… Well, last weekend was sure a busy one — on Friday, I attended the DAVID PAQUETTE concert in the FRONT STREET JAZZ AND BLUES WALK at the PIONEER INN. It was just like old times, with many of the old-timers who regularly came to listen to David when he played there in the 1970s and ’80s on hand. He was happy as a clam to be back in Lahaina staying at the Pioneer Inn. “I even have my old room back,” he said gleefully…

… BILL BURTON and the MAUI JAZZ SOCIETY are to be congratulated for the success of the event. Let’s hope it becomes an annual one!…

… then on Saturday morning, LAHAINA RESTORATION FOUNDATION held its Annual Meeting at the PIONEER MILL SMOKESTACK. The area was perfect for the event, now sporting a brand new lawn. And the commemorative tiles around the stack look great. Couldn’t find mine — I’ll just have to go back and keep looking…

… then Saturday evening was the DAVID MALO DAY ho’olaule’a at Boarders’ Field at LAHAINALUNA HIGH SCHOOL. This annual event put on by the Luna boarders is a must. First a great poi supper, and then the concert. But this year — the first time ever — the skies opened up and down came the rain. BUT, the Boarders’ Chorus kept on going — absolutely STOIC. The piano shorted out and there were a few other electrical glitches, but they kept on. The Hawaiiana Club came on and didn’t miss a beat. This class is to be congratulated — they completed the program, and a lovely program it was. Absolutely stoic they were!!…

… I understand the swap meet is coming back — must we have this eyesore at the entrance to Lahaina? AUWE!…

… I read where HAWAIIAN AIR is planning to add 32 new airbuses by the end of the decade. Thirty-two? I don’t know about you, but to me, the idea of 32 more of those behemoths flying around our skies doesn’t thrill me at all — it sure won’t help the polar bears or the penguins!…

… and over in the Middle East, the Libya civil war keeps raging. Gaddafi keeps holding his seat in the tent, and the way it looks to me, it’s going to take a mighty shove to dislodge him. But let’s hope it’s someone else that delivers the shove and not us!!…

… this past weekend, LAHAINATOWN ACTION COMMITTEE celebrated the 175th Birthday of the Banyan Tree with all kinds of activities under the tree and a huge birthday cake donated once again by HAROLD HARDCASTLE of The Bakery. Mahalo to all the musicians who donated their time and all the volunteers who make these events succeed…

… and the “Birther” thing is rearing its ugly head again, with Donald Trump getting in on the act. Surely there are still locals around who remember his parents (in addition to the governor)? Nurses? Doctors? There weren’t that many OB-GYNs practicing at Kapiolani then. But I’m sure that the long form with all the birth details has been viewed by the governor, etc. Why do these things have to be kept secret anyway? Oh well…

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.