Queen Kaʻahumanu Center is turning empty storefronts into a gaming wonderland this Saturday, September 12, when the Kahului mall hosts its first-ever FANCON, a free event for all ages running from 2 to 8 p.m. Organizers describe it as Maui's premier gaming fair, packed with live entertainment, hands-on demonstrations, crafts, local gaming enthusiasts and giveaways spread across the mall's storefront spaces.
General manager Kauwela Shultz said the mall wanted to build something that feels open to everyone with a passion for games, according to Maui Now. Shultz said FANCON should be “a welcoming place to discover interests and belonging in the community,” and confirmed that Queen Kaʻahumanu Center will host Maui's first FANCON. Activities will spread throughout the mall and into storefront spaces, including areas next to Bath & Body Works and across from Hawaii's Finest.
What's Actually Happening Inside the Mall
The lineup covers a wide swath of gaming culture: board games, role-playing games, trading card games, esports video games, miniature gaming and painting, and cosplay, per the mall's announcement. Free Range Comedy, an uncaged Maui improv troupe that performs regular monthly shows at ProArts Playhouse in Kīhei, will present a Dungeons & Dragons stage demonstration from 3 to 6 p.m. Bingo with prizes runs from 6 to 8 p.m., and free face painting and balloon twisting are scheduled for the earlier window of 2 to 4 p.m.
Kids and families can also grab a complimentary crown-making activity from Housemart Ben Franklin Crafts while supplies last, and the mall is offering free digital photos at a photo wall set up by the stage, along with a limited number of tote bags available in center court. The event's broader partner list includes the Maui Board Game Club, Cirque Jolie, Kyra Karren Events, the UHMC Esports Club, HI Powered Designs, and HI Kendama, alongside mall tenants Foodland, Maui Photo Hub, Na Koa Brand, Hot Topic, and Fun Factory.
Why a Mall Is Betting on Gamers and Cosplayers
The gathering fits into a larger strategy for Maui's largest shopping destination. Queen Kaʻahumanu Center opened in 1972 and spans 570,000 square feet of gross leasable space across two levels, with roughly 100 tenants and 2,858 parking spaces, according to property manager Pacific Retail Capital Partners. That scale is part of why the mall can host an event stretched across so many spaces at once.
The push toward community programming followed real financial pressure. During Maui County Council proceedings in June 2024, mall representatives disclosed that tenants with long-term leases occupied only 41% of the center, leaving 51% of the space vacant or at risk following national retailer departures, as reported by the Maui News. In October 2024, the Maui County Council approved a rezoning application submitted by Pacific Retail Capital Partners to let the mall evolve into a mixed-use community destination. Mall leadership has since said it explicitly shifted strategy toward serving as a community hub, offering free local events and bringing in Maui-owned businesses, according to Hawaii News Now.
A Growing Local Gaming Scene
FANCON also taps into gaming and pop-culture momentum already building on Maui. The University of Hawaiʻi System expanded competitive gaming across its campuses starting in 2020, establishing formal esports programs including teams at UH Maui College that compete in titles such as Fortnite and League of Legends, per the University of Hawaii System Board of Regents. Maui Comic Con, a nonprofit offering free pop-culture conventions, partnered with Wailuku First Friday in November 2025 to host a mini comic convention and cosplay showcase, Maui Now reported separately. The Maui Board Game Club, established around 2014, has long held regular tabletop sessions across the island, including monthly meetups at St. Anthony School in Wailuku, according to Honolulu Civil Beat.
Two of FANCON's local partners bring their own niche followings. HI Powered Designs, a graphic design and sign studio based in Haʻikū, builds custom graphics, vehicle wraps and environmental signage across Maui. HI Kendama, a Hawaiʻi-based small-batch kendama brand, designs traditional skill toys locally and distributes them through retailers such as Maui Toy Works. Both are folded into Saturday's lineup alongside the esports, tabletop and cosplay offerings, rounding out a fair meant to give Maui's gaming community a single, free gathering point inside the island's biggest mall.
