The big screen at the smokestack will be lit up again on Thursday, Oct. 20 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. when Lahaina Plantation Days kicks off with the popular Movie Night featuring Great Grandfathers Drum.

The documentary, Great Grandfather's Drum, celebrates Japanese-American culture and history in Hawaii. It is an inspiring century-long story of struggle and success in the greatest American tradition.

This story is told through an intimate and joyful portrait of Maui Taiko, a contemporary Japanese-American drum ensemble, as well as by descendants of plantation workers, and by elders who lived this history. Experience Maui Taiko's energetic performances on the giant drums, and travel with them on a heartfelt journey back to rural Japan to seek their ancestral roots.

Maui Taiko will open the movie with a dynamic live performance on stage. The Plantation Life Tent, with a new exhibit of plantation era artifacts will be open for viewing. Two food booths, as well as soda/water and beer/wine booths will also be open on Movie Night. There is ample, free parking on site.

The full Lahaina Plantation Days will be held on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 21 and 22 from 5 to 10 pm including 20 food booths, a beer & wine garden, carnival games and horse rides for kids, Hawaiian and Japanese cultural areas, farmers market, historical displays, plantation exhibits, and the best of island music including Da Braddahs, Makaha Sons and Na Wai Ho’olu’u o ke Anuenue.

Admission to Lahaina Plantation Days is $3 per night or $5 for a 3 day pass. Tickets are available on site and one month in advance at www.lahainarestoration.org

Lahaina Plantation Days was created to celebrate the lives of the people who worked in the fields, toiled in the mill, and lived in the camps during Lahaina’s plantation era from 1860 to 1999. A prominent feature of the event is the restored Pioneer Mill Company smokestack and brick walkway which encircles its base. The bricks are engraved with the names of the community and logos of supporting businesses and read as a “whose who” of Lahaina, then and now. Bricks may be purchased at www.lahainarestoration.org

Lahaina Plantation Days is supported in part by Ka’anapali Land Management, the County of Maui Office of Economic Development and Hawaii Tourism Authority. It is coordinated by Lahaina Restoration Foundation.

Event planning meetings are underway and volunteers continue to be sought. Please call our event coordinator Anela Haina at 661-3262 if you are interested in being on the planning committee.