Screams of happy children, throbbing music, clanging bells and whirling machinery — the sounds build as you approach the glow of War Memorial Complex.

Borne on the wind, savory whiffs of shoyu chicken, chow fun and flying saucers mingle with dozens of other local favorites as they drift over the fence to welcome the crowds converging on the Maui Fair.

Once inside the gates there comes an important decision, what to do first? Eat, hit the rides, take in the exhibits and entertainment, or maybe check out the latest in new-fangled home improvement products? Is it time to spend money or to gravitate to the many free attractions? Which community organizations should we support by buying their food and products?

The Maui Fair means vastly different things to different people. For some, the annual celebration is a cherished family tradition dating back generations. Young parents reflect on how their moms and dads helped them as they load their kids into a ride and wait for it to jolt to a start.

Newcomers wander the island cultural event marveling at how unique it is from other American carnivals, and also how much it is the same. Behind the scenes, hundreds of vendors, nonprofit service contractors, exhibitors and volunteers work their butts off to make the fun happen.

News this week that the Maui Fair has been canceled for the second straight year due to COVID-19 brought sighs of disappointment heard across the island. Kids and parents lamented the loss of the Joy Zone and Game Tent. Many nonprofit leaders wondered how they will make up for the loss of their year’s biggest fundraiser.

This marks the sixth time in the fair’s 105-year history that it has been canceled. World War I nixed one and World War II took down three. The twice-canceled 98th annual Maui Fair is scheduled for 2022.

Pulling the plug on an event is one of the hardest decisions an organizer can make. Even umpires who declare a Little League rainout know they will be second-guessed if the sun comes out. Citing the uncertainty of the pandemic, as well as the difficulty of meeting mandatory social distancing and venue sanitation protocols, Maui Fair Alliance President Avery Chumbley said the organization waited as long as it could before making the difficult decision.

We wonder if there might be a way to either pare down the event or create a one-year replacement to help the nonprofits and community organizations make up for losing their major fundraiser. For instance, in lieu of its annual fair, Bakersfield, Calif., held drive-thru food festivals featuring the event’s cherished entries.

Minus the rides and controlled chaos of the fairgrounds it would not be The Fair, but maybe there is a manageable, flexible way for the alliance, county or other organization to present a pandemic-friendly facsimile. Who wouldn’t want to drive by displays of Maui’s biggest pumpkins and prettiest orchids while picking up a luau plate, fried malassadas and teri-burger?