First photo: Manu Plunkett, 4, points to his mom while riding the Helicopters ride Thursday with brother, Kamauliola Plunkett, 6. Kamauliola said the ride was “awesome.” There are two new kiddie rides this year — Balloon Race and Lolli Swings. Admission to the fair is $10 for adults; $5 for children, 5 to 11 years; and free for children 4 and under. On Sunday, the first 2,000 people get in free courtesy of Fun Factory.

Second photo: Maile Mathison-Kamau points out an award-winning avocado Thursday while checking out the Horticulture exhibit in War Memorial Gym with kids Micah Mathison, 8, and Mahealani Kamau, 18 months. Haiku Elementary School 3rd-grader Micah won a first-place ribbon for his star fruit entry and took best of show for his ginger beehive flower entry.

Third photo: Royal Order of Kamehameha Kahekili Chapter 4 members and supporters try to keep up with a long line of customers while manning the Flyin Saucer booth at the Maui Fair on Thursday evening. In the foreground (from right counterclockwise) are Carl Kaupalolo, Kawika Kamai, Charles Ledward and Edelma Ballesteros. Kaupalolo said the fair was the organization’s biggest fundraiser of the year.

The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photos