponsored by Honu Seafood & Pizza and Mala Ocean Tavern with a $1,000 grand prize. Registration will be held from 6 to 8:45 p.m.

“Back on Front” T-shirts and ono grinds will be available for purchase starting at 4 p.m. in Campbell Park.

Halloween in Lahaina is supported by sales of the “official” Halloween T-Shirt on sale now at the Lahaina Visitor Center in the Old Lahaina Courthouse daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The shirts will also be sold at Campbell Park on Fright Night.

At 6 p.m. in Banyan Tree Park, Deejay Jonathan Scott will start spinning tunes. The big costume contest hosted by Maui’s own Branscombe Richmond is set for 7 to 9 p.m., with winners announced at 9:30 p.m.

In related news, Lahaina Cannery Mall will provide a safe, air-conditioned place for families to enjoy Halloween magic, trick-or-treating, face painting, crafts and its famous keiki costume contest on Oct. 31. The event is free for the whole family.

Trick-or-treating kicks off at 5 p.m., as well as spellbinding family magic from the Kupanaha performers.

Lahaina Cannery Mall’s keiki costume contest follows at 6 p.m. More than a dozen prizes will be given away in four age groups (0-2, 3-4, 5-8 and 9-12), plus scariest, cutest and most-creative costume.

Also check out Ichabod’s Haunted House at the mall in the former Compadres space.

Across from Banyan Tree Park at 658 Front St., The Wharf Cinema Center’s 28th annual Ghoulish Gala Karaoke Costume Contest will return Oct. 31.

The Keiki Karaoke Contest will be held from 6 to 7 p.m., and the Ghoulish Gala starts at 7 p.m. Registration for both contests begins at 5 p.m. Lahaina’s own Toddy Lilikoi will serve as emcee for the evening.

Contestants must be in costume to qualify. More than $1,500 in prizes – including Wharf Bucks, activities, travel, meals and gifts from Wharf shops and restaurants – will be awarded. Admission and registration are free.

Face painting will be offered at The Wharf all day from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Halloweenville on the mid-level will open at 9:30 a.m., and as the sun gets ready to set, the Halloween Family Photo shop on the Plaza level will be open from 5 to 8 p.m. Take “picture perfect” souvenirs to remember Halloween 2011 in Lahaina.

Following the Ghoulish Gala, entertainment continues at The Wharf with Marty Dread rocking at Cool Cat Cafe from 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Nacho “El Mariachi” will perform at Amigo’s from 6 to 10 p.m., and Jay’s Place will host special entertainment from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.

The Fuzz Box will perform at Da Kitchen at The Wharf from 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., and Monsoon India Lahaina will have Bollywood music and a movie from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Entrances to The Wharf’s parking lots are located on Luakini and Wainee streets, or catch the Maui Bus from Kaanapali, Maalaea, Central and South Maui directly to the center. For information, call 661-8748.

New for Halloween in Lahaina, a First Aid Station/Lost Person Tent will be located at Banyan Tree Park at the corner of Front and Canal streets for the town’s Halloween celebration.

This year, there will be more light towers than previous Halloween in Lahaina events. Porta-Potties will be located on Papalaua, Market and Canal streets, as well as Lahainaluna Road.

The county urges Halloween revelers to obey the laws: underage drinking, public alcohol consumption and public nudity are not allowed.

For more information on Lahaina’s Halloween celebration, call Jill Holley or Lynn Donovan at LahainaTown Action Committee at 667-9175.