First-ever Maui Comedy Festival partners with American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

If you were to ask me where to go to feel better about myself and everyone around me, Maui definitely would be near the top of my list. Heck, any of the Hawaiian islands would do the trick. Heck, there’s not even a trick to it. I even entertained a job offer many moons ago to live and work on the Big Island, and often wonder about the path I’d have traveled had I accepted it. But that was then.

The path we’re on now leads us back to Maui.

The first-ever Maui Comedy Festival beckons us over the Halloween weekend with more than 30 comedians — from Aisha Tyler, Reggie Watts, Tig Notaro, Greg Proops, Paul Provenza and his gang from “The Green Room,” Eddie Pepitone, James Adomian and many more, including a healthy dose of Hawaiian natives — over three nights in Lahaina. You can see the full assortment of comedians making the trek to the Maui Comedy Festival.

Just this past week, the festival also has partnered up with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. A portion of all proceeds from the fest will support the AFSP, which has 67 chapters in 39 states and the District of Columbia.

“We realize that the union of comedy and suicide may seem a bit discordant at first, but we hope people see the obvious connection, remember those we have lost and find it easier to have a conversation and seek help that may save a life,” said Paul Chamberlain, Founder & Executive Producer of the Maui Comedy Festival.

The death of Robin Williams certainly reopened the dialogue and importance of reaching out.

“Robin Williams made our world bigger and brighter, and we were all saddened by his death. We at AFSP thank the Maui Comedy Festival for joining the suicide prevention movement,” said Robert Gebbia, CEO of the AFSP. “It’s grassroots action like this that has allowed AFSP to set a goal to reduce the suicide rate 20% by 2025, and I can’t think of a better way to honor one of the all-time greatest comedians, than by putting laughter toward a good cause. The funds they raise will help save the lives.”

Go to the Maui Comedy Festival schedule page for lineups and tickets.

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

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