The community is invited to cheer on the Lahaina Chiefs teams at their home games on Oct. 25 and Nov. 15.

LAHAINA – One of the fondest memories of life here on the Valley Isle is the “onolicious” food offered up at the annual Maui Fair. Indeed, it becomes a scientific research project in perusing the phalanx of soul kitchens in the food court at the event to choose a favorite – or perhaps top five – to delightfully silence the growling howl in our midsections and catch the bucket of drool as our tongues do the hula.

Inevitably, the teri-burger makes it to the belly bong playoffs as we build our Haleakala plate with one – or four – of the mouthwatering local favorites to energize our enjoyment of fun days and nights at the War Memorial fairgrounds facility in Wailuku.

This year, the Lahaina Chiefs Pop Warner Football Tiny Mite, Junior Peewee and Peewee Division teams combined to offer up the teri-burgers as their major fundraising event of the year. According to JPW President Ui Castro, the effort was a resounding success.

“Oh my goodness – our teri-burger fundraiser was a huge success,” she bubbled last week. “After expenses, we made $13,120 that will go directly to the Lahaina Chiefs organizations for new equipment, especially for helmets and shoulder pads.”

“So today, our primary goal is to send our heartfelt thank you to all of the businesses, organizations and individuals that support us throughout the year, and especially for our Maui Fair fundraiser. To all of those who donated their time, energy and resources to the effort, we say thank you so very much. We are extremely grateful for the support from the local businesses and the dedication of our volunteer coaches, board members and club parents.”

In particular, Castro, who serves as president of the Chiefs JPW program, expressed the organization’s gratitude to the following: Leilani’s on the Beach and General Manager Jason Donez and his staff for once again hitting a grand slam home run in the community contribution championships by grilling all 4,400 teri-burgers throughout the fair days; Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Pulehu Kitchen and Food and Beverage Director Brandon Maeda for prepping all of the vegetables for the Chiefs’ fundraiser; the Marriott Ocean Club for their donation of condiments and cases of teri-burgers; Fleetwood’s on Front St. for condiments; Old Lahaina Luau and Feast at Lele for vegetables; and to Plantation House Restaurant for contributing vegetables.

Also, the Chiefs send a big mahalo to the fabulously friendly folks at Lahaina Ace Hardware for their donation of supplies used to construct the organization’s booth at the fair, Island Grocery Depot for cases of teri-burgers, and to Napili Kai Beach Resort for their cash donation to the cause.

“So, as we approach the midpoint of our season, the Lahaina Chiefs would like to say thank you to the entire West Side community for their continued support of the program. All of the Chiefs teams are doing well, and we will have home games coming up on October 25 and November 15. Please come out and cheer for the teams,” Castro concluded.

Imua, Lahaina Chiefs!