Each year Maui No Ka Oi Magazine surveys its readers for their opinion on the island’s best restaurants. Below you’ll find the top two winners in 25 different dining categories; from “Best Place to Eat in a Swim Suit” to “Most Romantic”.  Bon Appetit!

Restaurant of the Year
1. David Paul’s Lahaina Grill, Lahaina
2. Pineapple Grill, Kapalua

Chef of the Year
Ivan Pahk of Sansei Seafood & Sushi, Kapalua

Best New Restaurant
1. Son’z Maui, Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa, Kaanapali

Best Service
1. David Paul’s Lahaina Grill, Lahaina
2. Gerard’s, Lahaina

Best Waterfront Dining
1. Mama’s Fish House, Kuau
2. The Sea House Restaurant, Napili Kai Beach Resort

Best Hawaiian-fusion Cuisine
1. Haliimaile General Store, Haliimaile
2. Pineapple Grill, Kapalua

Best Wine List
1. Vino Italian Tapas & Wine Bar, Kapalua (closed)
2. Nick’s Fishmarket, Fairmont Kea Lani Maui, Wailea

Best Luau
1. Old Lahaina Luau, Lahaina
2. Feast at Lele, Lahaina

Most Romantic
1. The Banyan Tree, The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua
2. Sarento’s on the Beach, Kihei

Most Innovative Menu
1. I’o, Lahaina
2. Spago, Four Seasons Resort Maui, Wailea

Most “Maui-est” Restaurant
1. Mama’s Fish House, Kuau
2. Aloha Mixed Plate, Lahaina

Best Vegetarian Menu
1. Mala Ocean Tavern, Lahaina
2. Cilantro Fresh Mexican Grill, Lahaina

Best Asian Cuisine
1. A Saigon Café, Wailuku
2. Thai Chef, Lahaina

Best Cheap Eats
1. Cilantro Fresh Mexican Grill, Lahaina
2. Da Kitchen, multiple locations

Best Plate Lunch
1. Da Kitchen, multiple locations
2. Aloha Mixed Plate, Lahaina

Best Dinner Value
1. Penne Pasta, Lahaina
2. Castaway Café, Lahaina

Best Place to Eat in a Bathing Suit
1. The Barefoot Bar at Hula Grill, Kaanapali
2. Aloha Mixed Plate, Lahaina

Best Place to Dine with Kids
1. Outback Steakhouse, multiple locations
2. Kobe Japanese Steak House, Lahaina

Best Business Lunch
1. Longhi’s, multiple locations
2. Tommy Bahama’s Tropical Café, Wailea

Best Lobby Lounge
1. Lobby Lounge at Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea
2. Lobby Lounge at the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua

Best Breakfast
1. Gazebo, Napili
2. (Tie) Plantation House, Kapalua
2. (Tie) Longhi’s, multiple locations

Best-kept Secret
1. Joe’s Bar & Grill, Wailea
2. Café Marc Aurel, Wailuku

Best Dessert
1. Haliimaile General Store, Haliimaile
2. Roy’s Kahana Bar & Grill, Kahana

Best Late-night Dining
1. Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar, multiple locations
2. Lahaina Coolers, Lahaina

Best Sushi
1. Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar, multiple locations
2. Kai, the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua

Best Pau Hana
1. The Barefoot Bar at Hula Grill, Lahaina
2. Tommy Bahama’s Tropical Café, Wailea

In the land of Kona coffee wraps, eucalyptus steam rooms and the lomi lomi massage, one thing is for certain: Maui offers myriad ways to be pampered like a royal—from Kaanapali to Hana and from poolside hair braiding to ocean-side massages.

Heavenly Spa, The Westin Maui Resort & Spa
2365 Kaanapali Pkwy, Lahaina  ~  667-2525  ~  www.westinmaui.com
Lavender treatments, products and refreshments are hallmarks of this 15,000-square-foot facility. (Check out the Lavender Body Butter Treatment!) The aromatic plant, farmed in Kula, calms the nerves while improving your complexion. Enter the spa’s window-walled lounge with its awe-inspiring ocean views and meditate with a cup of lavender herbal tea or lavender lemonade. Earthy dark woods and refreshing green hues abound. And refreshed you will be after taking in one of the spa’s signature Heavenly massages, tailored to each guest’s preferences. Toting a royal in training? The spa offers poolside mini manicures and pedicures for tots.

The Spa at Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui
4100 Wailea Alanui Dr., Wailea  ~  875-4100  ~  www.fairmont.com/kealani
This simple but stunning 3,000-square-foot boutique spa boasts nine airy white-walled treatment rooms, each featuring marble floors and a domed ceiling with gold detailing. Try the eighty-minute Ala Lani (Heavenly Scent) Signature Body Wrap, where you choose from two fragrances—ginger-and-lime Awapuhi Limi or vanilla-and-lavender Wailea Serenity—before being lathered in ultra-rich body butter. Perks include duvets on each treatment bed. Unlike standard draping sheets, these duvets keep areas of the body toasty and cozy long after the therapist has left them. So cozy, says Jennifer Buckler, the spa’s manager, “We’ve had people ask if duvets can be put on their hotel beds.”

The Spa at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea
3900 Wailea Alanui Dr., Wailea  ~  874-8000  ~  www.fourseasons.com/maui 
Nibble dried coconut slices, mango and raw almonds while sipping a cool glass of Ginger Blast tea at this ultra-luxe resort spa. A well-hidden aromatherapy diffuser emits the Four Seasons’ signature scent, Palena Ole (No Boundaries), an intoxicating blend of Hawaiian vine; maile, pikake and tuberose blossoms; green moss and iliahi (sandalwood). Don’t miss one of the spa’s exclusive facials developed by celebrity skin expert Kate Somerville and featuring products from her L.A. clinic. Looking for a quick fix? Choose from the poolside tapas menu, including hand and foot massage, neck and shoulders massage, and hair and scalp treatment. Mix and match to create your own twenty- to sixty-minute custom lounge chair experience.

Mandara Spa, Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa
3700 Wailea Alanui Dr., Wailea  ~  891-8774  ~  www.mandaraspa.com
Appropriately named Mandara, referring to a Sanskrit legend about the quest for eternal youth, this new 10,000-square-foot spa mixes traditional Balinese features like dark teak massage tables (with hydraulic lifts) and hand-carved wooden sculptures with its own 
luxury product line imported from England and France. Even the locker room has an exotic feeling, with its relaxing “forest” of bamboo. Stop at the steam room for a lime-infused oshibori towel, then indulge your tootsies with a Hawaiian pedicure—which includes a foot soak in hot sea-salt-infused water to kill bacteria and remove dead skin, a softening tropical scrub with mango and papaya enzymes, a pohaku (stone) foot and calf massage, and finally, a cocoa butter rub. A bestseller!

Spa Moana, Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa
200 Nohea Kai Dr., Lahaina  ~  661-1234  ~  www.maui.hyatt.com
The Spa Moana’s beach-chic vibe begins with Maui’s only oceanfront massage cabanas, located right on Kaanapali Beach. Luxuriate in one of their tropical treatments, such as Pacific Island Renewal, a deliciously decadent papaya-pineapple exfoliation followed by noni and kukui-nut oil rub and a body wrap. Afterward, stretch out on a terry-covered chaise in the spa’s open-air relaxation room with a glass of fruit-infused water, or visit the 5,000-square-foot fitness center with its sweeping ocean views.

Hale Mana Wellness Center, Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club
100 Nokea Kai Dr., Lahaina  ~  667-1200  ~  www.marriott.com 
Are you a neophyte in the world of spas? Then you will ease right into the Marriott’s treatment menu of familiar offerings, which includes quintessential Swedish and Hot Stone massages, and the Classic Epicurean facial. With just three treatment rooms, this low-key spa is both intimate and perfect for the guest on the go. Massages can be scheduled in as little as twenty-five-minute slots—a well-deserved reward after working out in the property’s adjoining fitness center.

The Spa at the Diamond Hawaii Resort & Spa
555 Kaukahi St., Wailea  ~  874-0500  ~  www.diamondresort.com
Situated 300 feet above the Wailea coastline, this all-suite resort incorporates traditional Japanese touches, from furo tubs to koi ponds. Soak in one of the Kurhaus baths, a Japanese and German hydrotherapy system that warms and stimulates your muscles with foam and pressurized hot water. Think you’re fearless? Sign up for one of their unique facials, which begin with a special Japanese tradition: the application of dehydrated, powdered nightingale droppings that are bacteria-free and contain guanine, an enzyme with restorative and lightening powers. Don’t laugh—this century-old custom originated with geishas and Kabuki actors!

Spa Grande, Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa
3850 Wailea Alanui Dr., Wailea  ~  875-1234  ~  www.grandwailea.com
This massive 50,000-square-foot space comes replete with a 
sculpture of Ceres (the Roman goddess of agriculture), Italian-tiled Roman baths and an $850,000 eight-by-nine-foot crystal-and-gold chandelier. Take your pick from three shower styles: traditional, Japanese, or Swiss-jet; and specialty baths with limu (seaweed), aromatherapy, tropical enzymes, moor mud or seasonal ingredients like lavender. “Our Terme hydrotherapy circuit sets us apart,” says Jim Miller, director of sales and marketing. “Spa guests can arrive one hour early and enjoy the healing properties of our bathing rituals.” And you get to keep the honey-mango body loofah. Mm-mm.

Honua Spa, Hotel Hana-Maui
Hana Highway, Hana  ~  248-8211  ~  www.hotelhanamaui.com
This understated sanctuary, lodged in a low-rise building nestled on the eastern coast of the island, lays claim to breathtaking views of Hana Bay and Kauiki Hill. Get spoiled by the spa’s “high-touch, low-tech” service in one of fourteen treatment rooms made from natural materials like stone, bamboo and wood. Each of the five spacious massage suites offers a private bath and individual garden. After enjoying a calming Awa (kava) and Spirulina Hoolana (floating) body wrap, one of many treatments using native plants like iliahi (sandalwood) and awapuhi (ginger), take a dip in the lava rock whirlpool overlooking the bay.

“Splendid Spas” was featured in Maui No Ka Oi magazine, Vol. 11#5. To read more about Maui, log on: www.mauimagazine.net

Ever notice how some weekends last longer than others? A long weekend, when approached with the right frame of mind, can have life-altering effects. By temporarily shrugging off your to-do list, you can let spontaneity inspire a whole new set of priorities. 

In that spirit, I offer you three of Hawaii’s best long weekends: epic journeys capable of turning back the clock to that blissful time in life before we had to be somewhere fast. In fact, where we’re headed, you can’t get anywhere fast. Travel happens around two to five mph on rain-forested highways or coastal trails, by foot, ferry, four-wheel drive, or mule. And leave your cell phone behind—it won’t work where we’re going, anyway.

1. Hana Itinerary
-Greet the sunrise on an ancient coastal trail
-Swim at beaches of three different colors
-Hike through a bamboo forest to Waimoku Falls
-Get massaged at the Honua Spa
-Savor ukulele music and cocktails at the Paniolo Lounge

I’ve occasionally heard visitors complain about the exhausting drive to Hana. Auwe! (That’s Hawaiian for “what a shame!”) They traveled all that way and missed the miracle? 

The world-famous road to Hana embodies the truism: “It’s the journey, not the destination.” In this case the destination also happens to be heavenly. To enjoy it, you must abandon any notion of convenience. Nothing is convenient about the serpentine sixty-three-mile “highway”—a mere sliver of pavement weaving between rain-forested cliffs and sheer drop-offs to the roiling Pacific below. Exhale your control issues with each hair-raising S turn. Roll the windows down. Pull over to pick guavas or dip your toes in a waterfall-fed pool. And trade off driving with your travel partner!

This adventure prepares you for Hana town: an organic wonderland where the weather often serves as the evening’s entertainment. Swirling fingers of mist creep in from the deep valleys. Fat raindrops spatter banana leaves with staccato notes. Lightning dances out at sea while thunder stomps through the mountains. In the morning, warm sunshine erupts in a hundred sparkles, causing everything and everyone to ripen and bloom. 

Don’t miss daybreak in Hana. Strap on trail-running shoes and head to Waianapanapa State Park to view the sun ascending from the sea. Jog along the salt-sprayed lava stones of an ancient coastal path. (You’ll need shoes with plenty of grip.) Stop to stretch and admire the sea arches, blowholes, and archeological sites along the way. Take a rejuvenating dip in the chilly cave pool. (Experienced locals bring underwater flashlights to explore lava tubes that lead back to the sea.) Warm up by catching the day’s first rays on the startlingly beautiful black-sand beach. 

The Hotel Hana-Maui offers an alternate way to greet the morning: daily yoga classes. After a round of sun salutations, hit the ranch store for Hana-grown coffee. Visit Ono Farms fruit stand down the road for the world’s best organic papayas and bananas. 

Stock up on snacks for your next adventure: hiking to hidden Kaihulu Beach. From the parking lot at the end of Hauoli Street, find the path winding around Kauiki Hill. (Be aware that the trail is steep and slippery, with no railings, and some folks enjoy the beach sans swimsuits.) Stunning coarse red sands washed by crystal blue waves welcome you at the trail’s end. After dousing yourself in the beach’s spa-like natural whirlpool, continue on to famed Hamoa Beach. The salt-and-pepper sands here provide a soft platform for excellent bodysurfing waves. Shuck a coconut and live like a local. 

Venture further down Hana Highway to Oheo Gulch, where you can hike through a magical bamboo forest to Waimoku Falls. Go ahead: imagine yourself skimming the leafy tops of the branches, like the martial arts masters in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. No one is nearby to giggle at you.

After your muscle-bending adventures, only one remedy will do: a treatment at the Hotel Hana­­–Maui’s Honua Spa. Then, for the only entertainment in town (besides the weather), pull up a stool at the Paniolo Lounge. Local musicians will lull you into relaxed bliss with sounds of old and new Hawaii. 

Make Yourself At Home: 
•Hotel Hana–Maui, 248-8211, www.hotelhanamaui.com
•Waianapanapa State Park, 984-8109, www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/dsp/fees.html, (Permits are required for tent camping and cabins. Book cabins three to six months in advance.)
 

2. Lanai Itinerary
-Swim at Hulopo'e Bay; watch for wild dolphins
-Explore Kaiolohia Bay (Shipwreck Beach), ancient petroglyphs and coastal ghost towns
-Shoot clay pigeons 
-Play foosball at Hale Ahe Ahe
-Feast in a formal dining room

Of the three weekend destinations, Lanai is the one with a measure of convenience. The forty-five-minute ferry ride from Lahaina deposits you just steps from Hulopo'e Bay, a gorgeous beach frequented by spinner dolphins. (During winter’s rough seas, the ferry ride can be an adventure in itself. Down a few Dramamine tablets if you’re at all worried.) If you’re a guest at one of Lanai’s two Four Seasons properties, staff is onboard to assist with your luggage. If you’re not, stand around looking lost long enough and someone will help you. People on Lanai are like that. 

Amble aboard the resort shuttle, which will take you everywhere there is to go outside of four-wheel drive. Hotel guests and non-guests can use it for a fee. Plan to rent a jeep for a day of exploring Shipwreck Beach and the ghost towns on the island’s wild western coast. 

Hunt for petroglyphs using the hand-painted map available at the Four Seasons’ concierge desk. (It’s pretty enough to frame.) Plow confidently through the thick sand of the coastal roads; any hesitance will result in a time-consuming stall. In fact, that’s a good rule of thumb for your weekend adventure. Like my grandfather always says, “Go for it!” 

On the way back into town, the Lodge at Koele offers top-class skeet shooting and archery practice. Indulge in a war whoop or two while blasting clay pigeons and navigating the wild terrain by golf cart. 

Now that your sporting appetite has been whetted, satisfy it with a mean game of foosball at Hale Ahe Ahe (off the lobby at the Four Season Manele Bay). Sink into the leather couches at this swank cocktail lounge for a bird’s-eye view of the sun setting into the sea, an earful of live Hawaiian music, and a mouthful of gourmet bar food: wild mushroom pizza and kalua pork nachos. 

Gourmands should reserve a table in the Lodge at Koele’s Formal Dining Room—truly one of the state’s best (and least celebrated) dining experiences. Flawless service, an air of bygone formality and regal indulgence, a wine cellar stocked with treasures, and fresh local produce and venison add up to five-stars. Bring a sweater for an after-dinner stroll through the resort gardens. 

Make Yourself At Home: 
•Four Seasons Resort  Bay, 565-2000, www.fourseasons.com/manelebay
•Lanai Plantation Home, 565-6961, www.dreamscometruelanai.com
 

3. Molokai Itinerary
-Ride a mule down the highest sea cliffs in the world 
-Experience historic Kalaupapa peninsula
-Leisurely wave to fellow drivers on an island without stoplights
-Explore Moomomi sand dunes
-Kick back at Kualapuu Cookhouse

Molokai . . . my sister has almost forgiven me for our first trip to “the Friendly Isle.” We arrived late, after an eternity-and-a-half-long ferry ride, which she spent stoically fighting seasickness. No one arrived to greet us at the dock, thanks to an Internet booking glitch. 

Night had fallen. My cell phone didn’t work. Feeling like the worst big sister ever, I wondered where and if we would sleep that night. Two ladies cruising the harbor (is there anything better to do on a Friday night on Molokai?) offered help. We slept on their living room floor. People on Molokai are like that.

In the morning they deposited us at the Molokai Mule Ride office—an antiquated barn where a young muleskinner readied our steeds. My sister climbed onto a grayish-black mule named Poele. (Had we attended Hawaiian studies in school, we might’ve known that Poele doesn’t mean “lightning,” as our guide claimed, but rather, “dark, black, vanishing in darkness or ignorance.” Sorry, Sis!)

The lush trail leading down to Kalaupapa peninsula offers ravishing views at every turn. I could stare from the saddle to the seafloor, roughly 1,700 feet below. The muleskinner’s soft whistles kept the mules in line and calmed my nerves. Not my sister’s. She spent the two-hour descent white-knuckled, clinging to the shred of hope that she’d survive as Poele insisted on passing other mules on the narrow trail. (Maybe “Lightning” was his middle name.)

At sea level, Kalaupapa peninsula reveals its awe-inspiring terrain. In this land of superlatives, the world’s highest sea cliffs spill with waterfalls, and dramatic lava islets jut from the waves offshore. Sadness and beauty rival one another at stunning Kalawao, where hundreds of Hawaii residents were abandoned to suffer from the effects of Hansen’s Disease (once called leprosy) in exile. Haunting, heartbreaking, and geologically intriguing, this landscape will linger in your memory. My sister breathlessly declared it the most beautiful place she’d ever laid eyes on.

Further adventures beckon “topside” (what old-time Kalaupapa residents called the area beyond the cliffs, restricted from their reach). Moomomi preserve is one of few untouched coastlines in the main Hawaiian Islands. The Nature Conservancy purchased the site from Molokai Ranch in 1988, recognizing it as one of the state’s last best places—a rare, intact coastal dune system. Home to twenty-two native plants, several of them critically endangered, it’s a nesting ground for green sea turtles and native seabirds. 

It’s culturally significant as well; since the eleventh century, Hawaiians have gathered salt, limu (seaweed), and shellfish at Moomomi—subsistence practices that continue today. Sign up in advance for one of the monthly hikes led by Conservancy volunteers. They’ll navigate the treacherous entry road for you and point out easy-to-miss treasures: buried fossils and turtle nests.

If you’ve worked up an appetite, push through the saloon-like doors of the Kualapuu Cookhouse. Dare to try the panko-crusted Monte Cristo. (For the uninitiated, it’s a ham, turkey, and Swiss sandwich tempura-fried and slathered in whip cream and strawberries. Yowza!) Wash it down with a cup of Molokai-grown coffee.

While the living room floor was cozy enough emergency accommodations for my sister and me (she’s already asking about next trip over), you’ll want to reserve a room at Molokai Ranch Lodge or Hotel Molokai. But don’t rule out making friends on this traffic-free island, where everyone still waves hello. Authentic aloha spirit reigns here, rather than the polished tourist industry version found elsewhere. It might be unfamiliar at first. But if you’re lucky, it might just rub off on you—the best possible souvenir. And when you return to your regular life, don’t be surprised if  “kick back” or “hang loose” starts appearing on your to-do list. 

Make Yourself At Home: 
•Molokai Ranch, 660-2824, www.molokairanch.com
•Hotel Molokai, 553-5347, www.hotelmolokai.com

“The Long Weekend” was featured in Maui No Ka Oi magazine, Vol. 11#4 To read more about Maui, log on: www.mauimagazine.net

Crystal candlesticks and Frank Sinatra at a Maui wedding? Absolutely, says Maui wedding expert Carolee Higashino, owner of A White Orchid Wedding. “Formality is back!”

Higashino would know. Recognized as one of the top wedding coordinators in the State of Hawaii, she was a founding member of the Maui Wedding Association. Pacific Business News, winning a “Women Who Mean Business” Award every year since 2002, has named a White Orchid Wedding among the top 25 women-owned businesses.

Watching the Maui wedding industry grow from a handful of planners to more than 200 over the last 20 years, Higashino has seen a lot of wedding trends come and go. But the casual, beachy feel of Maui’s seaside weddings seemed to be an unshakeable theme.

Until now.

“It’s exciting to feel the return of formality to weddings right here on Maui,” Higashino says. “Our couples are requesting more information and making design selections that previously were not seen. Coupled with our island backdrop, these selections are creating new and exciting formal events with a precise attention to custom detail.”

The return to formality is taking shape in five fabulous trends: extravagant décor, abundant florals, celebrity chefs, elegant attire, and those thoughtful little touches that make each wedding memorable.

Trend #1: Extravagant Decor

If there is a surface, embellish it! No more bare tabletops or tent poles.

“Tabletops are really becoming extravagant,” Higashino says. Rather than floating a few tea candles in a glass bowl, you might drape your tables in layers of custom-sewn linens. Sparkling crystals and sequins create interest; an overlay of sheer organza adds romance.

And it doesn’t end with the tablecloths. Brides are requesting fine china and stemware, ornate chargers, and specialty napkins with floral ties and fancy folds.

Chair backs provide blank canvases that invite creative ideas on how to dress them. “Chair decor is the rage,” Higashino says. Options include Chiviari bamboo chairs or folding chairs, chair sashes or floral tiebacks, chair caps, slipcovers, and colorful chair pads. If you choose bamboo chairs, you might continue the theme with individual bamboo cabanas for each dining table, draped with billowy fabric. 

The classic white reception tent to shield guests from tropical sun and rain provides another opportunity for extravagant décor. “We are seeing tents draped with fabric to hide the tent poles, with long curtains draped along the sides,” Higashino says. Enhance the exotic, luxurious feel with glowing silk lanterns, multitudes of candles, and of course, gorgeous floral arrangements.

Trend #2: Abundant Florals

Maui brides have plenty of tropical blooms to choose from—everything from creamy white orchids to deep scarlet anthuriums.

In keeping with the return to formality, bridal bouquets are back to a “full” look, according to Higashino. No longer downplayed to a few stems of calla lilies, today’s bouquets feature lush combinations of exotic tropicals and orchids, sometimes spilling over in an elegant cascade. 

Elements such as pearls, cameos and small framed photos can be tied to your bouquet as meaningful symbols or mementos passed down through the generations.

Even the ribbon is carefully chosen. “We’re seeing a lot more attention to detail in terms of ribbons and color options,” Higashino says. Brides may opt for the classic wide satin wrapped around the stems, or tendrils of silk and satin mingled with the blossoms.

At the ceremony site itself, flowers spring out of chair backs (tucked into white slipcovers), wind around the ceremonial arch, and carpet the grass with petals awaiting the bride’s footsteps. At the reception, you may consider floral topiaries, canopies and vine- and flower-bedecked chandeliers.

Trend #3: Celebrity Chefs

Far beyond the typical luau spread or buffet, brides are now requesting five-star Pacific Rim cuisine—prepared by celebrity chefs.

Higashino says A White Orchid Wedding regularly sees demand for local celebrity chefs like Bev Gannon of Haliimaile General Store, Carol Longhi of Longhi’s, and Dana Pastula of Café O’Lei. “People are definitely into the culinary experience,” she says.

It’s a level of fine dining that goes perfectly with plated courses, assigned seating, butler service, and a “dining-under-the-stars” experience, made all the more romantic by the accompaniment of classical guitar—a preferred choice for many brides. 

Along with the stellar cuisine, Higashino recommends wine pairings with dinner, and a selection of martinis, tropicals and cordials for your guests. (But after-dinner cigars are out—“Thank God!” she says.)

Other formal details that are hot right now: refreshing martini-glass sorbets, elaborate ice sculptures, and butler-passed pupu.

Trend #4: Elegant Apparel

Wedding attire has taken a step up not only for the bride and groom, but also for the minister and crew as well.

“Yes, brides are asking!” Higashino says. “Robes and collars are the first request for the officiate, and butler-style black-and-whites for the staff.”

Wedding guests are leaving behind the aloha shirts and sundresses, and arriving at the ceremony in linen suits and sleek ties for men (“Tuxes still haven’t been a big hit in the heat of Maui,” Higashino says), and the latest elegant fashions for women.

For the bride—although ornate may be the rage when it comes to décor—simple remains the stylish standby. “Brides are opting for the sleek gown, but adding back the veil,” Higashino says.

“Updos are still going strong, but with a softer look and fresh florals. Heels are popular . . . crystal rubbah slippahs are out!” Also out—at least for that special day—are nose-ring holes and tattoos (artfully airbrushed away). 

Polished elegance is the ideal look. To achieve that bridal glow, you can take advantage of one of Maui’s many world-class spas. “Top of the list for the gals is the pampering experience,” Higashino says. “We’ve seen a return to the ‘girls’ day’ brunch and bridal shower, followed by the spa.”

Trend #5: Thoughtful Touches

From the first brunch to the final sunset sail, thoughtful details can enhance your wedding’s design.

Distinctive touches can include stationery items, welcome baskets and specially designed favors for the guests. “Couples are following a formal path of invites, right down to the place cards,” Higashino says. “We’re seeing requests for custom stationery designed by local artists, reflecting the island wedding.”

A local artist can design programs, menu cards, table signs and seating cards—even a printed itinerary to deliver to guests in a pretty welcome basket, packed with Maui goodies like locally grown coffee and fresh fruit. 

Couples are giving their guests more elaborate wedding favors as well, moving beyond the typical matchbook or chocolates to custom-made items. Represent your playful side with surfboard-shaped cookies, blown-glass fish ornaments or starfish paperweights.
Thoughtful formal touches are not just for the guests. Surprise your groom with a groom’s cake (which is making a comeback, according to Higashino). Toast your family with engraved crystal toasting flutes. Reserve a classic white Rolls Royce for your grand exit.

Bring on the china patterns and the silver cake cutters, and ask the DJ to play your mother’s favorite ballad by Frank Sinatra. Old Blue Eyes finally has a place at a Maui wedding.
 

“A Formal Affair” was featured in Maui No Ka Oi magazine, Vol. 11#3 to read more about Maui, log on: www.mauimagazine.net

Share your favorite Maui moment or memory  with Maui Insider  Enewsletter readers. Please email us with your written description, photos or videos,  to insider@visitmaui.com and include your name, address and phone number. (only your initials will be printed, not your full name, in order to protect your privacy). If we reprint your story, you'll receive a gift of thanks from the Magic Isles. 

Here's a classic Maui moment, backed up with a classic Mau photo ... 

My favorite moment began on a typically amazing Maui morning.  Our entire family sailed from Ma'alaea towards Molokini on a great boat with an energetic and entertaining crew.  They helped my eight year old fish as we cruised out to snorkel.  We were treated to the acrobatics of a mother whale teaching her calf.
 

Upon reaching our destination everyone from toddlers to grandmas entered the waters to witness the beauty of Molokini.  Although I had done this trip many times before, it was even more special watching the wonder in the faces of my five year old son, my kama'aina niece and my mother as they experienced the rainbow of colors for the first time.  Both the very young and the young at heart from three generations of my extended family were treated to one spectacular moment after another. 

My sons caught their first fish (see the photo below), we saw whales and dolphins, we swam with a rainbow of fish, turtles and even a small, very friendly looking shark!  The beauty of the islands are inadequately expressed in writing.  It must be felt with the heart. 'Ohana and Aloha at it's best...a magical day off the island of Maui.

T.G.
Washington State
 

CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE