We’re happy to introduce the the Hui No‘eau Mural Project! To help support this project and for the detailed schedule of events, see huinoeau.com/support/donate. Mahalo!

Click this link for reWALL PDF

Click here for great inspiration for revitalizing our town with more food options!  A quick article on a foodcart pod in Oregon that could possibly have an adjacent cocktail bar soon? Sounds yummy and perfect for our town!

The ReWAILUKU workshop was just the beginning.  As the Mayor’s Office, County Staff and Maui Redevelopment Agency work to coordinate infrastructure improvements, bring us bike racks and assist with the parking shortage (just to name a few), Sae Design, a local graphic-design company in Wailuku, has also begun working on defining the town’s brand.  With over 15 years of experience, the design team really understands branding and its importance in creating a unified look for a town.  Through listening to the community, Sae Design will grasp even a better feel for the town they are already so accustomed with.  The branding process will proceed in phases – Phase 1 is currently underway and will amount to 16 weeks of research, community participation and brand development.

The launching phase begins with Organization, Research and Assessment.  One week of Branding Exercises, starting on September 18 and ending on September 21, will be held on the corner of Main St. and Market St. at 1980 Main St (see attached flyer for exact times).  These workshops will provide us with the ideas and vision to steer the branding process.  These workshops will be open to invited target markets as well as the general public.  To distill this information, we will form an Advisory Committee with the guidance of the Wailuku Community Association.  This committee will work as a team to develop Wailuku’s core values, beliefs, visuals and brand goals based on workshop findings.

Once this process is completed, we will present the completed brand book to the MRA for approval in late October.  This book will include all research and a defined brand for Wailuku.  Please feel free to join us during this creative process! To keep updated with progress and to get involved, send your name and email to ashley@saedesign.com or check out http://www.rewailuku.com.

Iao Theater stars in its own ghost story

at big screen simulcast with SYFY Channel

Free limited seating for first 350 attendees August 29

Doors Open at 4 pm, show time 5 pm

WAILUKU – If you love things that go bump in the night, especially unexplained happenings tied in with local folklore, then prepare for major chicken skin on Wednesday, August 29th .

On the big screen at historic Iao Theater, Maui County Film Office and Maui OnStage (MOS) will debut the much-anticipated “Haunted Iao Theater” episode, in simulcast with the SYFY Channel cable broadcast at 5 pm, check your provider’s listings for accuracy. This will be the final episode of SYFY’s “Haunted Collector” season featuring the story of Iao Theater’s resident “ghost” and other mysterious activity on the historic grounds.

Harmer Communications will provide the live satellite feed for the Theater debut. Free seating will be limited to the first 350 attendees.

Doors open at 4 pm, followed by an introduction by Michael Pulliam, Special Events Manager for Maui On Stage and Harry L. Donenfeld, Film Commissioner for Maui County at 4:30 pm. A special blessing will then kick off the 5 pm screening.

Last year, Pulliam and Donenfeld worked with SYFY Channel producers of the Haunted Collector to bring to life the mystery and ghosts that inhabit Iao Theater. Some of the most convincing paranormal activity and audio footage have been captured on film for the episode, as well as a reveal of intriguing items from the past found buried outside the Theater.

Along with the Iao Theater ghost stories, the broadcast debut will feature a corresponding segment on the Lanai Island’s Social Hall and Carriage House, also thought to be haunted with its own spirits.

According to the Oceanic Time Warner website, the Haunted Collector will air on the SYFY Channel on August 29, 5 pm HST and a second time at 7 pm, check your provider’s listings for accuracy. For those who missed the special broadcast at Iao Theater, Maui OnStage will be screening the episode several times over Halloween.

How Iao’s Haunted episode originated

In early 2011, Maui OnStage was contacted by the SyFy Channel to conduct a paranormal investigation of the building. A round concrete casing was found and believed to be a time capsule with items from the early years of the Theater’s operations.

By approval of the MOS board, the “Haunted Collector” investigating team opened the capsule for the cameras and discovered an 80-year-old piece of 16mm celluloid film, 2 postcards of Maui pineapple fields from the 1920s and a sterling silver barrette.

According to the team, clear film footage of a “ghost” examining the items upon their unearthing and an audio recording of Hawaiian chanting emitting from underneath the stage were captured for the episode.

The unknown actress of Iao Theater

For years, several Theater employees have also encountered a sweet, feminine, friendly ghost residing in the area that they affectionately call “Emma”.

In the summer of 2011 a medium that specializes in conversing with the dead came to visit Iao Theater with no prior knowledge of any encounters. Her talk with “Emma” revealed that the spirit likes residing in the building, loves to dance, loves to watch the shows, wanted to be a movie star and is happy that her things were found.

Huge shoutout to Teens on Call who have been keeping Wailuku’s streets clean! As part of ReWAILUKU, we’ve made a commitment to beautifying the town and this has been one of the first steps!  Say goodbye to the weeds…these boys have taken care of them!

Looking for dinner in Wailuku?  The great cooks at VINEYARD FOOD COMPANY are hosting a series of six pop-up dinners at 1931 Vineyard (Between Market and Central) Friday and Sat nights beginning next week Friday July 13 and Sat July 14 and continuing every Fri/Sat through the end of the month.

Fridays are low cost and family friendly.

Saturdays are upscale gourmet feasts.

All 6 are BYOB (beer/wine), family seating, informal attire.

Here’s a link to a story about the events:
REVITALIZING WAILUKU ONE BITE AT A TIME

A new study by the Brooking’s Institute has found that suburban living is out and urban living is in. Click here to read the article. Let’s do this, Wailuku!

(From left to right) THE REWAILUKU TEAM – David Yamashita: Maui County Planner, Saedene Ota: Wailuku Community Association Board Member, Erin Wade: Maui County Planning Department, Kathleen Kern: Maui County Planner, Ashley Takitani: Wailuku Community Association Board Member (photo: Matthew Thayer, Maui News)

ReWAILUKU continues its forward movement.  After taking comments and suggestions from the community in the ReWAILUKU workshop, the information was compiled, presented and now we’re putting it to action. Read the full Maui News article here.

We want to throw a huge shaka and a mahalo out to Maui Time for doing such a great write-up on reWAILUKU during the workshop!  Click here to read the full story.  How cool is this cover artwork too?! You guys rock!