KIHEI - Gay pride weekend events, including dances and pool and beach parties in South Maui, will begin Friday.
A dance will be held from 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Friday at Gian Don's Italian Bistro in Kihei.
From 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Cafe at La Plage in Kihei will offer food specials.
Also on Saturday there will be a pool party and "drag race" at the Aston Maui Lu Resort from noon to 5:30 p.m. Partygoers should bring their own chairs and towels.
A sunset event from 5:30 to 7 p.m. will be held at the Maui Sunseeker in Kihei with pupu, drinks and hula dancers.
Dancing will follow from 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. at Gian Don's. Participants should wear their best "pride" outfit for a contest.
An all-day beach party will be held Sunday at Pu'u Ola'i (Little Beach) in Makena.
The events are being hosted by Both Sides Now, a nonprofit group dedicated to the education on and celebration of gay lifestyles on Maui.
In addition, two more events this month will benefit the Maui AIDS Foundation. A disco dinner will be held June 19 at Gian Don's, with dinner at 6 and disco music at 8 p.m.
On June 20, the restaurant will host a "Summer Camp" night at 10 p.m. There will be a Tina Turner impersonator and other performances.
A portion of the proceeds from both nights will go to the foundation.
For more information, go online to www.both-sides-now.org.
