If your clients are spending Halloween in Hawaii this year, tell
them to pack their costumes and get ready for spine-tingling tricks
and treats at events on Maui, Oahu and The Big Island.
The West Maui town of Lahaina goes all out each Oct. 31 with
spooky and silly activities for visitors of all ages. Thousands of
participants, many in outrageous garb, head to Front Street, which
is closed to vehicular traffic from 3:30 p.m. until shortly after
midnight to accommodate the afternoon and evening festivities.
Ghoulish Gatherings
Each year on Halloween only, Front Street becomes
pedestrian-friendly from Baker Street on the north end of town to
Prison Street on the south end. The closure extends to Shaw Street
during the children’s parade, from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Hundreds of
tiny spooks and superheroes make their way down Front Street to
Kamehameha Iki Park, next to 505 Front Street, where each will
receive a parade ribbon and a free bag of goodies to start off
their night of trick-or-treating.
Starting at 5 p.m., Lahaina’s Banyan Tree Park sets the stage
for the Halloween Arts Festival, where event-goers can have their
faces painted and fortunes read, and where they can buy Halloween
masks. Nonprofit groups sell an array of foods such as roast pork
sandwiches, fresh salads and shaved ice, Hawaii’s answer to the
snow cone laced with syrups of tropical flavors. During Halloween
in Lahaina, performers and musicians regale revelers at various
areas along Front Street, at Banyan Tree Park and the Wharf Cinema
Center.
During various costume contests, the most spectacular and
creative outfits take center stage. Participants compete for such
prizes as free activities and dinners. The main competition begins
at 7 p.m. at Banyan Tree Park, with a grand prize of $1,000.
Halloween in Lahaina is supported by the sale of the official
Halloween T-shirt, available at Front Street stores, the Lahaina
Visitor Center in the Old Lahaina Courthouse and at the event on
Halloween night. The T-shirt costs $20, and tank tops go for
$18.
Call the Lahaina Town Action Committee at 888-310-1117.
Scary Stories
Outrigger Hotels & Resorts is presenting two free Halloween
events featuring Hawaii-based storyteller Rick Carroll, author of a
series of books called “Chicken Skin: True Spooky Stories of
Hawaii.” Clients can hear Carroll’s stories of odd encounters with
the unknown, haunted houses and heiau (sacred temples), aumakua
(family gods) and ancient bones, night marchers and strange noises,
ghosts in graveyards and things that go bump in the night.
Over the years, Carroll has collected the stories from native
Hawaiians, local journalists, nationally known authors, scientists
and skeptics, frequent visitors and island residents, all of whom
have experienced the inexplicable in Hawaii. He claims that every
story is true, and each comes with plenty of “chicken skin” (goose
bumps).
On Oct. 28, Carroll will appear in the upper lobby of the
Outrigger Waikiki on Oahu, accompanied by a dozen Hawaii
storytellers.
On Oct. 31, a similar presentation will take place under the
stars at the luau grounds at Outrigger Waikoloa Beach on The Big
Island.
In both settings, audience members are invited to share their
own experiences with the unexplained.
Call 800-688-7444.