… Well, amidst all the political brouhaha — fund-raisers, parties and speeches — LAHAINATOWN ACTION COMMITTEE paired with LAHAINA ARTS SOCIETY and managed to squeeze in an evening to bless the reopening of the art gallery (LAS) and announce the winner of the Lahaina Poster for 2011 (LAC)…

… the winner is DARYL MALLARD with a beautiful oil painting titled “Arrival of the Princess at the Feast at Lele” — a lovely work evoking days of old. The painting also won the “People’s Choice” award from nearly 100 votes cast by visitors to the Old Jail Gallery on the day of judging. All the entries are high-caliber — check them out at the Old Lahaina Courthouse in the Old Jail Gallery downstairs…

… the evening was a great success due to the hard work of LAC’s LYNN DONOVAN and LAS’ AMY WATSON — great food and much ambiance…

… This week, I had occasion to visit LANAI — a favorite haunt in younger days — and was astonished by the upgrades that add to the charm of the island. The harbor now has attractive buildings and green lawns. It’s a short walk to Manele Bay with a mauka campground with attractive tents for visitors and another campground on the beach for residents — everything pristine clean. Then we drove to Lanai City on the tall pine tree-lined road (they were keiki trees last time I was there). The town now has old plantation houses turned into attractive small shops for visitors and locals, and old plantation houses attractively upgraded. Take a day to visit — Expeditions has five roundtrips daily. You’ll be glad you did!…

… and LahainaTown Action Committee is planning a Halloween event, “HALLOWEEN BASH 2010,” to be held at the Lahaina Store oyster bar location open to teenagers 13-18 with school I.D. There will be rooftop dancing with a deejay from 6 to 10 p.m. …

… and parents — not to be outdone — and others will have their own event in the CELLAR with music and adult food and drinks. More on both these events later. LAC’s GEORGE PAOA is heading the event…

… and in the rest of the world, the news was centered on the Sept. 11 anniversary, which should be a day of quiet reflection instead of all the negative attention toward publicity-seeking men of the cloth, and demonstrations as to whether a mosque building can be built two blocks from the hallowed ground. AUWE…

… and the President is trying his hand at Middle East peace — seems like every President gets them to shake hands and agree. Then they trot off home, and first thing they do is disagree. Well, maybe this time it will work…   

… and back in our town, last Wednesday saw the blessing and ground breaking for the Lahaina Harbor improvements — finally!! Sen. ROZ BAKER and Rep. ANGUS McKELVEY worked hard to get this project through the legislature. During the opening remarks, Sen. Baker slyly peeked over her glasses at the contractor — if he could only slip a change order through to slice off the mast of the boat wreck that’s been sitting in the harbor since Halloween five years ago — PLEASE???…

… and Saturday is Primary Day — SO GO VOTE!!!…

Up Front Lahaina is a twice monthly feature. To protect his innocence, the writer chooses to remain anonymous. The views expressed in this column belong to the author, and do not necessarily represent the views of the Lahaina News staff and owners.