It's been a tradition for years: each year, my father, Duke, and I attend the Slack Key Festival at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center. It's usually held the weekend after Father's Day, and we join hundreds of other music fans. We all bring beach chairs and blankets, looking forward to great music and local food.
Famed musician and composer, George Kahumoku Jr.'s hosted his 12th annual Maui Slack Key Guitar & Ukulele Workshop, the week before in Napili, with students performing at the Slack Key Festival. Bobby Moderow Jr's performance left us all with chicken skin (goose bumps-in a good way!), and it was a treat to see such performers as Ikaika Brown and Jeff Peterson.
Artisans from around the islands also bring their wares. The stand out at this year's festival were the leis of Maile Bailey-they are gorgeous! She weaves intricate floral designs out of ginger petals and ti leaves. Her sales associate let me snap a picture to share with you. Ti leaf leis are often saved for special occasions like weddings and baby showers. I've never seen such beautiful designs, and given how hearty they are (you can freeze them until you can use them later), they would be a wonderful accent to any special occasion.
I asked for Ms. Bailey's contact information. If you'd like to order her one of a kind lei designs, you can reach her at 808-214-5618 or 808-298-7169.
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