| Maui
Nui Events Calendar Spotlight |
| APRIL |
Celebration
of the Arts -
The
Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua
Apr.
8-11
This
annual cultural event pays tribute to the people, arts and traditions of
Hawai'i. Experience demo's in hula and chant, workshops on Hawaiian cultural
topics, island artists in action and crafts for kids. Hawaiian lu'au with
traditional foods and concert featuring renowned musicians highlight Easter
weekend. Call (808)669-6200 or visit http://www.celebrationofthearts.org/
Banyan
Tree Birthday -
Heart
of Lahaina Town
Apr.
17-18
Lahaina's
famous landmark, The Banyan Tree, was planted on April 24, 1873. This birthday
party is celebrated with a cake, artists displaying nature artworks, hands-on
art activities for children, plus items about the tree displayed in the
Lahaina Heritage Museum upstairs, Lahaina Courthouse. Call 1-888-310-1117
or go to http://www.%20visitlahaina.com/
The
'Ulupalakua Thing -
Upcountry
at 'Ulupalakua Ranch
Apr.
24
Scenic
'Ulupalakua Ranch and Tedeschi Winery host this afternoon in the country
to enjoy the Maui County agricultural trade show and sampling with farmers
food products and suppliers, flowers, professional chef competitions and
live entertainment. Call (808)878-2839 or view http://www.ulupalakuathing.com/ |
| MAY |
Ka
Hula Piko -
Papohaku
Beach Park, Moloka'i
May
13-15
A
celebration of the birth of the hula, this cultural festival offers a variety
of traditional dances and musical entertainment, Hawaiian food and handmade
crafts by the people of Moloka'i. There are also lectures about this year's
theme of the sources of water that the god Kane provided, including coconuts.
Call (808)553-3876 or visit http://www.molokaievents.com/
International
Festival of Canoes -
Lahaina
and Ka'anapali
May
15-30
Maui's
Signature Cultural Event honors Hawaii's heritage and the voyaging canoe.
Master carvers from Pacific islands create canoes from wood logs for 2
weeks daily in Lahaina Town. Enjoy cultural arts displays and workshops
in traditional skills under the Banyan Tree and in Ka'anapali, outrigger
canoe rides, Parade on Front Street, Hawaiian music concert, and sunset
Launch Ceremony. Call 1-888-310-1117 or see http://www.mauicanoefest.com/
Wailea
Open
Tennis
Championships -
Wailea
Resort
May
28-31
This
popular tennis event attracts players from Hawai'i as well as the Mainland.
Held at the Wailea Tennis Club, it features competition in men's and women's
singles and doubles, Open, A, B, C and D divisions at one of the country's
50 best resort tennis facilities. Call (808)879-1958 or check-out http://www.waileatennis.com/
|
| JUNE |
Maui
Film Festival at Wailea -
Wailea
Resort
Jun.
16-20
Hawaiian
culture meets the Big Screen at this annual film event in Wailea Resort.
Film premieres at the Celestial Cinema will be set up in Wailea Golf Club's
driving range; Digital SkyDome and SandDance Theater are at various Wailea
resorts. Special Events include the Taste of Wailea, Starry Night MoonDance,
Taste of Chocolate, Lights! Camera! Passion! and Stella Awards, Filmmakers
Panel, Silversword Award Tribute, and a Father's Day concert. Call (808)579-9244
or view http://www.mauifilmfestival.com/
Kamehameha
Celebration
&
Parade - Lahaina
June
19
A
colorful floral parade through Lahaina Town features Pa'u riders on horses
decorated with exotic island flowers, marching bands and floats, all honoring
King Kamehameha the Great. A festival is held at Banyan Tree Park with
food, crafters, and Hawaiian entertainment on stage. Call 1-888-310-1117
or see http://www.visitlahaina.com/
Ki
Ho'alu (Slack Key)
Guitar
Festival -
MACC
in Kahului
June
27
Hawaii's
top slack key guitarists showcase this traditional art form in a free concert
outdoors. Kick-back on the Maui Arts & Cultural Center's amphitheater
lawn and enjoy arts and crafts displays and local style food. Call (808)242-7469
or go to http://www.mauiarts.org/
|
|
FAQ's
about visiting Maui
In
this ongoing series, we'll answer some of the most frequently asked questions
of visitors to the Maui Visitors Bureau. We strive to help make your trip
to the Magic Isles the most comfortable it can be!
1)
What are the best ways to prevent seasickness when going deep sea fishing
or on snorkeling trips?
First,
you should consult your physician or pharmacist for advice. Some people
notice better results if they take an over-the-counter motion sickness
relief pill the day before a boating activity, so that the body can acclimatize.
Please be sure to follow the directions listed on the package for the most
effective results. Once on the boat, if you discover that you have motion
sickness and didn't realize it before, you may find relief in this remedy:
take an ice cold aluminum soda can and hold it against the back of your
neck and under your ear.
2)
What is lu'au food and will my children like it?
The
foods that are served at Hawaiian lu'au dinner shows are both traditional
and contemporary in style, offering dishes which appeal to most palates.
However, we know how picky our children can be, so the answer to this question
is: they won't like everything because kids usually like to stick with
what they are familiar. But, every lu'au features familiar dishes that
are made in an island style. You should explain to your kids that they
will enjoy the chicken, steak and fresh fish, in addition to the baked
and shredded pork (which has a delicious, barbecue smoked taste). Fried
rice is usually a good choice, along with fresh fruit and green salad.
If those don't appeal to your finicky eater, there's always a nice assortment
of desserts. A couple of lu'au shows now offer a special kids menu of fried
chicken tenders, burgers, hot-dogs, and macaroni and cheese. Ask your guest
service agent for advice.
3)
I want to survive the Road to Hana and I want to do it in half a day so
I can attend a dinner show in the evening - is this a good idea?
Hardly.
The main thing to remember about traveling the Road to Hana (in East Maui)
is that the road itself and the scenic stops along the way are the real
activity, not just the destination of Hana and its environs. Plan a full
day to take this trip - it's well worth it. Ask your resort to pack a picnic
lunch for you and your traveling companions, or order boxed lunches the
night before from one of the many delis and diners that provide this service.
Wear comfortable clothes, bring a swimsuit, reef shoes or rubber slippers
and sunscreen, and get ready to experience the joy of walking through a
lush rain forest trail and finding a sparkling waterfall that splashes
into a clear pool. Stop at one of the parks as you get closer to Hana and
enjoy that picnic lunch. Explore the beautiful and friendly town of Hana
and its historic cultural sites. Rest on a black sand beach, and re-energize
for the return adventure. Plan to have dinner at one of the restaurants
in the picturesque towns located on the way back to the resort areas.
If
you have a question for us, please feel free to e-mail insider@visitmaui.com
and we'll consider it for a future issue of the Maui Insider.
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![[Local food jpeg]](local_food_graphic.jpe) ·
Where DO the Locals Eat?
This is an insider look
on Westside restaurants that are off the beaten path. In future issues,
we will feature restaurants in other areas of Maui.
"Eat, drink, and be Maui"
is almost as popular a saying as "Maui No Ka Oi!" Here on the Valley Isle,
we love the pleasures of dining, particularly if we can hang loose in shorts
and rubbah slippas (rubber flip-flops) while we're enjoying the ethnic
melting pot of cuisines that is unique to these islands. Living and working
on Maui qualifies any resident to recommend a host of reasonably priced
restaurants and lunch counters that dish up quite an array of 'ono (delicious)
foods. This list will give you a colorful picture of "food finds" in West
Maui: (in no particular order)
Anything with the Japanese
word "Okazuya" in it. The word means, "little side dish place," but here
in Hawai'i it refers to a local style deli. Two great ones are located
on the westside, Honokowai Okazuya & Deli at 3600 L. Honoapiilani
Road (north of Kaanapali), and No Ka Oi Deli at 222 Papalaua Street
(just off Honoapiilani Hwy.) in Lahaina Town. Plate lunch specials are
at their freshest and best-tasting in these delicatessans. (traditional
plate lunch is a plantation worker's meal consisting of a meat dish, steamed
white rice, and side of macaroni salad)
The Terrace Restaurant
at Sands of Kahana, 4299 L. Honoapiilani Road, is one of those great
"hidden secrets." It's an open-air restaurant with a sunken bar and stellar
view that happens to employ a world-class chef (who's very shy). Lots of
good food at inexpensive prices, and BBQs on Sundays.
Another "almost hidden"
secret spot is Gazebo Restaurant in the Napili Shores Resort at
5315 L. Honoapiilani Road. It features one of the most scenic and panoramic
ocean views on the westside. Open for breakfast and lunch, it's so popular
with residents that you'll find yourself standing in line along with surfers
and kama'aina waiting to grind on a hearty omelette. Also nestled within
Napili Shores is the new Fish and Poi restaurant. Open for dinner
only, this restaurant is the latest version of the Cafe O' Lei and Ma'alaea
Grill restaurant empire. The cuisine is American comfort with the influences
of Hawai'i, portions are huge and prices are very reasonable.
Back to plate lunches, you
won't find a more unusual combination of local eatery within a world-renowned
resort than at Honolua Store, 502 Office Road, Kapalua. It was originally
opened half a century ago as a general store for plantation workers, and
began serving ready-to-eat breakfasts and lunches when the Kapalua Bay
Course was completed. Today, you will still find workers in all walks of
life eating the plate lunches and freshly made sandwiches; golfers enjoy
finding favorite bottled beers in a barrel of ice.
Many people notice the Italian
restaurant that has been a landmark at the entrance to Kaanapali for years,
but most people don't realize that there is a local hideaway underneath
that building. Jonny's Burger Joint at 2291 Kaanapali Parkway offers
what may be the best burger on Maui. Jonny's Bigger Burger is only $4.99;
it's hand-formed and hangs out over the bun; the special sauce beats that
of you-know-who. You'll be rubbing elbows with those who work in the restaurant
industry in West Maui here.
Two eateries situated in
the Honokowai Marketplace at 3350 L. Honoapiilani Road are definitely worth
a peek. Nachos Grande is in the stand-alone building facing the
ocean. This over-the-counter Mexican food deli is owned and operated by
a Mexican family who cooks their native dishes to order; open for lunch
and dinner. The adjacent bar is where the locals like to hang-out. Across
the parking lot in the main building, you'll find Soup Nutz and Java
Jazz. When Java Jazz first opened in the new marketplace, it quickly
became known as serving the best brewed coffee in the West (of Maui). Soup
Nutz is the dining side of the establishment, and it is now known for outstanding
food at any time of day, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. The decor
is chic and you'll often find musicians jammin' among the resident artists.
In Lahaina Town by the sea
is a pizza place that locals have flocked to for years. Although it has
changed owners and names, the handmade pizzas remain the favorite of residents
in the area. Gaby's Pizzeria & Deli is located at the entrance
to 505 Front Street Shops and Restaurants. There are many surprises on
the menu, all of them delicious, especially the steamed clams. Food is
available from lunchtime until midnight.
Mai e 'ai (come and eat)!
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![[swimming graphic jpeg]](swimming_graphic2a.jpe) ·
Great Swimming Areas for Families
So you're bringing the
kids to Maui; what are the best swimming areas for families to enjoy? Most
of Maui's beaches have clean sand, clear water, and beautiful weather,
plus the right movement of tradewinds for some exciting ocean activities.
The south shores of Maui offer very family-friendly beaches and parks.
Some of the luxurious resort hotels feature special swimming areas just
for kids. You may want to explore the following:
Best
Family Beaches, from Ma'alaea to Makena
Sugar
Beach
Kamaole
I, II and III Beach Parks (in the heart of Kihei)
Keawekapu
Beach
Ulua
Beach
Wailea
Beach
Polo
Beach
Makena
Landing Park
Big
Beach (Makena) |
|
Maui County Ocean Safety Officers maintain lifeguard
towers at the Kamaole Beaches in Kihei. The ocean safety hotline is: 270-6136
(answered weekdays between 8:00 am and 4:30 pm).
Hotel Pools that Love Kids - Wailea
Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa - the 2,000-foot-long
Wailea Canyon activity pool with water slides, caves, rapids and a rope
swing is hard to beat.
The Fairmont Kea Lani Maui - this stunning resort features
a separate kids' pool with large slide.
Renaissance Wailea Beach Resort - the Maui Onion restaurant
encircles the pool so parents can relax while watching the kids' water
play.
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![[maitai graphic]](maitai_graphic2.jpe) ·
The "art" of Maui Mai Tais
Hawaii's resorts are a mecca for exotic drinks and the
world-famous libation, the Mai Tai - how did it get that name?
As the his-story goes, in 1944, legendary California restaurateur
Victor Bergeron of Trader Vic's fame concocted the drink in his Oakland
restaurant. After success with several exotic rum drinks in his bar Vic
decided to create a new one. He gathered a bottle of 17-year old J. Wray
rum from Jamaica; then he took a fresh lime, added a little orange curacao,
a dash of rock candy syrup, and a dollop of Orgeat for its subtle almond
flavor. Vic went on to say, "A generous amount of shaved ice and vigorous
shaking by hand produced the marriage I was after. Half the lime shell
went in for color... I stuck in a branch of fresh mint and gave two of
them to Ham and Carrie Guild, friends from Tahiti, who were there that
night. Carrie took one sip and said, 'Mai Tai! Roa Ae." In Tahitian this
means 'Out of This World! The Best.' Well, that was that. I named the drink
Mai Tai."
From then on, the Mai Tai became a favorite cocktail in
Trader Vic's restaurants in Oakland, San Francisco and Seattle. In 1953,
Vic brought it to the Hawaiian islands when he was commissioned by Matson
Steamship Lines to formalize drinks for the company's Royal Hawaiian, Moana
and Surfrider Hotels on Waikiki Beach. By the 1960's when several Trader
Vic's restaurants had been established, the Mai Tai became one of the most
ordered drinks in the world. Here is the original recipe:
Trader
Vic's Original Mai Tai Recipe
2
ounces, 17-year old J. Wray & Nephew Rum over shaved ice
1/2
ounce Holland DeKuyper Orange Curacao
1/4
ounce Trader Vic's Rock Candy Syrup
1/2
ounce French Orgeat Syrup
Add
juice from one fresh lime.
Hand
shake and garnish with half of the lime shell
inside
the drink, and float a sprig of fresh mint
at
the edge of the glass. |
|
Today, the Mai Tai is a special cocktail because
drinking it transports you to a different place or time. While on Maui,
be sure to check out the Mai Tai drinks at these restaurants and lounges,
which we think are at the top of the list.
In
geographical order, beginning near the Kahului Airport:
Mama's
Fish House at Ku'au Cove
Five
Palms Beach Grill in Wailea
Mele
Mele Lounge at Wailea Marriott Resort
The
Maalaea Waterfront Restaurant
Buzz'
Wharf at Ma'alaea Harbor
Pioneer
Inn in Lahaina Town
Nalu
Sunset (formerly Makai) Bar at Maui Marriott Resort, Ka'anapali
Tiki
Grill & Bar at Ka'anapali Beach Hotel
Sea
House Restaurant & Whale Watcher's Bar at Napili Kai
The
Bay Club at Kapalua |
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