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Chamber seeks donations for Lahaina Fireworks

By Staff | Jun 7, 2012

Crowds flocked to Lahaina to enjoy fireworks and frequent restaurants and stores on the Fourth of July last summer. Photo by Maui Communicators.

LAHAINA – The Maui Chamber of Commerce, which gave a major lift to the Lahaina economy last year by sponsoring Maui’s only community Fourth of July fireworks display, will do it again this year if it can get help from island merchants and the community.

“We are counting on the many businesses who contributed last year, new businesses and the community to come forward, so that the Fourth of July can still be celebrated with great food, fun, music and a phenomenal fireworks display in Lahaina on Front Street,” said Maui Chamber of Commerce President Pamela Tumpap.

Fourth of July fireworks have been luring record crowds to Lahaina, growing from 12,000 the first year the chamber coordinated the event to 20,000 last year.

The annual Fourth of July fireworks in Lahaina celebration even won national recognition in 2011, when NBC’s “Today” show named the Lahaina event and fireworks display one of the best in the nation.

“It is important to keep this event alive,” Tumpap said. “It unifies the community in honor and celebration of an important day, and where better than Lahaina, in what Coastal Magazine called one of the ‘Happiest Seacoast Towns’ in the nation,” she noted.

“The annual Fourth of July fireworks in Lahaina also generates significant economic activity for the area businesses, tremendously boosting sales and helping to buffer them from down months during the lagging economic recovery. The event is important to the community, our guests, Lahaina businesses and all businesses, and its impact is very broad,” Tumpap indicated.

Although a base has already been formed with funds left over from last year and several early pledges, Tumpap said “we still need significant monies to pay for the fireworks and associated costs of bringing large crowds to Lahaina.”

Major contributions have been made by Cheeseburger in Paradise, Expeditions, Hard Rock Cafe, HFM, TS Restaurants and VIP Food Service.

Other top contributors include Captain Jack’s Island Grill, ChaseNRainbows and Cool Cat Cafe.

Businesses can donate via the chamber at www.mauichamber.com. Call (808) 244-0081 for more information or to make a pledge today.