Saturday & Sunday, December 8 & 9:
Nutcracker Sweets.  Maui audiences are in for a sweet treat this holiday season when Maui Academy of Performing Arts (MAPA) presents Nutcracker Sweets, a delightful family-friendly adaptation of the treasured classic featuring 120 MAPA students.  With sumptuous costumes and inspired choreography set to the timeless Tchaikovsky score, Nutcracker Sweets is a must-see holiday event for all ages.  Maui Arts & Cultural Center, Castle Theater, 1 Cameron Way, Kahului. Saturday 7 p.m., Sunday 3 p.m.  For tickets and information call (808) 242-7469 or visit www.mauiarts.org.

Every Friday: 
Candlelit Tours at the Baldwin Home Museum.  Step back in time and visit the Baldwin Home Museum with a tour by candle light. Tours include free light refreshments on the lanai. Tours take place on the half hour from 6 to 8 p.m. Located on the corner of Front and Dickenson Street in the heart of historic Lahaina. Admission: $7 per person/$5 Senior Citizens (65+), Military and Kama`aina; children 12 & under free.  For information visit www.lahainarestoration.org.

Every Friday:
Maui Friday Town Parties. Enjoy food, live entertainment, shopping and art. Many retailers, galleries and boutiques operate extended hours and highlight special promotions. Crafters, artisans and culinary wizards add their creativity to the event.  6 to 9 p.m.  December 7 – Wailuku, on Market Street; December 14 – Lahaina, on Front Street; December 21 – Makawao, on Makawao and Baldwin Avenues; December 28 – on South Kihei Rd., Azeka Shopping Center.   For more information on Maui Town Parties, visit www.mauifridays.com.

Thursday, December 6: 
SEA-son of Giving Shopping and Charity Event.  An annual holiday shopping charity event to support local nonprofits including MOC Marine Institute, Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project, Maui Nui Marine Resource Council and more. Take a picture with Santa, and enjoy over 20 local vendors throughout the Aquarium.  Evening highlights also include live performances by the Maui Community Band, the Renaissance singing group Maui Madrigales, and the The Chop Suey Jazz Orchestra as well as Maui Ocean Center’s unique holiday tradition – a visit from Scuba Claus in the Open Ocean exhibit. Admission is $9.95 when booked online or with a donation of one unwrapped, new toy or 5-pound bag of rice per person to benefit the Maui Food Bank and Friends of the Children’s Justice Center of Maui. General Admission is $15.00.  Evening highlights include Aquarium exhibits, live music, Maui Art & Craft Fair, dive presentations with SCUBA Claus, 30% off select holiday items at Maui Ocean Treasures gift shop, holiday menu at Reef Café, free drawings & prizes.  Maui Ocean Center, 192 Ma`alaea Rd., Ma`alaea. 6 to 9 p.m. For tickets and information call (808) 270-7059 or visit www.mauioceancenter.com.

Every Wednesday and Thursday: 
Maui Humane Society’s Beach Buddies Visitor Program. Do you miss having a dog to spend your day with? Visitors and residents can sign up to take a homeless dog out for the day from the Maui Humane Society animal shelter. The shelter is easy to find as it is conveniently located in Pu`unene (central Maui) on Mokulele Hwy., between Kihei/Wailea and Kahului. Program participants will pick “their dog” up at 10 a.m. and bring them back no later than 3 p.m. MHS provides all of the supplies, you just provide the fun! Advance registration is mandatory as space is often filled weeks in advance. Register online at www.mauihumanesociety.org.

Every Wednesday: 
Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Concert.  Enjoy renowned slack key masters who are true ambassadors of their music, their culture and their land for an evening of traditional Hawaiian songs and authentic “talk-story”.  December 5 – Led Ka`apana; December 12 – Jeff Peterson; December 19 – Nathan Aweau; December 26 – Herb Ohta, Jr. & Jon Yamasato. Dinner/Show packages are available. Located at the Sea House Restaurant at the Napili Kai Beach Resort (except for November 28<sup>th</sup> show with Raiatea Helm), 5900 Lower Honoapi`ilani Hwy., Napili. Doors open 6:45 p.m., show begins 7:30 p.m., event ends at 9:30. For tickets and information call (888) 669-3858 or visit www.slackkeyshow.com

Sunday, December 2:
Holiday Pops Featuring Henry Kapono.  Under the baton of music director James Durham, the 50+ member Maui Pops Orchestra extends an invitation to ring in the holiday season with a festive concert featuring Grammy Award-nominated and 14-time Nā Hōkū Hanohano award-winner, Henry Kapono. The concert will feature some of his most-loved songs of the islands, as well as many holiday favorites. Allow the joy of it all to draw you into the spirit of the season! Maui Arts & Cultural Center, Castle Theater, 1 Cameron Way, Kahului.  3 p.m.  For tickets and information call (808) 242-7469 or visit www.mauiarts.org.

Friday, November 30: 
Pint Night for the Birds.  Half the pub profits from house beers sold will go towards protecting native birds on Maui. Enjoy local beers while helping endangered species.  Please drink responsibly and have a designated driver.  Maui Brewing Company Brewpub, 4405 Honoapi`ilani Hwy. (Kahana Gateway Shopping Center), Lahaina. 6 to 10 p.m.  For information call (808) 573-0280 or visit www.mauiforestbirds.org.

Wednesday, November 28:
Hui Holidays 2018: First Night Celebration.  Do your holiday shopping in style as you enjoy drinks, pupu, and spirited music, all the while surrounded by the holiday décor of the dramatically decorated Kaluanui estate featuring the annual handmade paper dress. First Night guests enjoy special pop-up vendors with made on Maui products for everyone on your list. Guests will also have first access to the Hui’s beautiful and sought after handmade wreaths! This is a 21+ event. Tickets: $30.  Hui Noeau, 2841 Baldwin Ave., Makawao. 5 to 8 p.m. For tickets and information visit www.huinoeau.com.

Saturday, November 17:
Dirty Heads.  After two decades spent chiseling their unique, multigenre infused sound, Dirty Heads have finally come into their own.  Since the release of their 2008 debut, Any Port in a Storm, the five-piece band has consistently experimented with their sunny style, leaning heavily on reggae fused with hip-hop cornerstones and scaling back for more acoustic fare, darting between extremes. Maui Arts & Cultural Center, Yokouchi Pavilion Courtyard, 1 Cameron Way, Kahului.  7 p.m., gates open at 6 p.m.  For tickets and information call (808) 242-7649 or visit www.mauiarts.org.