Wailuku First Friday 2025

Monthly street party featuring live music, vendors, food, and community spirit along Market Street.

Wailuku First Friday returns on Friday, September 5, 2025, lighting up historic Market Street with live music, local food, artisan vendors, keiki-friendly activities, and a warm, walkable block-party vibe from 6 to 9 p.m.. This free monthly town party closes Market Street to cars, sets up stages and pop-ups along the corridor, and showcases the best of Maui-made products and talent as the gathering kicks off the island’s September Festivals of Aloha programming in central Maui. Visitors and residents can expect a festive evening that feels authentically local, with great eats, island entertainment, and easy access to downtown’s galleries, shops, and landmarks — all centered around Wailuku’s storied main street.

Date, time, and where to go

• Friday, September 5, 2025, 6–9 p.m. on Market Street, Wailuku Town, Maui.
• Street closure: Market Street closes to vehicle traffic starting at 5:30 p.m.; cars left in the closure area may be ticketed and towed.
• Free parking: Wailuku Garage offers free parking after 6 p.m.; entrance on Church Street between Vineyard and Main.

What’s planned for September

The September edition opens the Festivals of Aloha and spotlights Maui-grown and Maui-made products with a pop-up farmers market inside Wailuku Garage in collaboration with GoFarm Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻi Farmers Union, and Maui Farmers Support Network, bringing fresh produce and locally crafted goods directly to attendees. Live music features award-winning Hawaiian trio Ei Nei, known for close harmonies and mele rooted in tradition, plus Wailuku native and 2024 Richard Hoʻopiʻi Falsetto Contest champion Antonio “Akoni” Robles; DJ Z keeps things moving between sets. Expect a community mural activity by Sae Design in front of the ʻĪao Theater, Sketchy Booth and Labubu Party at Mystery Maui, and a bustling lineup of local artisans and food vendors along the street.

First Friday vibe and what to expect

Wailuku First Friday is a family-friendly block party that feels like a neighborhood celebration as much as a night market. Multiple music stations, cultural pop-ups, and food trucks create an easy rhythm so groups can split up for snacks, shopping, and keiki activities, then regroup for a favorite band set or mural session. Regulars praise it as a small but lively street fair “to feel like a local” with multiple bands, hula, and a rotating selection of vendors — and great Maui treats like fresh malasadas — right in central Wailuku. Visitors get to experience a real island town after hours, with historic storefronts, theater marquees, and friendly merchants that define Wailuku’s aloha-forward charm.

Road closures, access, and tips

• Arrive early: Street parking fills quickly and Market Street closes at 5:30 p.m.; plan to park in Wailuku Garage after 6 p.m. and walk a block to Market Street.
• Bring small bills: Many food and craft vendors accept cards, but quick cash purchases keep lines moving, especially during peak dinner time.
• Dress light: Expect warm evenings; comfortable shoes are essential for strolling and standing at stages.
• Respect the neighborhood: Use designated bins and follow event staff guidance at crosswalks and closure points to keep the party safe and clean for all.

Festivals of Aloha connection

As the first Friday in September, this Wailuku town party plays an official part in Maui’s Festivals of Aloha schedule, celebrating culture, community, and island pride with music, vendors, and hands-on activities on Market Street from 6 to 9 p.m.. The county-wide series continues through September with cultural exhibits, hula, competitions, and ho‘olaule‘a gatherings across Maui Nui; Wailuku’s kickoff sets the tone with a welcoming, central event that is easy to reach and enjoy on a Friday night.

Where to eat and what to try

From Wailuku stalwarts to pop-up food trucks, there is plenty to sample along the route — plate lunches, poke bowls, hot malasadas, shave ice, and local-style desserts that keep the lines moving between sets. Many downtown restaurants and cafés extend hours or offer grab-and-go specials during First Friday, so consider a progressive dinner: start with pupus at one end of Market Street, try a vendor specialty near the center stage, then finish with a sweet treat closer to ʻĪao Theater. Vendors change monthly, so keep an eye out for Maui-grown ingredients and locally made pantry items featured in the farmers market pop-up inside the garage this month.

Arts, culture, and community

Wailuku First Friday regularly includes cultural demonstrations, community art, and partnerships that celebrate local creativity. The September community mural activity hosted by Sae Design invites partygoers to add a brushstroke to a collective artwork, while Mystery Maui’s activities add playful energy near the theater. The live sets from Ei Nei and Akoni foreground mele Hawai‘i and falsetto in Wailuku’s hometown setting, linking contemporary performance with Maui’s musical traditions.

Practical planning for families

• Keiki-friendly: Expect face painting, chalk art, and safe, car-free blocks to explore; keep an eye on little ones near performance areas and food lines.
• Stroller-savvy: Strollers navigate well along Market Street, but the busiest chokepoints are near the main stage; detour via adjacent sidewalks if needed.
• Restrooms and water: Use venue restrooms where available and bring a refillable bottle; food vendors often sell bottled water, and the garage provides a quieter spot to regroup.

If visiting Maui for First Friday

• Make a day of it: Spend the afternoon at ʻĪao Valley State Monument or nearby beaches, then head into town for the 6 p.m. start; First Friday is an easy add-on to a central Maui itinerary.
• Support local: Browse Wailuku’s boutiques and galleries before the closure or after the event opens, and consider snagging Maui-made goods at the farmers pop-up to take home.
• Check the calendar: Wailuku First Friday runs monthly, but organizers note a pause in October 2025 with return scheduled for Friday, Nov. 7, 2025; September 5 is the marquee town party heading into fall.

Verified details at a glance

• Event: Wailuku First Friday (free monthly town party).
• Date/time: Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, 6–9 p.m..
• Location: Market Street, Wailuku; street closure at 5:30 p.m.; free parking at Wailuku Garage after 6 p.m..
• September highlights: GoFarm Hawaiʻi pop-up farmers market in Wailuku Garage, Ei Nei live set, Akoni Robles performance, DJ Z, community mural at ʻĪao Theater, Sketchy Booth and Labubu Party at Mystery Maui.
• Note: No Wailuku First Friday in October; returns Nov. 7, 2025.

Mark the calendar, bring an appetite, and get ready to stroll, listen, and shop local under the Wailuku Town lights on September 5. With Hawaiian music on stage, Maui-grown goods in the garage, and Market Street full of flavor and aloha, Wailuku First Friday is an easy, inspiring way to spend a Maui evening — and the perfect kickoff to the island’s September Festivals of Aloha.