MPRA ACTIVITIES

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Plantation Day – Sponsored by: The Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas. The Maui Puerto Rican Association shared information about their Association. In addition, they shared the Puerto Rican culture and the history of their migration of Puerto Ricans to Hawai'i to work on the sugar plantation.
Since the beginning of COVID-19, the Maui Puerto Rican Association has not been able to revisit Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico Trip December 2019
This trip was a mission work to share financial blessings to the victims of Hurricane Maria.
– A small group of MPRA members traveled to Puerto Rico with a mission to share financial blessings with several churches so they may help their communities. We were able to do a financial donation to five different churches in Puerto Rico. Below are a few congregations we shared $5,000.00.
The story written by journalist Colleen Uechi - "Maui group gets caught in Puerto Rico earthquakes" - in "The Maui News", January 13, 2020.
Due to the lack of volunteers and cast, there were no Three Kings in 2024. MPRA does plan to have a Three Kings celebration in 2025. Casting is scheduled for December 30, 2024. We need children to participate as: 3 each Kings, Joseph, angels, shephards and a drummer boy. Please contact MPRA at mpra1980ATyahooDOTcom should you want to be a part of our celebration.

Three Kings's Celebration - Three Kings Day, or Epiphany, is one of the most important holidays on the Puerto Rican calendar. Traditionally, the island, and most of the Latin world, marked the eve of January 6 as the day to exchange presents rather than December 25. Kids would also gather grass, hay, or straw in shoe boxes for the Magi's horses or camels -- a charming alternative to cookies and milk for Santa. (Traditionally, you'll find carvings and artwork of the three kings on horses instead of camels; that's because the country folk in years past didn't know what a camel was.) MPRA celebrates this event yearly. We try hard to engage the children of families and friends of MPRA to participate. By the same token, the children learn about their culture and have fun doing the celebration.

MPRA monument in Iao Valley has gone through many challenges. The wet Iao Valley weather and vandalism have changed the way our monument appears to the public. A small group of MPRA members gathered their energies and went to Iao to clean up the monument. There are plans to renovate our monument and show a representation of our culture.

Through the time and energy of MPRA members, the monument has been renovated.

MPRA has offered the “Puerto Rican Kitchen” to the public, sharing other cultural foods besides “pasteles.” The guest is served the recipes prepared before them as if they were in an actual Puerto Rican restaurant. In addition, included in their luncheon is a recipe pamphlet of the meals prepared.
In 2024, MPRA has resumed its participation in the Maui County Senior Fair.
Prior to COVID-19, our MPRA was able to participate once a year in the Maui County Senior Fair when it was held at the War Memorial Complex.
The Maui Puerto Rican Association (MPRA) offers yearly scholarships for Graduating High School Seniors. Click here to learn about the MPRA SCHOLARSHIPS PROGRAM.
The Maui Puerto Rican Association (MPRA) celebrates its members and friends with a well deserved year-end party!
The Maui County Fair, a tradition for 98 years, ceased operations following the COVID-19 pandemic. Before this interruption, the Maui Puerto Rican Association (MPRA) participated as a vendor, in every opportunity given. It offered a delightful array of traditional Puerto Rican dishes, including pastele, arroz gandule, and bacalao salad. The proceeds from those sales supported the MPRA's scholarships program. The last fair was held in October 2019, just months before Hawai'i reported its first COVID-19 case. The MPRA remains optimistic about the eventual return of the Maui County Fair, to continue its legacy and community spirit in Maui County.