On Sept. 19, the Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra (HSO) will bring a free outdoor concert, Mele for Maui, to the Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows in Kā‘anapali. The event marks the orchestra’s first full‑orchestra performance on Maui since 2016 and is intended to celebrate the island’s resilience after the devastating August 2023 Lahaina wildfire.
Event details
The concert runs from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. under the open sky, with sunset expected at 6:38 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring low chairs or blankets; tents, pets, outside food, and fireworks are prohibited, though water is allowed. Gates open at 4:00 p.m. with food trucks and a local artisan market, The Branches, providing refreshments. After the performance, a post‑concert gathering will continue at The Branches until the 10 p.m. sound curfew.
Program and performers
Music and artistic director Dane Lam will lead all 64 HSO musicians. The program features works inspired by Maui’s landscape and people, including pieces by local artists Amy Hānaiali‘i Gilliom, Raiatea Helm, Keola Beamer, John Cruz, Jeff Peterson, and Kala‘e Camarillo. Compositions by Dr. Michael‑Thomas Foumai and a world premiere of “Rain Shadow” by Sean Hickey are also on the lineup.
Community significance
Mayor Richard Bissen highlighted the arts’ role in uniting residents across generations and backgrounds, noting that the free concert offers both locals and visitors a chance to experience world‑class music while honoring Maui’s cultural heritage. HSO’s music director emphasized that the orchestra’s name reflects a mission to serve all of Hawai‘i’s islands, making the return to Lahaina a symbolic gesture of inter‑island solidarity.
Streaming and access
The concert will be streamed live on HawaiiNewsNow.com and the HNN app (available on mobile, Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV). It will also air on K5 and be accessible via cable, satellite, and streaming platforms such as YouTube TV and Fubo.
Parking and transportation
Parking is provided at the Kā‘anapali Golf Course, with a complimentary shuttle service via the Kā‘anapali Trolley on a first‑come, first‑served basis.
Sponsorship
Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows serves as the presenting sponsor. Additional sponsors include Hawaiian Airlines, Hawaiian Council, and Hawaii News Now. The event also received a grant from the State of Hawai‘i Legislature.
Context
The concert takes place during National Classical Music Month, an annual celebration of classical music across the United States. It offers a cultural touchstone for a community still rebuilding from the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century, which claimed 101 lives in August 2023.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
