Kāʻanapali Magazine - Spring/Summer 2016

W HE RE T HE W ORL D COM E S T O P L AY

SPRING/SUMMER 2016 q YOUR FREE ISSUE

Deluxe Snorkel, Whale Watch & Evening Sails Departing Daily from Kaanapali Beach

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WHALE WATCHING

*December 15th through April 15th 4 Daily Whale Watches Experienced Naturalist on-board Hydrophone to hear the whales sing Sunset Whale Watches too!

FLAVORFUL INDULGENCES

At The Westin Kā‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas, three incredible restaurants offer an array of inspiring settings to satisfy your senses.

PŪLEHU, AN ITALIAN GRILL Often recognized for its culinary excellence, this award-winning restaurant presents new Italian cuisine with a local sustainable twist. Savor signature appetizers, special wood-stove oven baked pizzas, fresh salads, seafood and more.

OCEAN POOL BAR & GRILL The scenic poolside setting of this restaurant bar is the perfect place to gather for happy hour, live music, themed dinner specials and all-day dining favorites.

PAILOLO BAR & GRILL Enjoy ocean side dining and a distinctive experience with the unveiling of our food truck. From refreshing drinks to glorious views of the neighbor islands in a lively sports-bar atmosphere, it’s the best spot to sample local and contemporary touches to classic food truck fare.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT WESTINKAANAPALI.COM OR CALL 808-667-3254.

6 Kai Ala Drive, North Kā‘anapali Beach, Maui

©2016 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. All Rights Reserved. SPG, Preferred Guest, Westin and their logos are the trademarks of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., or its affiliates.

�able of �ontents FEATURES Catching up with Kā‘anapali 28

Curious about what’s new at your favorite vacation destination? Have a look.

Gardens of Eden 32

The champagne sand that stretches for miles along our coast may have inspired Kā‘anapali Beach Resort . . . but it’s not our only great outdoors.

The “Flowers” of Ni‘ihau 40

Gathered and crafted into exquisite lei, the delicate shells of Hawai‘i’s forbidden island create a unique art form, and make possible a distinctive way of life.

Behind the Rainbow

48

Why do Hawaiian skys put on the most amazing light shows?

Tables for Two 68

How romantic can a couple’s massage really be? Our soon-to-be newlyweds are about to find out.

If you’ve never gotten over the rainbow, you’re in good company. See story on page 48. Photo

by Ron Dahlquist

6 Kā‘anapali Magazine

On our cover: A Hawaiian sea turtle glides in calm waters beside Pu‘u Keka‘a (Black Rock), as a cliff diver makes his sunset leap. Photo courtesy of Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa

MARY ANNE FITCH MAUI’S #1 REALTOR® 2015* Representing Maui’s Most Distinctive Oceanfront, Ocean View and Golf Course Addresses

Plantation Estates at Kapalua

“Moemalie” Magnificent 23-Acre Estate in Kula

Kaanapali Golf Estates

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Kahana Oceanfront

Royal Kaanapali Estates

NAM L. LE VIET

OWNER - REALTOR®(S)

Phone (808) 283-9007

mauisold.com • RS-61810 * Hawaii Business Magazine

MARY ANNE FITCH OWNER - PRINCIPAL BROKER®

Phone (808) 250-1583

soldmaui.com

RB-15474 500 Bay Drive, Kapalua, HI 96761

Five-spice pork with hoisin sauce, served in a steamed bun—one more good reason to dine at Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel’s Tiki Terrace Restaurant. See story page 58.

Contributors 12

We’re pleased to introduce some of the talented folks behind Kā‘anapali Magazine.

A Word from the President 14

Meet Thomas Bell, president of Hawaiian Hotels & Resorts and current president of Kā‘anapali Beach Resort Association.

Where . . . ? 16

Keep our resort map handy and find what you’re looking for.

Nīele 18

The indispensable coconut . . . a Maui chief whose leap from Black Rock risked his very soul . . . and a managing director whose career path began with a basket of Ozzie rolls . . . if we’ve sparked your nīele (curiosity), read on!

8 Kā‘anapali Magazine

DINING FootGolf?

72

There’s a whole new way to play Kā‘anapali’s courses, and you don’t need a caddy or clubs.

Now, about that big orange ball. . . .

See Learn Do 74

Looking for adventures by land or sea?

Hawaiian culture or island history?

Whatever activities you’re into, you’ve come to the right place.

Calendar 80

Check here for special events and resort activities that don’t come along every day, plus a few of our favorite happenings around Maui.

 Relish Oceanside 54

The Westin Maui Resort & Spa brings a cosmopolitan flavor to outdoor dining.

 In the Kitchen 58

A conversation with Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel’s Executive Chef Tom Muromoto

 Eat Like a Local 60

In a place as multicultural as Hawai‘i, island cuisine encompasses a whole lot more than fish and poi.

 Dining Guide 62

Hungry? Whatever you’re in the mood for, you’ll find it at Kā‘anapali, just a beach walk away.

NINA KUNA

DEPARTMENTS

Our Wave Pendant Collection comes in several styles and sizes and is available in 14K Yellow, White or Rose Gold

An incomparable collection of Hawaiian and Island lifestyle jewelry

MAUI KAANAPALI: Whalers Village, 808-667-5411 • Hyatt Regency Maui, 808-667-7780 LAHAINA: 744 Front Street, across from the seawall, 808-661-5965 858 Front Street, across from Bubba Gump, 808-661-1219 • Lahaina Cannery, 808-661-1731 WAILEA: The Shops at Wailea, Upper level, 808-891-8040 • Grand Wailea Resort, 808-879-8336 KAHULUI: Queen Ka‘ahumanu Center, 808-893-2110

NaHoku.com • 1-800-260-3912

We’re turning heads.

ADMINISTRATIVE

Kā‘anapali Beach Resort Association PUBLISHER

Haynes Publishing Group MANAGING EDITOR

Lehia Apana

CONSULTING EDITOR

Rita Goldman

ART DIRECTOR & DESIGNER

John Giordani

ASSISTANT DESIGNER

Shelby Lynch

DIGITAL EDITOR

Adelle Lennox STYLE EDITOR

Conn Brattain CONTROLLER & OFFICE MANAGER

Kao Kushner

You need not look twice to recognize West Maui’s most prized real estate -- Kaʻanapali Coffee Farms.

Weaving contemporary island living into deep agricultural roots, this master-planned gated community, offers 5- to 7-acre estate lots, your own private coffee orchard (with none of the work), breathtaking panoramic ocean and mountain views, and a lifestyle like no other. Live your dream!

Only a limited number of estate lots available.

Prices starting from $795,000.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Lehia Apana, Sky Barnhardt, Kyle Ellison, Rita Goldman, Teya Penniman, Sarah Ruppenthal, Becky Speere, Michael Stein CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Bob Bangerter, Conn Brattain, Ron Dahlquist, Kyle Ellison Mieko Horikoshi, Nina Kuna, Peter Liu, Dominic Marino, Jerod Marson, Jason Moore, Wally Pacholka, Ryan Siphers, Becky Speere DISTRIBUTION & CIRCULATION

Haynes Publishing Group, Inc. ADVERTISING SALES (808)

242-8331

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Barbara Geary, Michael Haynes, Laura Lewark E-MAIL ADDRESS info@MauiMagazine.net

Publishers of Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi, Kā‘anapali, Island Living, Eating & Drinking, & The Shops at Wailea magazines

KĀ‘ANAPALI MAGAZINE is published semiannually by Haynes Publishing Group, Inc.,

KaanapaliCoffeeFarms.com

Call 888-KCF-MAUI (888-523-6284) 808-870-5571

Obtain the Property Report required by Federal law and the Public Offering Statement required by Hawaii law and read them before signing anything. No Federal or State agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property; and registration with such entities does not mean approval or disapproval of the subdivision. Prices and offers subject to change at any time.

10 Kā‘anapali Magazine

90 Central Ave., Wailuku, HI 96793; (808) 242-8331. ©2016 All rights reserved.

This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, in whole or in part, without the express prior written permission of the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to accept or reject any advertising matter. The publisher assumes no responsibility to any party for the content of any advertisement in this publication, including any errors and omissions therein. Printed in USA Individual issues are available upon written request to Haynes Publishing Group, Inc., 90 Central Ave., Wailuku, HI 96793, or by email: Orders@KaanapaliMagazine.com. Cost is $3 per magazine plus postage ($5.60 in the U.S. & Canada). Payments in U.S. currency only.

Kā‘anapali Magazine is produced in cooperation with Kā‘anapali Beach Resort Association.

mai tais at sunset

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a few steps from the sand.

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Job Name: WHLR-30672 Size/colour: Trim: 7-3/4" x 4-3/4"; 4C Pub: Kaanapali Magazine Pub Date: Feb.-July 2016 _Sprint/Summer 2016

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Spring-Summer 2016 11

Contributors

Sky Barnhart Schual

Ron Dahlquist

Sky is an awardwinning freelance writer and a college journalism instructor.

A former staff writer for Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi Magazine and a columnist for The Maui News, she now lives in Oregon, where she spends as much time running after her two children as chasing down stories. Sky hopes the ocean around Ni‘ihau will forever yield the precious pūpū (shells) she was lucky enough to write about for this issue.

Ron has been chasing rainbows—a metaphor for pretty pictures—for most of his forty-five years as a photographer. He began his career in southern California as a surf photographer at SURFING Magazine; and later worked as a lifestyle, sports, scenic, travel and commercial photographer in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, where he lived before he and his wife, Sharon, moved to Maui in the mid-eighties. To see more of his work, visit RonDahlquist.com.

Sunny VerMaas Principal Broker Realtor, RSPS, ePro, TRC 808.283.0141 SunnyOnMaui@aol.com

Kyle Ellison

Kyle is a freelance writer who splits his time between Kula, Maui, and Asheville, North Carolina. He’s the author of the Moon Handbook to Maui, Moloka‘i, and Lānaʻi, and has contributed to Travel + Leisure, The San Francisco Chronicle, Travel Channel, Escape, Journey, Viator, AOL Travel, and Maui Nō Ka 'Oi Magazine. Visit KyleTheVagabond. com or follow @kylethevagabond online.

Rita Goldman

An award-winning writer and senior editor of Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi Magazine, Rita delights in researching subjects that pique her curiosity and turning them into stories.

Her first year on Maui, she visited Haleakalā’s summit at sunset, and saw a Brocken spectre: a full-circle rainbow cast on the clouds, with her shadow in the center. In “Behind the Rainbow,” Rita shares why Hawai‘i’s skies put on the most amazing light shows.

Mieko Horikoshi

Equal parts foodie and photographer, Mieko finds that the island’s culinary scene serves as a constant— and delicious—muse.

She is a member of the Professional Photographers of America and the American Society of Media Photographers. Born and raised in Japan, Mieko moved to Maui in 1994, where she lives with her two daughters.

Nina Kuna

Originally from the West Coast, Nina studied and worked the bicoastal circuit in New York and San Francisco before landing in her permanent home of Maui with a BFA in photography from Parsons School of Design. Happy to call Maui her home, she also nurtures her love of design with an eponymous collection of jewelry.

John Kevan Vacation Property Management Sales/Realtor(S)/RSPS 808.283.9790 JKevan@gmail.com

Maui Paradise Properties, LLC, is a full-service sales and vacation rental management company, and has become a leader in West Maui. We are what you expect of a company founded by professionals who have been among the best in sales and marketing in Hawai‘i for over 30 years.

Please visit our website: www.MauiParadiseProperties.com

Our mission is to provide clients with premier service at competitive rates, and ALWAYS service with aloha!

Live your Dream—Make it Maui Maui Paradise Properties, LLC • MAIN OFFICE 727 Wainee Street, Suite 206, Lahaina, Hawaii 96761

2ND OFFICE Kaleialoha Oceanfront Condominiums, 3785 L. Honoapiilani Road, Lahaina, Hawaii 96761 12 Kā‘anapali Magazine

Dom Marino

Dom never tires of Maui’s natural beauty.

You can often find him sitting quietly in an ‘ōhiʻa forest, hiking at Haleakalā, observing meteorites streaking over his home at 3 a.m., or chasing rainbows— always with a camera nearby, of course.

See some of his favorite rainbow photos in this issue’s “Behind the Rainbow” story.

Jason Moore

With his deep love for the ocean, it’s no wonder photographer Jason Moore calls Hawai‘i’s waters home. Jason spends the winter working with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as a research and rescue assistant for humpback whale research. When he’s not in the water or shooting on location, Jason shows his photography at Diamond Head Gallery on Front Street in Lahaina.

Teya Penniman

Teya first got hooked on island life and the waters around them while working as a seabird biologist on a remote arctic sandspit.

More islands and more bird studies followed, until her focus shifted to protecting and writing about native places. Her article on Malihini Keahi-Heath, Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel’s director of hospitality, reveals that Teya’s pretty adept at depicting island people, too.

Sarah Ruppenthal Sarah is an awardwinning journalist, freelance writer and instructor at University of Hawai‘i–Maui College. Her stories have appeared in Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi Magazine, FLUX, Hawai‘i Magazine, The Maui News and other regional publications. When she’s not grading papers or working on a story, Sarah is relaxing at home on Maui’s north shore with her husband, and 135-pound “puppy,” Odie.

Becky Speere

The daughter of a Hawai‘i-born mother of Japanese ancestry and a father from an Alabama coalmining town, Becky grew up on the Big Island amid a world of flavors: butter beans and ham hocks, bamboo shoots, fiddlehead ferns and wild-boar sausage.

The former owner of Pa‘uwela Cafe in Ha‘ikū, Becky is a chef consultant and shares her passion for all things culinary as dining editor of Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi Magazine.

Michael Eric Stein

Born and raised in New York City, Michael is a novelist, playwright, screenand television writer (Miami Vice, the CBS television movie Higher Ground), and journalist. He has written for many years for Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi Magazine on business, culture, music and the arts, and his articles have won two Hawai‘i Publishers Association Pa‘i Awards for the magazine.

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Spring-Summer 2016 13

Letter

FROM THE KĀ‘ANAPALI BEACH RESORT ASSOCIATION

Aloha

As president of the Kā‘anapali Beach Resort Association, I am pleased to welcome you to the island of Maui, to our diverse and inviting resort, and to this latest issue of Kā‘anapali Magazine. In these pages, you’ll find beautifully photographed and engaging stories on the people, activities and culture of the place we call home. For example, the photoessay “Gardens of Eden” explores the tropical landscapes and exotic fauna that transform our hotels’ surroundings into little (and not-so-little) slices of paradise. Adam and Eve would have felt right at home here—and who needs an apple, when you can give in to the indulgence of a couple’s massage at the Sheraton Maui’s Spa at Black Rock? (We’ve got a first-person account.)

In this issue, you’ll also discover a rare and fragile treasure from Ni‘ihau, Hawai‘i’s forbidden island . . . find out why early Polynesians considered the coconut so important that they brought the plant with them when they arrived here by canoe more than 1,000 years ago . . . and learn the science and legends behind Hawai‘i’s abundance of rainbows, including double rainbows and even moonbows!

Turn here for advice on great dining and shopping, activities and events that will help you make the most of your Kā‘anapali vacation . . . and take a peek at what’s coming soon to iconic Whalers Village. We invite you to enjoy this issue as you relax on the beach or on your lānai, and encourage you to take Kā‘anapali Magazine with you as a souvenir of what we know will be a dream vacation for you and your loved ones.

We are confident that you will fall in love with Kā‘anapali Resort, celebrated worldwide as the place “Where the World Comes to Play.” Please let us know if we can assist you during your stay, or visit our website, KaanapaliResort.com, for comprehensive, 24-hour access to resort information, photography, rates, and more.

Mahalo, Back issues of Kā‘anapali Magazine are available online. Go to MauiMagazine.net/ Kaanapali and click the link “Free Digital Edition.”

14 Kā‘anapali Magazine

Thomas Bell President, Kā‘anapali Beach Resort Association

As the brilliant orange of the setting sun flares across the Pacific, the sound of a conch shell fills the air.

Drums beat rhythmically. The evening is primed for magic.

Here on the shores of legendary Kā‘anapali Beach, Maui’s favorite and longest running oceanfront luau takes you on a magical journey through time and space.

From a sumptuous traditional Hawaiian buffet to a dazzling celebration of music, song and dance, you will be spellbound as performers weave authentic myths of Hawai‘i, Tahiti and Samoa into one of the most unforgettable evenings ever!

Experience the Legend Call 808-661-9119 for Reservations & Information

2780 kekaa drive • lahaina, maui, hawaii 96761 • 1-800-22-aloha • www.royallahaina.com

Resort Map P

Pu‘ukoli‘i Road

Honoapi’ilani Highway

A

30

B

Keka’a

Drive

D



Kai Ala Drive

C

Q

X

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E

Beachwalk

NORTH

I A‘

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‘I KA

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Hotels & Condos A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J. K.

The Westin Kā‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas Aston Maui Kaanapali Villas Royal Lahaina Resort Maui Eldorado KaanapaliSM by Outrigger® Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel Aston at The Whaler on Kaanapali Beach The Westin Maui Resort & Spa Kaanapali Alii Resort Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club Hyatt Kā’anapali Beach, a Hyatt Residence Club Resort L. Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa M. Kā‘anapali Royal

Spas & Salons

Alii Spa (I) Beauty of Aloha Spa & Salon (F) Hale Mana Wellness Center (J) Heavenly Spa by Westin* (H) Hina Mana Salon & Spa (G) Kamaha‘o, a Marilyn Monroe Spa* (L) The Spa at Black Rock* (E) Spa Helani, a Heavenly Spa by Westin* (A) * Full spa (wet and dry therapies) 16 Kā’anapali Magazine

Beach Activities of Maui Locations: Aston at The Whaler on Kaanapali Beach Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club Royal Lahaina Resort Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa Westin Kā‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas The Westin Maui Resort & Spa

Dining

Beach Bar (H) Beach Walk Kau Kau to Go (J) Black Rock Kitchen (E) Castaway Café (B) China Bowl (X) CJ’s Deli & Diner (X) Cliff Dive Grill (E) Colonnade Café (H) Hank’s Haute Dogs (E) Honolulu Coffee Company (L) Hula Grill & Barefoot Bar (W) Island Press Coffee (X) Japengo (L) Kā‘anapali Grille & Tap Room (J) Kai Ala Market (A) Lahaina Provision Company (K) Leilani’s on the Beach (W) Mai Tai Bar (E) Ocean Pool Bar & Grill (A) Pailolo Bar & Grill (A) Paradise Grill (V)

Pūlehu, an Italian Grill (A) Pu‘ukoli‘i General Store (A) Pau Huakaʻi Tiki Bar (K) Relish Burger Bistro (H) Relish Oceanside (H) Round Table Pizza (X) Roy’s Kā‘anapali (N) Royal Ocean Terrace Restaurant & Lounge (C) Royal Scoop (C) Sangrita Grill + Cantina (X) Sea Dogs Snack Bar (H) Starbucks (J) Swan Court Breakfast/ Son'z Steakhouse (L) Teppan-yaki Dan (E) Tiki Bar & Grill (F) Tiki Terrace Restaurant (F) Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice (L) ‘Ūmalu (L) Whalers Village Food Court (W) Wiki Grinds (E)

R

Activities

Your concierge will be happy to provide a full list of resortwide attractions. Here’s a sample:

Beach Activities of Maui (S) Kā‘anapali Golf Courses Clubhouse (N) Kā‘anapali Surf Club (H) Kahekili Park & Keka‘a Beach (Q) Kupanaha Magic Dinner Theater (F) Skyline Eco Adventures (O) Sugar Cane Train’s Pu‘ukoli‘i Station (P) Sunset Cliff Dive Ceremony (R) UFO Parasail (T) Whale Center of Hawai‘i (U)

Lu¯‘au

Drums of the Pacific Lū‘au (L) Legends of Kā‘anapali Lū‘au (F) Maui Nui Lū‘au at Black Rock (E) The Myths of Maui Lū‘au (C) Wailele Polynesian Lū‘au (H)

INA

Kā’anapali Beach Resort Association Keka ’a

A LAH

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3M

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Drive

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Kā’a na

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pali

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Park w

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Shopping W. Whalers Village Shopping Center APPAREL Billabong Blue Ginger Blue Ginger Kids Cariloha Cinnamon Girl Crazy Shirts Crocs Cruise Flip Flop Shops Honolua Surf Co. Kahala Kate Spade Lani’s Lululemon Athletica Louis Vuitton Maggie Coulombe Malibu Shirts Maui WaterWear PacSun Planet Blue Quiksilver/Roxy Rip Curl Soul Lei T-Shirt Factory Tommy Bahama Tori Richard

ay

JEWELRY Alex and Ani Baron & Leeds Dolphin Galleries Jewelry Glass Mango Design Maui Divers Jewelry Na Hoku Pandora Pearl Factory Swarovski Crystals Whalers Fine Jewelry SUNDRY ABC Stores GIFT, ART, SPECIALTY Brighton Collectibles Chapel Hats Crystal Rainbows Honolulu Cookie Company Island Cutie Martin & MacArthur Oakley Sand Kids Sand People Sandal Tree

H

ea Noh

I

rive

Kai D

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Beachwalk

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Sunglass Hut Totally Hawaiian Gift Gallery The Walking Company SERVICES Maui Dive & Surf on the Beach REAL ESTATE Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club Whalers Realty Inc.

SPECIALTY FOOD Häagen-Dazs Island Vintage Coffee Surfy Turtle Shave Ice & Smoothies Yogurtland FOOD COURT Fresh . . . Eat Well, Live Well Joey’s Kitchen Nikki’s Pizza Subway

X. Fairway Shops at Kā‘anapali Artistic Nails & Spa China Bowl CJ’s Deli & Diner Edward Jones The Hair Hale Harris Hawaii Realty Island Attitudes Furnishings & Design Island Press Coffee OneMain Financial

Round Table Pizza Sangrita Grill + Cantina Skyline Eco Adventures The Snorkel Store Spa Juva & FitExpress Urgent Care West Maui Valley Isle Fitness Center VanQuaethem Chiropractic Whalers General Store Whalers Realty

Royal Trading Company ~ C The Shops at the Hyatt ~ L

Public Parking

Medical Services

Beach Access

Kā‘anapali Trolley

Kā‘anapali Trolley Tel: (808) 667-0648 Kā‘anapali area only. Travel complimentary among Kā‘anapali hotels, golf course, Whalers Village Shopping Center, and Fairway Shops.

ADA lifts. Runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

Maui Public Transit (Roberts) Shuttle Tel: (808) 871-4838 From Whalers Village Shopping Center in Kā‘anapali, ride to Kapalua Resort, Lahaina Cannery Mall or Wharf Cinema Center in Lahaina, or Walmart/Kmart in Kahulu $1–$2 between each point (Call for details.)

DISTANCES

Hyatt to Golf Course........................... 0.5 Mile Hyatt to Whalers Village..................... 0.5 Mile Hyatt to Sheraton................................ 1 Mile Sheraton to Golf Course..................... 1 Mile Hyatt to Royal Lahaina........................ 1.5 Miles Royal Lahaina to Golf Course.............. 1.5 Miles Kā‘anapali to Lahaina (Banyan Tree)... 3 Miles Kā‘anapali to Kapalua Airport............. 3.5 Miles

PEOPLE

Lessons from an Alaka‘i STORY BY TEYA PENNIMAN

Eight hotel guests have gathered in the open-air hale at Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel to learn lei making from Malihini Keahi-Heath. But before they begin, she sends the more adventurous off to scour the grounds for more blossoms; a cooler mishap has wilted most of the carnations prepared for the class.

Malihini is the alaka‘i, or director, of the hotel’s ho‘okipa (hospitality) desk. Born and raised in Lahaina in what she calls a “fishing, kalo [taro] and pua‘a [pig-hunting] family,” she started dancing hula here in 1991. Two years later, she became a hostess at the hotel’s restaurant, and soon after moved to the hospitality department, where she was tapped to share her knowledge of Hawaiian culture. Over the years, Mahihini has added activities to the program, including lauhala weaving and tours of traditional plants on the property. Although her waist-length hair is now flecked with silver, she still occasionally performs hula at the hotel. The grace of her movements tells of a lifelong dancer.

The lei begin to take shape. Malihini’s encouraging words punctuate the quiet that has settled over the group.

As each guest completes a lei, Malihini drapes it over its maker’s shoulders along with a hug or a kiss to the forehead.

“A lei is a circle of love,” she says.

The class turns to making ti-leaf lei. As the students twist and braid, Malihini shares her mana‘o (knowledge) of Hawaiian culture, including the medicinal properties of plants. She comes by this passion naturally: her tūtū kāne (grandfather) and ‘anakē (aunty) were both kahuna (healers), and she turned to natural remedies to support her own recovery from a serious illness. She explains that ti leaves can calm the spirit, draw a fever out of the body, and reduce swelling. She also notes that wrapping meat or vegetables in ti to cook them ensures the perfect temperature when the leaves are pulled away.

Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel is known as the destination resort’s “most Hawaiian hotel,” an epithet it earns daily. “You have to have [the commitment] from the top,” says Malihini.

It’s evident in different ways: involving employees in Hawaiian cultural activities, whether they interact with guests or not; offering the “Hawaiian diet,” a meal based on what Hawaiians consumed before western influence; or the late-morning send-off with lei and mele (song) for departing guests; even staff passing by stop to add their voices to the chorus.

As the new lei-makers wander off, Malihini muses over the earlier impromptu flower gathering, linking the teaching of Hawaiian culture to its mandate to mālama ‘āina (care for the land). “Maybe we need to [keep doing] this. . . . The tree needs to know that it is adored and that it has a purpose for being there.”

Hotel guests who dance, weave, or take a plant walk with Malihini Keahi-Heath will find a kumu (teacher) who embodies the Hawaiian concept of hospitality—one rooted in her land and family, and clearly comfortable with her own purpose in life and work.  18 Kā‘anapali Magazine

JASON MOORE

N¯ıele

N¯ıele

NATURE

The Indispensable Coconut STORY BY MICHAEL STEIN

When the first Polynesians arrived in these islands, they carried with them a lifeline of seeds, stalks, tubers, roots, and cuttings: the “canoe plants” that were the mainstays not only of their diet, their clothing, and their handicrafts, but their beliefs and culture.

The niu, or coconut, was one of the most versatile of those plants. Early Hawaiians used every part of the coconut palm, from the roots to the leaves, for housing materials, tools, cordage, musical instruments, baskets and furniture. Ancient law stated that if you cut down a coconut tree, you had to plant two more.

Coconuts nourished at every stage of their development. Young niu yielded ‘ō‘io, a jellylike flesh, and water (which made them natural canteens for ancient Hawaiian journeys). Matured nuts provided coconut milk and flesh that could be pounded into the cream that’s the basis for haupia pudding. From older coconuts, Hawaiians extracted oil that was a source of traditional medicines for asthma and other ills.

Not surprisingly, this versatile plant has been the subject of folk history and belief.

Niu was used in ceremonial offerings and chants, the shells for decorative and religious art. The tree bends but doesn’t break in heavy winds, and ancient Hawaiians lashed themselves to the trunks to avoid being washed out to sea during storms; thus to name a young man Kaniu—the coconut—is to wish for him upright and righteous strength.

Depicted in early Hollywood movies and travel posters, the coconut palm came to symbolize the tropical-island paradise. But there’s a deeper reason 1,027 of these trees line Kā‘anapali’s beach walk. Each is a living reminder of how niu helped the first Hawaiians make these islands their home. 

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CULTURE

kahekili’s Leap Each evening, as a red sun sinks into the ocean beyond Kā‘anapali Beach, conch shells herald a tradition centuries old. With flaming torch borne aloft, a cliff diver races barefoot up a jagged lava path to the top of Black Rock, a volcanic promontory that rises eighty feet above the ocean at the Sheraton Maui Resort. Behind him lies a trail of fire—tiki torches he has lighted along the way. At last, silhouetted at the summit, he recites a Hawaiian chant, offers his torch and lei to the ocean below . . . and leaps into the darkening Pacific.

Divers have performed this ceremony nightly since the Sheraton opened in 1963. They honor a tradition far older, begun by Kahekili, the great chief who ruled Maui when Black Rock was known by another name: Pu‘u Keka‘a.

Born around 1710, Kahekili was said to be a handsome man, stern and reserved, almost seven feet tall and close to 300 pounds.

Brave and ruthless, he led a company of fierce warriors, and demanded fearlessness from his men—and from himself. Kahekili excelled at the sport of lele kawa, jumping feet-first from cliffs and landing in the sea without a splash. According to the Hawaiian scholar Samuel Kamakau, Kahekili “is known to have leaped from a height of 360, possibly 400 feet.”

A number of places around the Hawaiian Islands are known as “Kahekili’s Leap.” Besides Pu‘u Keka‘a, there is one at Kahakuloa, north of Kā‘anapali on the West Maui coast, where Kahekili is said to have jumped from a height of 200 feet. And there’s one on the island of Lāna‘i that has a deadly rock platform below. But of all these, Pu‘u Keka‘a was considered the most dangerous, for it was sacred, a leina-a-ka-‘uhane, or leaping place of the soul.

Ancient Hawaiians believed that when a person died, his soul left his body and wandered until it found a doorway through which it could leap into the spirit world. Thus, to jump from Pu‘u Keka‘a was to risk not only physical injury, but the possibility of leaping straight into the hereafter. When Kahekili leaped from that peak, he became godlike in the eyes of his people; only a person of great mana, or spiritual strength, could do this and survive. Seeing his bravery, his warriors trusted him and followed him into battle.

They also followed the extremes to which he took tattooing.

Kahekili claimed Kanehekili, the god of thunder, as his ancestor. It was said that the god had once been a man, Hekili, who lived in Pāpa‘a‘ea on Maui’s north shore, where thunder claps loudly and lightning strikes the forest. Hekili was known to have immense mana, because thunder and lightning destroyed his enemies. When the god of thunder appeared, the right side of his body was black from head to foot. To honor this powerful ancestor, Kahekili and his warriors had the right sides of their bodies completely tattooed— even the insides of their eyelids.

Spiritual portals aside, those who dive from Pu‘u Keka‘a must pay close attention to timing and tide levels, or risk serious injury.

Each time these skilled athletes leap, they follow in the footsteps of one of Maui’s most powerful chiefs, honoring him with their courage. 22 Kā‘anapali Magazine

�tory by ellie crowe Photograph by ryan siphers

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LEADERSHIP

A View from the Top It all started with a basket of Ozzie rolls.

Twenty-four years ago, Angela Nolan and her parents sat down to discuss their vacation plans over an order of the fried dough balls at their favorite Springfield, Virginia, restaurant. It came down to two choices: Maui or the Bahamas. Maui won. “That night changed my life,” Angela says.

Her father booked rooms at the Westin Maui Resort & Spa in Kā‘anapali. For sixteen-year-old Angela, it was love at first sight. “There’s something about this place,” she says. “It captures you, just like the aloha spirit of the people.”

Smitten, the family traveled to Kā‘anapali every year.

“I always had Maui on my mind,” Angela says. It wasn’t her only obsession. “The hospitality industry looked like fun and I wanted to be a part of it.”

The summer she turned eighteen, Angela attended a reception for the Westin’s returning guests—and made a beeline for the general manager. “I asked him, ‘Do you have an internship?’ He told me to get in touch with him sometime.” He didn’t expect her to be knocking on his office door the next morning. “I guess you can say I’m persistent,” she laughs.

Angela interned at the Westin the following summer, working at the front desk (where she checked in her own parents) as a casual hire. After college, she became a management trainee there—and landed a full-time management position at the hotel halfway through her training. Not long after, Angela became the front-office manager of the Kapalua Bay Hotel and Ocean Villas.

Over the years, she’s worked in upper-level positions at Kapalua Bay, the Sheraton Maui, and the Trump International Hotel and Planet Hollywood Towers in Las Vegas.

In 2011, Angela became general manager of the Westin Kā‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas, where she increased hotel revenues, planned a multimillion-dollar renovation, and spearheaded several award-winning sustainability initiatives. “It was pretty humbling to be tapped on the shoulder for that opportunity,” she says.

Her star hasn’t stopped rising. Recently promoted to area managing director of the new Vistana Signature Experiences, Angela is responsible for daily operations of Starwood Vacation Ownership properties in Hawai‘i, including the Westin Kā‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas, the Westin Nanea Ocean Villas (scheduled to open in 2017) and the Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas on Kaua‘i. Besides overseeing more than 1,000 employees, Angela will serve as the face of the company, meeting regularly with villa owners and guests and hosting monthly manager’s receptions.

“It was a dream come true,” Angela says of the promotion. “And it still is.”  24 Kā‘anapali Magazine

JASON MOORE

STORY BY SARAH RUPPENTHAL

EXPERIENCE POLYNESIA

Wailele Polynesian Lūa‘u presents a spectacular revue featuring the songs and dances of Hawai‘i and Polynesia, complemented by a lavish island-style buffet dinner and all-inclusive beverages.

TUESDAYS, THURSDAYS & SUNDAYS Oceanfront at the Aloha Pavilion Reservations Required.

For schedule and ticket information, please call 808.661.2992 or visit westinmaui.com

2365 Ka‘anapali Parkway Lahaina, Hawai‘i 96761 Certificate of Excellence - Wailele Polynesian Luau by TripAdvisor Dates subject to change without notice. ©2015 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. All Rights Reserved. SPG, Preferred Guest, Westin and their logos are the trademarks of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., or its affiliates.

FEEL ALIVE AND INSPIRED Embark on a journey of renewal at our full-service oceanfront spa.

Experience Hawaiian healing techniques and innovative treatments at our award-winning Heavenly Spa by Westin.

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Signature favorites: HydraFacial MD® and HydroPeptide facials Hawaiian Lomi Lomi massage Express manicure/pedicure AVEDA products and retail boutique For more information and reservations, call 808.661.2588 or visit westinmaui.com

SHOPPING

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Time Frame Chanel’s high-tech

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What to Wear in Paradise

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A Finish That’s Nonpareil

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Full Steam Ahead Louis

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They’ll Go toYour Head

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Tropical Heat Experience the warmth of the Islands with Adoboloco’s hot sauces, from mild to three-alarm-fire. $10 each at Accents in The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, 2365 Kā‘anapali Parkway, 662-0440; and Adoboloco.com

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COMPILED BY CONN BRATTAIN

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J12 ceramic-and-steel watch features pink detailing, self-winding movement and 42-hour power reserve. Water resistant to 200 meters. Limited edition of 1,200. Price on request at Baron & Leeds in Whalers Village, 661-6806, BaronAndLeeds.com

Le Vian’s Aloha Bird of Paradise pendant has multicolor gems and vanilla diamonds set in 14K honey gold. From $699, chain included.

Matching earrings available. At Na Hoku in Whalers Village, 667-4511.

For other locations visit NaHoku.com

Heidi Cramer of Maui Sweet Cakes sprinkles joy wherever she goes. Try her sprinkle cookies in chocolate, vanilla and liliko‘i (shown). Also in coconut lime and mac-nut chocolate. $3 each at Whalers General Store, Fairway Shops, 2580 Keka‘a Drive, Kā‘anapali, 661-1050; and at MauiSweetCakes.com.

Vuitton’s sleek City Steamer MM pays homage to House heritage while offering a host of new signature twists; note the engraved padlock, name tag, and hot-stamped LV circle. It’s a city bag that takes care of business, too, with ample room for papers and files. Price on request at Louis Vuitton in Whalers Village, 667-6114.

LouisVuitton.com

Square koa-and-pavé earrings from Martin & MacArthur’s Ali‘i Collection boast timeless style and proportion that will resonate for generations to come. They’re set in e-coated 14K gold or rhodium plate to prevent dulling or tarnishing. $95 at Martin & MacArthur in Whalers Village, 6677422; and The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, 2635 Kā‘anapali Parkway, 2700880; MartinAndMacarthur.com

Whalers Village, 2435 Kā‘anapali Parkway

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1: CHANEL/BARON & LEEDS; 2: NA HOKU; 3: MAUI SWEET CAKES; 4: LOUIS VUITTON; 5. MARTIN & MACARTHUR; 6: ADOBOLOCO

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Royal Pacific Air offers on-demand charter services featuring the newest equipment and state-of-the-art technology, including multiple aircraft types to suit your needs. Customize your next inter-island travel needs and enjoy the ultimate flying experience.

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catching up with 28 Kā‘anapali Magazine

THIS PAGE & OPPOSITE TOP: HYATT VACATION OWNERSHIP

Common areas at the new Hyatt Kāʻanapali Beach feature comfortable modern furnishings in soothing muted palettes accented with natural wood and stone elements. Mosaictile murals depict Hawaiian myths.

Above: A waterfall pool beckons at the new residential Hyatt Kāʻanapali Beach. Below: The Hyatt Regency Maui welcomes two new businesses: Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice and Honolulu Coffee Company.

BOTTOM RIGHT: HYATT REGENCY MAUI; MIDDLE RIGHT: ULULANI’S SHAVE ICE

From a renovated oceanfront shopping center, to fresh and exciting dining options, Kāʻanapali Resort keeps getting better and better.

Curious about what’s new at your favorite vacation spot? Here’s a look.

If you’ve ever wished you could call Kā‘anapali home, the Hyatt has just made it a whole lot easier, with the opening of the new Hyatt Kāʻanapali Beach, a Hyatt Residence Club Resort. The luxury condominium features 131 residential units, four pools, and a 3,000-square-foot fitness center for residents and their guests. For a quick bite or culinary essentials, head to the club’s Lahaina Provision Company; when you want to unwind, the oceanside Pau Huaka‘i Tiki Bar is a perfect place to watch the day slip away. Members and guests can also access amenities at the adjacent Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa. Those adjacent amenities are yummier than ever, now that Honolulu Coffee Company and the ‘Aipono Award-winning Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice have moved into the Hyatt Regency Maui, bringing with them premium coffee options and an iconic Hawaiʻi treat. . . . The Hyatt Regency has also partnered with Passion for Movement, a local company offering fitness classes and programs for Hyatt residents and guests that incorporate water resistance, aerobics and hula moves, kickboxing and more. . . . Planning an event? The Hyatt Regency has just the place: its new Lahaina Ballroom. Located on the lobby level of the Lahaina Tower, the 4,871-square-foot space is divisible into up to four breakout rooms for meetings and events.

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COURTESY OF THE WESTIN MAUI RESORT & SPA

The Westin Maui Resort & Spa recently invested $70 million for upgrades to 553 rooms and suites at its Ocean Tower. Guests will notice new furnishings and transparent balcony railings to better enjoy the ocean and mountain views, among other improvements.

New executive suites include separate bedroom and living areas, perfect for families or business travelers who desire extra-spacious accommodations. . . . The Westin Maui’s Heavenly Spa by Westin has introduced a spa menu that includes HydraFacial technology aimed at reversing the aging process. Plus, spagoers can now enjoy an alfresco massage for two in a new outdoor cabana on Kā‘anapali Beach. Bonus: the cabana is fitted with a ceiling fan for added comfort. . . . Young vacationers will find new offerings just for them, as the Westin Family program replaces Westin Kids Club. The new program encourages well-being through exploration and wonder. . . . and Westin Maui’s Wailele Polynesian Lū‘au continues to heat up Kā‘anapali’s entertainment scene with an updated performance lineup. Show highlights include a real-life Fijian chief and a new fire-knife dance performance.

Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa’s Black Rock Kitchen recently launched a new menu, created by Chef de Cuisine Jeffrey Rayno.

Selections include ‘ahi sashimi with apple ponzu gel, grilled shrimp with ginger cilantro macadamia nut pesto, seared diver scallops with Maui onion bacon jam, beets and quinoa with Surfing Goat Dairy cheese and beet syrup, and certified Black Angus beef filet with goat cheese whipped potato and rainbow chard.

Grilled shrimp with macadamia nut pesto

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‘Ahi sashimi with apple ponzu gel

COURTESY OF SHERATON MAUI RESORT & SPA

Clockwise from top: Technically, it’s the transparent railings that are new in The Westin Maui Resort & Spa’s Ocean Tower suites—but what guests will notice is the expanded ocean view. For kids, there’s a new Westin Family program; for their parents, an outdoor cabana for couple’s massage at Heavenly Spa by Westin.

COURTESY OF WESTIN KĀʻANAPALI OCEAN RESORT VILLAS COURTESY OF WHALERS VILLAGE

Maui boy Alvin Savella is the new chef de cuisine at Westin Kāʻanapali Ocean Resort Villas’ Pūlehu, an Italian Grill.

Savella was previously sous chef at The Westin Kā‘anapali’s Ocean Pool Bar & Grill. With a new chef comes a new menu.

‘Ahi carpaccio, served with shaved fennel, garlic aioli, lemon oil and guanciale chips; or seared scallops with smoked pork belly, kabocha purée, cipollini onion, baby squash and lemon hibiscus—which will become your new favorite? . . . If you’re the type of person who usually skips sweets, you may want to make an exception at Pūlehu. The new dessert menu features classics such as sorbet and gelato, plus specialties like “textures of tiramisu”—a deconstruction that includes hazelnut chocolate cake, ladyfingers, hazelnut crumble and mascarpone coffee cream (right).

You may have noticed construction happening at Whalers Village. The outdoor shopping center began a mallwide renovation in April 2015, with completion slated for late 2016. Work will include improvements to common areas, restrooms, lighting, flooring and signage. Approximately 10,000 square feet of new shop space will compliment existing retailers.

Stay tuned!

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An aquatic playground occupies two of the Westin Maui Resort & Spa’s twelve acres—plenty of room for a pair of resident flamingos to relax in a secluded spot, while elsewhere guests splash in pools and zip down waterslides. The hotel hosts a weekly botanical tour; its children’s program offers both a botanical tour and a nighttime safari.

G A R D E N S of

COURTESY OF THE WESTIN MAUI

eden

The champagne sand that stretches for three miles along our coast may have been the inspiration for Kā‘anapali Beach Resort, but it’s not our only great outdoors. Stroll our properties, and you’ll encounter waterfalls and koi ponds where wildlife makes its home, gardens of exotic flowers and tropical trees. Lose yourself in this paradise, and you never know what you might find.

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RYAN SIPHERS

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COURTESY OF THE HYATT REGENCY MAUI

Left: Bromeliads at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa are a study in evolutionary diversity as art. Above: More than a thousand types of flora bloom amid the Hyatt’s forty landscaped acres. Right: Spike, an African crowned crane, is a friendly and outgoing bird, perhaps because he has had the good fortune to live at the Hyatt since its opening in 1980. The hotel is home to seventeen bird species in all, including flamingos, swans, parrots, and African black-footed penguins—who happily thrive in Hawai‘i’s balmy climate. The Hyatt’s complimentary wildlife tours are open to the public, and held every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 10 a.m.

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The Westin Kā‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas offers a printed guide that lets you explore its native and tropical flora at your leisure. The booklet includes photos of some two dozen plants on the property, along with descriptions of how the early Hawaiians used them.

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COURTESY OF WESTIN KĀ‘ANAPALI OCEAN VILLAS RESORT

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COURTESY OF THE WESTIN MAUI

JEROD MARSON

Above: At the Westin Maui Resort & Spa, footpaths meander beside waterfalls, koi ponds, and pools where two generations of swans reside.

The black swan, Nelson, has lived at the Westin for twenty-four years.

Left: A blue-andgold macaw named Bob, and a scarlet macaw named Kalako, are among the avian residents who will happily introduce themselves at the Westin’s “Bird Meet N Greet,” held daily at 2 p.m.

In a pond that mirrors the Kā‘anapali sky, ornamental koi seem to swim amid tropical palms. It’s one of three koi ponds tucked amid eleven acres of lush vegetation at the Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club.

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the “flowers” of Making a Ni‘ihau shell lei requires countless hours of gathering and sorting. Shells come in a range of colors and shapes, for which they are named: momi lenalena (yellow), momi ke‘oke‘o (white), ‘ākala (pink), momi uliuli (dark green, blue or black), momi ‘ōnikiniki (flat, smooth), and so on. Each of these five multistrand lei from Maui Hands has between four and five feet of shells.

The center lei is by Kalei Benjamina; all others are

by Kalei Aloha Roback.

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Ni‘ihau From tiny shells that wash ashore on this forbidden island come priceless treasures.

Story by sky barnhart schual Photography by nina kuna Spring-Summer 2016 41

On an isolated island exposed to the brunt of winter storms, high surf pushes thousands of tiny shells, or pūpū, up onto the shores. Their presence is essential to a people who live almost entirely removed from the outside world. Gathered and crafted into exquisite lei, the delicate pūpū o Ni‘ihau are an art form that not only reflects a unique lifestyle, but sustains it financially.

The lei that Kalei Aloha Roback wears around her neck is worth many thousands of dollars. It’s a lei that took her years to make—a waist-length bounty of white, brown, pink and gold pūpū that she takes with her wherever she goes. Someday, it will be passed on to one of her seven children, just as she was given lei by her mother and by her auntie on her wedding day.

Born and raised on Ni‘ihau, Roback started learning the art of lei pūpū at a young age. She

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Shells in a variety of sizes, colors and shapes combine in this three-strand, forty-inch lei made for weddings and other special occasions. Image courtesy of Totally Hawaiian.

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would go with her family to the windswept beaches to “pick pūpū,” lying on her stomach for hours in the hot sun. She learned how to spot the delicate types of shells in the sand: the oval-shaped momi o ke kai, or pearl of the sea, pure white or almost black. The prized kahelelani— named after an ancient chief of Ni‘ihau—tiny turban shells less than five millimeters across, ranging from soft pink to deep brown. The laiki, like lustrous grains of rice, used to make the traditional wedding lei of Ni‘ihau women, often with strands reaching to their knees.

Hawai‘i’s queens Emma and Kapi‘olani posed for formal photographs in the 1800s with sumptuous lei pūpū o Ni‘ihau adorning their regal attire. The Bishop Museum on O‘ahu houses a stunning collection, including many lei so fragile they are kept in storage.

“Kahelelani are the only shells in the world that can be insured as gemstones,” says Maureen Padang, manager of Maui Hands gallery at the Hyatt Regency Maui in Kā‘anapali. “I tell people these lei are like an investment; they will increase in value.”

Although the tiny shells can be found on other shores, the quality cannot compare to those on Ni‘ihau.

The island’s coral beds are untouched by outside influences, allowing the delicate pūpū to develop their prized shine.

Prices start at approximately $360 for a singlestrand lei momi, and go up to $20,000 for an elaborate, five-strand lei roselani, composed of thousands of shells that took years to collect. You’ll find Ni‘ihau shell lei in Kā‘anapali at Totally Hawaiian Gift Gallery in Whalers Village, and at Maui Hands’ Hyatt Regency location.

The Valley Isle’s largest collection is at Maui Hands’ Pā‘ia store; owner Panna Speas is meticulous about quality, buying only genuine Ni‘ihau shell lei—a product that is becoming increasingly rare.

Located off the southwestern tip of Kaua‘i, Ni‘ihau has been privately owned since 1864, first by the Sinclair and now by the Robinson family. Since the family’s cattle ranch ceased operations, the island’s 130 residents, mostly native Hawaiians, have become almost entirely dependent on federal welfare and selling the precious lei for their livelihood. As residents age, the population is dwindling. With no cars or electricity, it’s a way of life too sedate for many of the younger generation.

Paired with the migration of younger residents is a decreasing quantity of pūpū washing up on the beaches, the result of changing ocean conditions. Pollution can roughen the shells and endanger the health of their miniscule inhabitants, causing a decline in numbers.

Opposite page, clockwise from top left: Ni‘ihau native Kalei Aloha Roback grew up “picking pūpū,” and now travels the islands, representing shell-lei makers. Her thirty-inch twisted po‘epo‘e (round) lei features a cowry clasp and shells in seven colors. Fellow lei maker Kikika Kanahele crafted this thirty-inch ‘alīlea (turbo-shell) lei, traditionally worn by men.

This page: Delicate and expressive, this wedding lei by Roback has twenty strands and approximately 7,000 shells.

All lei on this spread are from Maui Hands.

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Above: Kalei Aloha Roback’s fifty-six-inch, threestrand lei kipona is considered museum quality.

Photo courtesy of Maui Hands. Opposite page, clockwise from top left: Hawai‘i’s Queen Emma was an avid collector of Ni‘ihau shell lei; in this portrait, she wears multiple strands of lei pūpū o Ni‘ihau. The small white shells in the twisted, ten-strand lei are called laiki (rice); those with various colors are kahelelani, or pathway to Heaven. A close-up of a lei kipona reveals several varieties of momi shells, sewn pīkake style. Both lei on this page are from Totally Hawaiian.

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Still, the matriarchs of Ni‘ihau continue their daily work. They gather the pūpū and sort them by type, size and quality. They remove minute grains of sand and carefully pierce the shells with a sharp awl. Many shells— sometimes one out of five of the tiny kahelelani—break during this process, according to Roback. She rubs together her calloused thumb and forefinger as evidence of years of painstaking labor.

“Stringing is more fun!” Roback says. That’s where the lei makers get creative, displaying styles from the traditional lei kui pololei, which use a single thread, to the newer styles like lei kui poepoe, which has a ropelike appearance.

Because of Ni‘ihau’s dry, dusty climate, there are few tropical blooms on the island. But residents don’t miss the flowers when they have the pūpū. Instead of wearing flower lei that yellow and die, the women adorn themselves with shell lei woven in symmetrical patterns to resemble flowers: pīkake, helekonia, crown flower. To celebrate a festive event, men too might wear a lei—typically a heavier design woven from larger shells like ‘alīlea or pōleho.

Very few outsiders are allowed to visit the island; however, lei makers from Ni‘ihau routinely make trips to share their art form at cultural festivals.

Roback travels among the islands as a representative of the shell lei makers.

Her soft voice is wistful when she speaks of her native island. “I wish I could be there and work on the shells every day,” she says.

Every day except Sunday—a day of rest on this deeply religious island.

“On Sundays, we don’t fish or work or make lei. We wear [the lei] to church, then we go home and visit with family,” Roback says. “You’re happy when you’re making lei; it’s not something you’ve got to do. It’s always a happy time doing it.”

Maybe that quiet happiness is why making the lei pūpū o Ni‘ihau has sustained a people for centuries.  Maui Hands, Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa, 200 Nohea Kai Dr. | 808-667-7997 Totally Hawaiian Gift Gallery, Whalers Village, 2435 Kā’anapali Pkwy. | 808-667-4070

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behind the Rainbow 48 Kā‘anapali Magazine

TOP: DOMINICKMARINOPHOTOGRAPHY.COM BOTTOM: BOB BANGERTER

The early-morning sun paints a vivid rainbow fragment across West Maui’s sky. Photographed from that same vantage, some 4,000 feet up the slopes of Haleakalā, the curtain of colors in the image at lower right is actually the base of a double rainbow.

Why do Hawaiian skies put on the most amazing light shows?

LEFT: RON DAHLQUIST; RIGHT: DOMINICK MARINO

Story by rita goldman

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Showers drift over West Maui’s mountain slopes at sunset. At the end of this rainbow lies Kā‘anapali.

RYAN SIPHERS

« ISLAND PORTRAIT »

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Drawn by the cool elevations of the West Maui Mountains, a rainbow spills into Olowalu Valley.

It’s not as though Hawai‘i is the only place with rainbows. All it takes to conjure one is falling water, sunlight, and the right spot for observing. Why, then, are rainbows at once so common and so spectacular here that they appear on our license plates and in our songs, in the names of our sports teams and the viewfinders of awestruck visitors who abandon their cars by the side of the road to photograph those brilliant bands of light?

RON DAHLQUIST

Rainbows 101 Those luminous arcs that span Hawaiian skies owe much to the Islands themselves: the height of our mountains, our distance from the equator and from just about anyplace else. Air currents moving across the Pacific gather moisture and carry it on the trade winds till a mountain—Mauna Loa, Haleakalā, Wai‘ale‘ale—blocks the way, forcing the moist air up into cooler elevations and forming clouds. There’s even a word for it: orographic, “an effect induced by the presence of mountains.” As rain falls, each drop separates its portion of sunlight into red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet. Then the air moves on, warming up over the valleys and leaving the rain behind.

And that’s the key. To see a rainbow, says Michael Nassir, an instructor of physics and astronomy at the University of Hawai‘i’s Mānoa campus, “you need a big curtain of rain in the air, and for you to be between that curtain and the sun. On the mainland, storms are huge, so it’s rare to be on

the boundary. You’re usually inside the storm.” In Hawai‘i, where showers linger over the mountains, “you’re often at the boundary.”

How falling water creates rainbows is simple physics—though if, like me, you consider “simple physics” an oxymoron, you might want to call it magic. Sunlight contains all the colors of the rainbow; when it penetrates a raindrop, it bends. Each color in that ray of light exists on a different wavelength, and bends to a different degree, so that when the light leaves the raindrop, the colors are all fanned out.

Any raindrop can perform this prism effect. Ours excel at variations on a theme.

Sometimes light bends and bounces off the inside of the raindrop not once, but twice, creating a double rainbow. Because the second bounce reverses the light waves, the colors in the outer, or secondary, rainbow are in opposite order of those in the inner, or primary, bow.

Rainbows happen at night the same as by day, except that the light from the sun first reflects off the moon.

“We see them as white,” says Nassir, “but moonbows have color. It’s just that it’s faint. The cones in the eye that detect red, blue and green don’t work in low light, so the eye’s ability to detect colors drops off.”

To reflect enough sunlight for a night rainbow, the moon needs to be full, or nearly so. Factor that small window in the lunar cycle with the rest of the conditions any rainbow requires, and you begin to grasp why moonbows are so seldom seen. And why, if you’re going to see one, it will be in a place like Hawai‘i, where rainbows occur more often.

Spring-Summer 2016 51

The Colors of Legend

Rainbows play a role in several Hawaiian legends. Dr. Joseph Ciotti, professor of physics and astronomy at O‘ahu’s Windward Community College, and director of the Hōkūlani Imaginarium, recounts this story of Hina and her husband, ‘Aikanaka: One morning as Hina toiled wearily at her tasks, a rainbow appeared, beckoning her to escape her harsh life. She climbed, but the heat of the sun soon drove her back. Exhausted, she fell asleep, and slept until night. At home, she found ‘Aikanaka so enraged that she ran from him until she came upon a moonbow. Once again she climbed, this time under the coolness of the moon. ‘Aikanaka chased her and cut off her 52 Kā‘anapali Magazine

foot to stop her, but Hina escaped and hobbled up to the moon, where she lives to this day. When the moon is full, you can see her silhouette beating tapa cloth; the clouds nearby are the tapa she hangs out to dry.

‘Olelo No‘eau, Mary Kawena Pukui’s book of Hawaiian proverbs, tells of a chief in ancient times who gathered all the food plants in a net and hung it high in the sky, leaving the people to starve. A rat climbed a rainbow to the net and chewed a hole for the plants to fall through.

“When the rain pours over the land and plants sprout everywhere, it is compared to the gnawed net that scattered food from the hills to the sea, bringing life to all.”

RON DAHLQUIST

EVERY RAINBOW IS A CIRCLE. IT JUST LOOKS LIKE A BOW BECAUSE THE GROUND BLOCKS YOUR VIEW OF THE BOTTOM.

Astro-photographer Wally Pacholka used a special filter and long exposure to capture the colors in this moonbow, which he photographed over Haleakalā Crater in 2010. See more of his remarkable photography at www.AstroPics.com.

TOP: ASTROPICS.COM, WALLY P; BOTTOM: KATHY TSCHOERNER

Rainbows All around You

Photographer Kathy Tschoerner captured this Brocken spectre at sunset at the rim of Haleakalā Crater. Her shadow is the “spectre” that appears inside the rainbow circle, called a “glory.”

If you’ve ever looked out of a plane and seen its shadow on the clouds, encircled by a rainbow, you’ve witnessed a Brocken spectre.

The “spectre” is the shadow; the rainbow ring around it is the “glory.” On rare occasions, you can see the same thing if you stand at the edge of Haleakalā Crater when it’s filled with clouds. If the sun is behind you, it will cast your shadow on the clouds and surround it with a rainbow. David Lynch and William Livingston, in their book Color and Light in Nature, note that one of the best photographs ever taken of a Brocken spectre was shot in 1968 at Haleakalā’s rim. “Five glory rings could be seen on the original transparency.”

In fact, every rainbow is a circle. It just looks like a bow because the ground blocks your view of the bottom. Climb high enough, and you’d see the whole, lovely ring.

A rainbow doesn’t exist in any specific space. It’s an optical choreography between you and the sun and a particular group of raindrops. If you and I stand side by side, we will each see a different rainbow, its colors reflecting from a different group of drops.  Spring-Summer 2016 53

Relish Oceanside The Westin Maui brings a cosmopolitan flavor to outdoor dining.

Story by becky speere Photography by ryan siphers

54 KÄ â€˜anapali Magazine

Relish Oceanside lives up to its name—any closer, and you’d need swim fins and a bathing suit to dine here. Opposite page: Hāna fiddlehead-fern salad tops delicate miso salmon and black forbidden risotto simmered in coconut and kaffir lime. Below: Garlic rice is the perfect base for Relish Oceanside’s short-rib bibimbap.

You won’t find pheasant under glass at Relish Oceanside, the Westin Maui Resort & Spa’s al fresco dinner restaurant, but you will find some of the best happy-hour appetizers and a winning cocktail list, plus a rainbow of entrées with flavors grounded in Hawai‘i’s immigrant kitchens. Jennifer Evetushick, chef de cuisine of sister restaurant Relish Bistro, and local-boy sous chef Gemsley Balagso, come from vastly different traditions.

Evetushick hails from the northeastern seaboard; her grandparents emigrated from Yugoslavia. Balagso is of Japanese-Filipino descent and grew up in Lahaina. Yet they mirror each other’s passion for food. Evetushick’s sensibilities shine through in a bowl of spicy and creamy lobster chowder with bacon. Balagso brings his island expertise to dishes like Asian-style crispy pork belly with watercress sauce and kabocha squash.

My friend and I arrive before sunset, as tiny sand crabs chase each other along the shoreline. The evening is fine, so we choose a table where we can literally dine with our toes in the grass. (You can also sit indoors, where the sound of waterfalls evokes a tropical rainforest.)

Spring-Summer 2016 55

I order a simple salad of vine-ripened Kula tomato and creamy burrata paired with fresh upcountry Waipoli watercress and sweet Maui onion, drizzled with a tart-sweet aged balsamic vinegar. It’s an oscillating experience as each morsel takes me from soft and milk-infused to crisp and clean. The Relish kale salad is expertly prepared so the hearty green is tender to the bite, tossed masterfully with a perky red-wine vinaigrette; it may be the best I’ve ever eaten. Topped with a flurry of Maytag blue cheese, Hawaiian orange, Asian pears, and crunchy halves of fresh-roasted macadamia nuts, it’s a great start to any entrée.

Every dish on the menu, from the sambal mochiko tofu lettuce wraps, to the crispy chicken with Hawaiian spoon bread, comes with recommendations for wine pairings by Westin’s restaurants and bars manager, Janet Iwata. She says, “We’re proud of our wine list. We offer reasonably priced wines by the glass, and we’re excited to have a select reserve of hard-to-find Ferrari-Carano Tré Terre chardonnay.” (By the time this issue

goes to press, she tells me, Relish Oceanside will offer monthly wine/beer/cocktail dinners. I can’t wait.)

I ask her about the latest bar buzz—beer cocktails—and Iwata refers me to the drink menu, which offers five of their new, edgy cocktails created to cool every taste bud. Westin’s awardwinning mixologists liberally showcase ingredients such as li hing mui (a tart, sweet-and-sour plum flavoring), passion fruit, and lemon grass. I recommend the Liliko‘i Mana, a dreamy adult fruit punch that pays homage to Maui’s pineapple industry. The drink highlights Maui Brewing Company’s flagship Mana Wheat ale, infused with Maui Gold pineapple. With an additional kick in alcohol and flavor from Beefeater gin, passion-fruit (liliko‘i) purée, and cilantro, it’s the perfect “Lift me up and smooth me out” drink after a long ocean swim or a stand-up paddleboard balancing session. Next time I owe myself a treat, I’ll be back for the Doppel XO beer cocktail made with Doppelbock, Patron XO café tequila, ice cream, chocolate and caramel.

Maytag blue cheese, sweet Asian pears and roasted Mauigrown macadamia nuts add intriguing flavors and textures to a salad of crisp, tender kale.

56 Kā‘anapali Magazine

As the ocean waves settle into their evening rhythm, our server brings two dishes of generous proportions, recommended by Evetushick. One is a voluminous bowl filled with tender braised beef short ribs simmered in hoisin and black soy atop a bed of sesame garlic-fried rice, bright-yellow sunny-side-up egg, and a light gochujang vinaigrette. The other, Japaneseinspired salmon misoyaki on a creamy risotto made with exotic black forbidden rice, elicits moans of pleasure; it could easily stand on its own as an entrée. Slices of pickled root vegetables, shiitake mushrooms and pohole (Hawaiian fiddlehead fern shoots) grace the two dishes. A glass of the Ferrari-Carano Tré Terre chardonnay that Iwata mentioned earlier creates a perfect pairing.

We save the farm-fresh basil pesto and Hawai‘i Island’s famous ali‘i mushrooms with gemelli (unicorn horns) pasta for the next visit, mainly because Evetushick says to save room for the cheesecake, made with a family recipe from her Aunt Gertie. She tells us how she tracked down this delicacy from her childhood so others could share her joy. “I remembered the top,” she says, visualizing the cheesecake with a smile, “and I knew I had to get the recipe to find out the secret ingredients in that layer.” She did. And yes, it is a winner, updated and embellished with Maui pineapple coulis and fresh pineapple. Save room. You’ll love it, too. 

Clockwise from top left: The restaurant also offers covered poolside seating, accompanied by the music of a waterfall. Stolichnaya Moscow Mule with Stoli ginger beer and ginger syrup pairs perfectly with the Asian flavors of Relish Oceanside’s appetizers. Chef Jennifer Evetushick added an island touch to Aunt Gertie’s cheesecake recipe, embellishing it with fresh Maui Gold pineapple and a bright pineapple coulis. Heirloom Kula tomatoes are the basis for a burrata salad drizzled with aged balsamic vinegar.

Relish Oceanside The Westin Maui Resort & Spa 2365 Kā‘anapali Parkway • 808-667-2525 Dinner 5–10 p.m. • Happy Hour 5–6 p.m.

Spring-Summer 2016 57

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�tory by becky speere 58 Kā‘anapali Magazine

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Above: Pan-roasted ‘ōpakapaka with marinated anchovies and Hāmākua cocktail tomato salad with crispy garlic chips and balsamic glaze.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY NINA KUNA

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On a breezy morning, I leave my home in jungly Huelo to interview Tom Muromoto, executive chef at Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel.

My drive is filled with memories of a Mother’s Day champagne brunch buffet in the hotel’s Tiki Terrace Restaurant: towering platters of pink shrimp, spicy poke, macadamia-nut-baked mahimahi, a meat-carving station, and the grand finale, a dessert table laden with cookies, chocolate-macadamia-nut and banana-cream pies and heavenly dream cakes. Ninety minutes later, I’m at the hotel, chatting with the man behind those creations.

Chef Tom’s restaurant career spans thirty-two years, more than half of it at Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel. So when I congratulate him on his recent promotion to food-and-beverage director, his response surprises me. “At first I thought I wasn’t qualified to do the job,” he says, “but after talking to management and former F&B director Tom Fairbanks—who was a true mentor to me—I realized I needed the challenge.”

Challenge is nothing new for Muromoto. He grew up on O‘ahu, in the tough, low-income Hālawa Housing Project. By the age of eight, he would go from neighbor to neighbor, hauling a rake in a cart he had built out of scrap wood and discarded tricycle tires. “I worked hard for my money, cleaning yards, but I always saved a nickel to buy my mother a rose,” he says, then adds, “Always.”

Tom attended Farrington High School, where his home-economics teacher, Linda Uyehara, became a mentor, recommending him for jobs in the restaurant industry. Working part-time jobs, Tom rose from dishwasher to busboy to prep cook. But for a kid from Hālawa, enrolling in a formal culinary institution wasn’t an obvious path. Instead, after graduating from Farrington, Tom enlisted in the Navy and was assigned to the USS Kitty Hawk, where living and working in tight quarters honed his organizational skills. After his service, he returned to O‘ahu, and signed up as a professional surfer with Local Motion. “I traveled a lot as a professional competitor, and loved it,” he says. “But I knew I had to be responsible and make a living; I had a family to support.”

Tom returned to the culinary world, eventually moving to Maui and landing a job as executive chef at the now-closed Planet Hollywood in Lahaina. When Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel offered him a job as executive chef, he says, “I knew this was where I wanted to be.” Sixteen years later, Chef Tom has added food-and-beverage director to his title, and finds himself mentoring staff with the wisdom of someone who has learned the industry from the ground up.

“I’ve been working under Chef Tom for the past twelve years,” says Executive Sous Chef Christopher Napoleon. “He has inspired me by setting high goals for himself and the staff. He’s shaped me into the individual I am today by sharing his work ethic and organizational skills. He gives me the freedom to be creative. Chef Tom is a believer in people’s abilities to grow, and he’s a risk taker. He hired me straight out of school. I’ve learned grace with my job here. It says a lot when there is low turnover in the culinary staff here at KBH . . . under his guidance and management.”

Like any good teacher, Muromoto considers himself a lifelong learner: “I want to learn even more. Recently, I’ve been thinking about going to culinary school—maybe the Culinary Institute of America in New York—and finally get a culinary degree.” 

A former pro surfer, Chef Tom Muromoto now makes the kitchen his turf, heading the team behind Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel’s awardwinning brunch buffet. The fare includes (center photo) five-spice pork with hoisin sauce tucked in a steamed bun; seared scallops (bottom left) with liliko‘i aioli sauce; and seafood medley with brown butter sauce (bottom right).

See Chef Tom prepare fresh poke at NBCBayArea.com/on-air/as-seenon/362971141.html. Mahalo to Robert Handa and Lance Lew of NBC Bay Area News for sharing this video.

Tiki Terrace Restaurant Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel 2525 Kā‘anapali Parkway • 808-667-0124 Breakfast 6:30–11 a.m. • Dinner Tuesday–Sunday 6–9 p.m.

Spring-Summer 2016 59

Eat Like a Local In a place as multicultural as Hawai‘i, “island cuisine” encompasses a whole lot more than coconuts, fish and poi—not that we don’t love those, too! �tory by becky speere Castaway Café’s loco moco is a hamburger patty, eggs, rice and gravy; in Kā‘anapali, breakfast doesn’t get more local.

Sitting down at the Castaway Café, I thought I’d stepped back in time: the bottomless cup of coffee, the menu featuring loco moco (a longtime island favorite starring a hamburger patty, eggs and rice, topped with sautèed onions and gravy), and servers who let me enjoy my breakfast at leisure—no rush to have me finish so the next round of diners could be seated. Awards from Wine Spectator line the café’s entrance, acknowledging a wine cellar with 600 bottles, whose throwback prices, from the eighties and nineties, will have you smiling from ear to ear. Order a bottle at Tuesday’s two-for-one pasta night, Saturday’s prime rib night, or Sunday’s barbecued rib night. Wayne, the bartender, also mixes a mean mai tai. Just beware of the “lighter fare” menu, because it’s not so light; my fish taco could have easily fed two. Takeout and catering are also available. Aston Maui Kā‘anapali Villas,

45 Kai Ala Drive, 808-661-9091

China Bowl Asian Cuisine

Just off Kā‘anapali Parkway, husband and wife Simon and Angela Tay have been sating 60 Kā‘anapali Magazine

diners’ appetites since 2006. Their fifty-seat restaurant specializes in Mandarin fare, with spicy western Chinese dishes thrown in for good measure. I ordered the chili-spiked chicken stir-fry with bamboo shoots and veggies napped with Simon’s secret sauce, alongside steamed long-grain rice. Delicious and reasonably priced, it even came with a bowl of egg-flower soup. A full-service bar means that you can enjoy a beer or a cocktail with your meal, and the happy-hour menu offers $1 off cocktails (regularly $8) and 20 percent off the dinner menu. There’s takeout and delivery, too. Fairway Shops, 2580 Keka‘a Drive • 808-661-0660

Joey’s Kitchen

Unpretentious is the word for this little jewel of a restaurant. You know that it’s good when Maui’s celebrity chefs make this their go-to dining spot on their days off. Order the Hawaiian plate lunch with lau lau (Hawai‘i’s answer to tamales), kalua pork, lomi salmon, sublime coconut squid lū‘au, and house-made poi. Or treat yourself to succulent, Asian-style braised beef short ribs, and fresh-off-the-boat

fish specials that won’t empty your pocketbook.

Eat in, or grab a takeout of Chef Joey’s fried lumpia, won tons and adobo fried rice. You can taste the freshness in the local produce, much of it sourced within a ten-mile radius. Whalers

Village Food Court, 2435 Kā‘anapali Parkway, 808-868-4474

Leilani’s on the Beach

If “aloha hour” with a lively band, an awardwinning beer cocktail named ginger hōkū (star), and outstanding appetizers send siren calls to you, Leilani’s is your place. Try Chef Ryan Luckey’s jidori chicken wings, spiked with a spicy guava marinade and served with a cool buttermilk dip. Or sink your teeth into Duroc pork-filled spring rolls—the meat is slow-cooked with sweet Maui onion under a blanket of banana leaves till it’s meltingly tender, then rolled in the thinnest spring-roll wrappers and deep-fried to a perfect crunch.

Served with a zippy, citrusy wasabi-ponzu sauce, it’s the best I’ve ever eaten. Fare like this could sway the most dyed-in-the-wool vegan to turn carnivorous! Whalers Village,

2435 Kā‘anapali Parkway, 808-661-4495

THIS PAGE & OPPOSITE TOP LEFT: CASTAWAY CAFÉ; ALL OTHERS: BECKY SPEERE

Castaway Café

Mmm. Barbecued baby back ribs— must be Sunday night at Castaway Café.

At China Bowl, chicken stir-fry comes with owner Simon Tay’s secret sauce.

Above: Duroc pork, slow-cooked with sweet Maui onion, makes Leilani’s spring rolls meltingly tender.

Below: Leilani’s Jidori chicken wings come with spicy guava marinade and a cool buttermilk dip.

Above: Joey’s Kitchen masters the Hawaiian plate lunch with lau lau, kalua pork, lomi salmon, house-made poi and sublime coconut squid lū‘au.

Right: Won tons and adobo fried rice accompany Joey’s fried lumpia.

Spring-Summer 2016 61

Dining Guide RR Reservations recommended $ Average entrée under $15 $$ Under $25 $$$ Under $40 $$$$ $40+

Beach Bar, The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, 667-2525. This oceanfront pool bar serves beer and award-winning cocktails; light meals include watermeloncucumber salad, seared ‘ahi wrap and Wagyu burger. 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Happy Hour 7–9 p.m. $$ Beach Walk Kau Kau to Go, Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club, 667-1200. The perfect place for breakfast and lunchtime sandwiches, cold drinks, snacks, and salad entrées. Featuring Pizza Hut pizza and other local dishes.

6:30 a.m.–7 p.m. $$ Black Rock Kitchen, Sheraton Maui, 808-921-4600. Choose the breakfast buffet with made-toorder omelets, waffles and wraps; or go à la carte. Dinner brings farm-to-table options with an island twist. Try the ‘ahi sashimi, grilled shrimp or beet salad.

Breakfast 6:30–11 a.m. Dinner 5:30–9 p.m. Lounge Sunday– Thursday 5:30–10 p.m., Friday– Saturday 5:30 p.m.–midnight.

American/Hawai‘i Regional. $$–$$$

Monday–Saturday 10:30 a.m.– 9:30 p.m. Sunday 11 a.m.–9:30 p.m. Kid-friendly. Chinese. $ (See story on page 60.)

CJ’s Deli & Diner, Fairway Shops, 667-0968. Specializing in comfort food that’s easy on the wallet, CJ’s huge billboard menu features homemade meat loaf, deli sandwiches and burgers, alongside local favorites like loco moco, mochiko-chicken plate lunch, coconut prawns, and mahimahi with lemon-caper sauce. 7 a.m.–8 p.m. Kid-friendly.

American. $ Cliff Dive Grill, Sheraton Maui, 661-0031. Cozy up to the bar— voted 2015 Silver ‘Aipono Award winner for Best Bar by the readers of Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi Magazine—and enjoy spicy chicken wings and classics like burgers, sandwiches and tacos. Sunset entertainment is like no other: torch lighting followed by a cliff diver’s leap from Black Rock. Food service 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Happy Hour 2–3 and 8–9 p.m. $$

Castaway Café, Aston Maui Kaanapali Villas, 661-9091. This casual beachfront spot serves up local coffee and eggs Benedict with a view. At dinner, the owner’s chockablock wine cellar dresses up the menu’s simple but satisfying fare. 7:30 a.m.–9 p.m. American. $$ (See story on page 60.)

Colonnade Café, The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, 667-2525. Treat yourself to a light breakfast or refreshing snacks beside koi-pond gardens inhabited by flamingos and swans. Selections include pastries, sandwiches, smoothies, fresh fruit, Starbucks coffee and nonalcoholic drinks. 5:30 a.m.– 5:30 p.m. $$

China Bowl, Fairway Shops, 661-0660. Cantonese, Mandarin and Szechwan dishes, plus local favorites like saimin and kau yuk. Dine in, take out, or have them deliver. Winner of Gecko Publishing’s Maui Choice Award for best Chinese cuisine.

Drums of the Pacific Lū‘au, Hyatt Regency Maui, 6674727. Immerse yourself in an evening of Polynesian culture.

Enjoy authentic song and dance (including a three-man Samoan fire-knife dance), an all-you-caneat buffet of island specialties,

62 Kā‘anapali Magazine

DINING DIRECTORY (See map on page 18.)

Aston Maui Kaanapali Villas, 45 Kai Ala Drive Fairway Shops, 2580 Keka‘a Drive Hyatt Kā‘anapali Beach, a Hyatt Residence Club, 180 Nohea Kai Drive Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa, 200 Nohea Kai Drive Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel, 2525 Kā‘anapali Parkway Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club, 100 Nohea Kai Drive Royal Kā‘anapali Golf Clubhouse, 2290 Kā‘anapali Parkway Royal Lahaina Resort, 2780 Keka‘a Drive Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa, 2605 Kā‘anapali Parkway Westin Kā‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas, 6 Kai Ala Drive Westin Maui Resort & Spa, 2365 Kā‘anapali Parkway Whalers Village, 2435 Kā‘anapali Parkway Polynesian arts and crafts, hula lesson, and an island-wear fashion show at this award-winning lū‘au.

Nightly June–August, Monday– Saturday September–May. Kid-friendly. RR. $$$$ Food Court, Whalers Village.

Refresh and recharge at this fast-food emporium featuring Fresh, Joey’s Kitchen, Nikki’s Pizza, and Subway. 7:30 a.m.–9 p.m.

Kid-friendly. Eclectic. $ Häagen-Dazs Ice Cream Shop, Whalers Village, 667-5377.

Indulge in irresistible ice creams and sorbets, a decadent warmbrownies á la mode sundae, or a signature Dazzler frozen dessert.

10 a.m.–10 p.m. Kid-friendly. $ Hank’s Haute Dogs, Sheraton Maui. Man bites dog! Man says, “Delicious!” Located oceanside, this takeaway venue offers gourmet hot dogs, snacks and nonalcoholic refreshments.

11 a.m.–3 p.m. American. $ Honolulu Coffee, Hyatt Regency Maui, 661-1234. Jump-start your day with a selection of coffees, fresh-baked pastries,

tropical-fruit smoothies and açai.

5:30 a.m.–8 p.m. $ Hula Grill, Whalers Village, 667-6636. Winner of the 2015 Gold ‘Aipono Award for “Best Shorts & Slippers Dining.” Dip your toes in the sand at the Barefoot Bar and enjoy live entertainment and casual fare.

The open-air dining room offers unobstructed views, and dishes like fire-grilled ‘ahi steak. Bar 10:45 a.m.–10:30 p.m. Dining Room 4:45–9:30 p.m. Happy Hour 3–5 p.m. Kid-friendly.

Hawai‘i Regional. $$–$$$ Island Press Coffee, Fairway Shops, 667-2003. Maui-grown coffee, breakfast, sandwiches, beer, wine, ice cream and Mauimade kombucha, indoor/outdoor seating, free Wi-Fi. Monday– Friday 6 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturday & Sunday 6 a.m.–4 p.m. $ Japengo, Hyatt Regency Maui, 667-4909. Winner of the 2015 ‘Aipono Restaurant Awards for Best Sushi and Best Pacific Rim Cuisine, Japengo also offers world-class steaks, seafood and creative cocktails, blending the

From sea to table.

Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa blackrockkitchen.com 808-921-4600

Savor vibrant island-inspired cuisine in a casual open-air setting. Featuring sumptuous menus handcrafted to reflect Hawai‘i‘'s farm fresh selections.

Dining Guide exotic flavors of the Pacific Rim with local ingredients. Dine indoors, outdoors, or in the chic Sushi Lounge. Live music. 5:30– 10 p.m. Happy Hour 5–6:30 p.m.

Seasonal pairing dinners and special events. Sushi/Pacific Rim/ Asian. RR. $$$ Joey’s Kitchen, Food Court, Whalers Village, 868-4474.

Food-court fare gets a gourmet upgrade with dishes like braised short-rib pho atop house-made rice noodles, corn and sweet Filipino peppers in a rich ginger beef broth. 8 a.m.–9 p.m. Asian Fusion. $ (See story on page 60.)

Kā‘anapali Grille & Tap Room, Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club, 667-7733. From the people who brought Cheeseburger in Paradise to Lahaina twenty-five years ago comes this venue serving burgers, sandwiches, pizzas and salads.

Dinner adds steak, fresh fish and pasta. Thirty wines under $30 a bottle. 7 a.m.–10 p.m. Happy Hour 2–5 p.m. American. $–$$ Kai Ala Market, The Westin Kā‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas, 662-2676. Purchase ready-tocook items and sundries for your condo stay at this wellstocked grocery. Choose from an appealing selection of marinated meats, fresh vegetables, salads, and more. It’s also a great place to pick up pastries, sandwiches, snacks, and beverages before you head off to explore the island.

Monday–Thursday 6:30 a.m.–8 p.m. Friday–Sunday 6:30 a.m.–9 p.m. American. $ Kupanaha Magic Dinner Show, Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel, 667-0128.

Enjoy family-style dining while a magician executes close-up tricks.

Then illusionist Jody Baran and wife Kathleen take the stage in a 64 Kā‘anapali Magazine

RR Reservations recommended $ Average entrée under $15 $$ Under $25 $$$ Under $40 $$$$ $40+

show of classic magic, Hawaiian culture, cutting-edge illusions and comedy. Tuesday–Saturday 4:30– 7:30 p.m. Kid-friendly. Hawai‘i Regional. RR. $$$$ Lahaina Provision Company, Hyatt Kā‘anapali Beach, 662-1000.

Choose from fresh pastries, graband-go goodies, made-to-order sandwiches, salads and hot-food options, plus a fine selection of wines and fresh produce. 6 a.m.–9 p.m. (Closing time varies.)

American. $ Legends of Kā‘anapali Lū‘au, Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel, 667-0128.

Lei Pono Productions tells the story of Kā‘anapali through hula and narration, culminating in a fire walk.

The call of the conch gathers guests for a shell-lei greeting and welcome cocktail, followed by a feast of island fare prepared by awardwinning chefs. Mondays 5–8 p.m.

October–April, 5:30–8:30 p.m.

May–September. RR. $$$$ Leilani’s on the Beach, Whalers Village, 661-4495. Snack on calamari, sashimi, burgers or fish tacos while enjoying the view of sparkling sands from the open-air Beachside Grill. Or dine indoors on fire-grilled daily catch, teriyaki steak, shrimp scampi or prime rib grilled Texas style. Beachside Grill 11 a.m.–10:30 p.m. Dining Room 5–10 p.m. Happy Hour 3–5 p.m. Kid-friendly. Steak/ Seafood. RR. $$–$$$ (See story on page 60.)

Mai Tai Bar, Sheraton Maui, 661-0031. This beachside location at the foot of Pu‘u Keka‘a (Black Rock) offers $6 Stoli vodka cocktail specials 10 a.m.–4 p.m., sandwiches and salads 11 a.m.–3 p.m., and a classic Black Rock mai tai (light and dark rum, island fruit juices, and more than a splash

of aloha). Bar service 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Happy Hour 10 a.m.–noon American. $$

a.m.–10 p.m. Happy Hour 4–6 p.m. American. $$ (See story on page 60.)

Maui Nui Lū‘au at Black Rock, Sheraton Maui, 877-HULA. This oceanfront, all-you-can-eat buffet features such traditional island foods as slow-roasted kalua pork unearthed and presented fresh from the imu (underground oven), cultural arts and crafts and Polynesian entertainment.

Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays (seasonal), 5:30–8:30 p.m. Kidfriendly. Pacific Rim. RR. $$$$

Paradise Grill, 2291 Kā‘anapali Pkwy., 662-3700. Fifteen different televisions make it easy to catch your favorite Direct TV game, including NBA, NCAA, NFL and hockey. Half-off listed breakfast items 7–8 a.m., halfoff listed dinner items 4–5 p.m.

Bar opens at 2 p.m. with pool table and $3 Bud Light drafts.

Live music. At the entrance to Kā‘anapali Resort. 7 a.m.–2 a.m.

Kid-friendly. American. $$

The Myths of Maui Lū‘au, Royal Lahaina Resort, 661-9119. Maui’s longest-running oceanfront lū‘au travels through time and space to reveal the stories of Hawai‘i, Tahiti and Samoa through music, song and dance. Nightly June–August; closed Saturdays September– May. Kid-friendly. Hawaiian. RR. $$$$ Ocean Pool Bar & Grill, The Westin Kā‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas, 667-3259. This breezy, poolside restaurant/bar serves breakfast and bistro-style cuisine all day. Themed dinner nights: Upcountry Barbeque on Mondays, all-you-can-eat Crab Fest on Wednesdays, Prime Rib Night on Thursdays, and Farm to Fork Fridays. 7 a.m.–9 p.m. Kidfriendly. Hawai‘i Regional. RR, Open Table. $$$ Pailolo Bar & Grill, The Westin Kā‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas, 667-3200. Unwind and enjoy expansive views of the ocean and neighboring islands, plus your favorite televised sports, all in an open-air setting. Burgers, tacos, sandwiches, chicken wings and salads. And check out Pailolo’s Woodie-style food truck for some ‘ono (delicious) grinds. 10:30

Pau Huaka‘i Tiki Bar, Hyatt Kā‘anapali Beach, 662-1000.

Watch the day melt into the ocean while master mixologists entertain you with liquid libations. Full menu, including burgers, fish tacos, wraps and salads, till 7 p.m.; limited bar fare till 9 p.m. Daily, 11 a.m.–11 p.m. (Closing time varies.)

American. $ Pūlehu, an Italian Grill, The Westin Kā‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas, 667-3259. Chef Alvin Savella creates classic Italian cuisine with a fresh, sustainable twist. Winner of Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi Magazine’s 2015 Gold ‘Aipono Award for Best Italian Restaurant, it’s the perfect place to enjoy risotto-crusted monchong, braised short ribs, Moloka‘i sweet-potato gnocchi and inspiring cocktails. Thursday– Monday 5:30–9:30 p.m. Italian.

RR, OpenTable.com $$$ Pu‘ukoli‘i General Store, The Westin Kā‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas, 667-3200. Carryout baked goods, deli sandwiches, salads, marinated meats for grilling, ice cream, and the store’s specialty: homemade pizzas. 6:30 a.m.– 8:30 p.m. American. $

PERSIAN ROOTS,

Passion for Food,

COMMUNITY AND KIDS Recipient of the 2015 ‘Aipono Lifetime Achievement Award, as voted by the readers of Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi Magazine, Chef Paris Nabavi

Busy as he is running two establishments and catering operations, Chef Nabavi makes it a priority to give back to his community.

studied culinary arts in classic French tradition— in London. Travelling the world, cooking and tasting many different cuisines, he eventually worked his way up the corporate ladder with Fairmont Hotels, arriving in West Maui—by

Every few months, he and his wife, Donna, open their home to a group of 20 and cook a traditional Persian menu and share a few secrets from his family recipes. In lieu of payment, every guest donates to Grow Some

way of Texas—in 1989 to serve as Director of Food and Beverage for Kapalua Bay Hotel.

Four years later, Nabavi was ready for a new challenge and left the corporate world to open his first restaurant. The award-winning

Good—a Maui-based nonprofit that establishes edible classrooms to support curriculum, connect students and families to their food sources and inspire better nutrition choices.

Chef Nabavi also funds the purchase of

Pizza Paradiso Mediterranean Grill opened in

organic seeds for 52 school gardens in Maui

1995 and relocated to Honokowai Marketplace in 1998, serving Maui with the freshest Italian, Greek and Middle Eastern comfort food. www.pizzaparadiso.com

County through Maui School Garden Network.

Photo credit: Mieko Photography

Paris Nabavi is the Founder of Nabavi Legacy Fund—which promotes a yearly dine-around program called RSVP Maui, which stands for Restaurants Supporting Vital Programs.

The collaborative effort recruits restaurants, food and beverage establishments into Maui’s healthy kids and local food movement.

Photo credit: Tony Novak-Cliff ord

Ceramic wall: Donna Nabavi Photo credit: Nina Kuna

Academy, Imua Family Services, Grow Some Good, Maui School Garden Network, Book Trust and Maui Academy of Performing Arts.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON CHEF NABAVI’S PERSIAN DINNERS, VISIT HIS BLOG

Benefiting organizations include Maui Culinary

A deep passion for fresh, nutritious food at reasonable prices drives all of Chef Nabavi’s business ventures. In 2004, he opened the award-winning Cilantro Mexican Grill, which quickly garnered so many faithful patrons that the space could no longer accommodate the demand. Most recently, Chef Nabavi expanded his menu and space into another award-winning Mexican Restaurant, Sangrita Grill + Cantina, winner of Maui No Ka ‘Oi Magazine’s 2015 ‘Aipono Gold Award for “Best Mexican Restaurant,” Hawaii Magazine 2015 “Best New Restaurant” and MauiTime Weekly 2014 “Best New Bar.” Chef Nabavi was also awarded Exceptional Small Businessman of the year for Maui County. www.sangritagrill.com

Photo credit: Petra Kovacs

ADVERTISEMENT

Dining Guide Relish Burger Bistro, The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, 667-2525.

This family-friendly venue features a poolside garden setting and bar area with TVs for sports fans.

Menu includes à la carte and buffet breakfast, an all-day dining menu, and lounge-style fare at night. Enjoy classic burgers, salads, sandwiches, and local plate lunches. 6:30 a.m.–10 p.m.

Happy Hour 4–5 p.m. American/ Hawai‘i Regional. $$-$$$ Relish Oceanside, The Westin Maui Resort & Spa. Unrivaled oceanfront dining for two, as well as family-style seating amid waterfalls and glowing tiki torches. Sink your fork into island-inspired cuisine such as miso-glazed salmon and seared ‘ahi. Save room for delectable desserts. 5–10 p.m. Happy Hour 5–6 p.m. Contemporary.

OpenTable.com $$–$$$ (See story on page 54.)

Round Table Pizza, Fairway Shops, 662-0777. Try local favorite Maui Zaui: ham, bacon, pineapple, Roma tomatoes, red and green onions, and three cheeses atop Polynesian-style red sauce.

Sunday–Thursday 11 a.m.–9 p.m.

Friday & Saturday 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Kid-friendly. American. $$ Roy’s Kā‘anapali, Royal Kā‘anapali Golf Clubhouse, 669-6999. Celebrity chef Roy Yamaguchi rocks vibrant local fish and produce, preparing them with an Asian attention to detail. Roy’s blackened ‘ahi, and macadamia-nut-crusted mahimahi with lobster butter sauce, are menu standouts. Save room for the award-winning chocolate soufflé. 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Hawai‘i Regional. RR. $$$ Royal Ocean Terrace Restaurant & Lounge, Royal Lahaina Resort, 661-9119. At sunset, a traditional 66 Kā‘anapali Magazine

RR Reservations recommended $ Average entrée under $15 $$ Under $25 $$$ Under $40 $$$$ $40+

torch-lighting ceremony heralds the evening at this open-air casual restaurant that offers commanding views of the Pacific and the islands of Moloka‘i and Lāna‘i. Enjoy “broke da mouth” baked lobster, mac-n-cheese, or a filet with herb risotto, while a graceful hula dancer and solo musician perform Hawaiian classics. 6:30 a.m.–9 p.m. Kidfriendly. Hawai‘i Regional. $$ Royal Scoop, Royal Lahaina Resort, 661-3611. Continental breakfast items, deli sandwiches, specialty coffees, frozen yogurt, and Maui’s own Roselani ice cream. 6 a.m.–7 p.m. $ Sangrita Grill + Cantina, Fairway Shops, 662-6000. Chef Paris Nabavi creates innovative dishes like ‘ahi ceviche, avocado fries, seafood chile rellenos, and shortrib fig mole enchiladas. Open-air dining options and full-service bar with exceptional margaritas.

11 a.m.–10 p.m. Happy Hour 3–6 p.m. Mexican, $$ Sea Dogs Snack Bar, The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, 667-2525.

Hot dogs, popcorn, shave ice, nachos and sandwiches . . . pick up a snack at this oceanside spot on your way to the beach or other adventures. 11 a.m.–4 p.m. $–$$ Son’z Steakhouse, Hyatt Regency Maui, 667-4506.

Set beside a lagoon where swans glide by, and known for excellent steaks, a fully stocked bar, and a wine cellar that earned multiple Wine Spectator’s Restaurant Wine List Awards, Son‘z is ideal for romantic dinners, wedding parties and other special events.

Seasonal live entertainment.

5:30–9:30 p.m. Bar 5–10 p.m.

Happy Hour 5–6 p.m. American.

RR. $$$$

Starbucks, Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club, 667-1200. Find all your favorite Starbucks offerings at this full-service store. Starbucks gift cards accepted. 5:30 a.m.– 7 p.m. $ Swan Court Breakfast, Hyatt Regency Maui, 661-1234. Start the day with a lavish breakfast buffet or à la carte selections of fresh, local flavors and traditional favorites, as you watch swans gliding by. 6:30–11 a.m.

American. $$ Teppan-yaki Dan, Sheraton Maui, 808-921-4600. Watch your skillful chef prepare succulent steak, lobster, shrimp, scallops, and fresh fish to perfection right before your eyes. Tuesday–Saturday, 5:30–8:45 p.m. Japanese/Steak & Seafood. RR. $$$ Tiki Bar & Grill, Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel, 667-0236. Have your picture taken next to the largest tiki in Hawai‘i at Maui’s only outdoor tiki bar. Munch on appetizers, salad, pizza, or a sandwich at this relaxed poolside venue. Grill 11:30 a.m.–8 p.m.

Bar 10 a.m.–10 p.m. Happy Hour 3–6 p.m. American. $ Tiki Terrace Restaurant, Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel, 667-0124. Chef Tom Muromoto presents fresh island seafood, juicy steaks and nightly specials.

Tiki Terrace is the perfect vantage for watching the popular (and free) nightly hula show, while its new Grab-n-Go outlet offers light snacks and specialty coffee drinks. The Sunday brunch is legendary—and a winner of Maui Nō Ka ’Oi Magazine’s Readers’ Choice ‘Aipono Award for Best Brunch. Breakfast 6:30–11 a.m. Dinner Tuesday– Sunday 6–9 p.m. Kid-friendly.

Hawai‘i Regional. $$ (See story on page 58.)

Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice, Hyatt Regency Maui, 661– 1234. Ululani’s elevates this favorite local treat to gourmet proportions with fun add-ons, premium Roselani ice cream, and homemade tropical-flavored syrups like liliko‘i and coconut.

10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Dessert. $ ‘Ūmalu, Hyatt Regency Maui, 661–1234. Head poolside for certified Angus beef sliders or ‘ahi poke nachos. Knock back a “Mutiny on the Carthaginian” cocktail inspired by Lahaina’s rowdy whaling past, and enjoy seasonal evening entertainment.

10 a.m.–11 p.m. Happy Hour 5–6 p.m. American/Pacific Rim. $$ Wailele Polynesian Lū‘au, The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, 661-2992. Held outdoors, this award-winning Polynesian dinner show features a real Fijian chief as host, dances and songs from Hawai‘i, Fiji, Tahiti, New Zealand and Samoa; and an extreme fire-knife dance finale.

Hawaiian buffet inclusive of drinks all evening. 5:30–8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. Kid-friendly. Hawaiian.

RR. $$$$ Wiki Grinds, Sheraton Maui, 662-8052. In Hawaiian, wiki means “fast”; “grinds” is Pidgin for “good eats.” Put them together, and you have Sheraton’s new togo venue for local favorites like huli huli chicken, beef teriyaki and paniolo (cowboy) barbeque; plus salads, sandwiches, steaks and chops—picked up without leaving your car. 5:30–10 p.m.

American/Hawai‘i Regional. $$–$$$ Yogurtland, Whalers Village, 661-9834. Create your own frozen-yogurt concoction from myriad flavors and toppings.

10 a.m.–10 p.m. Kid-friendly. $

Our writer and her fiancé enjoy the spa’s relaxation room while awaiting their couple’s massage.

Tables for Two Story by lehia apana Photography by mieko horikoshi

68 Kā‘anapali Magazine

“Do I have to get naked?”

I turn to my fiancé, Brad, who is now desperately staring at me for an answer. “It’s really up to you,” I say, twisting my neck to hide a grin. I shouldn’t laugh, though. It’s an innocent question from someone who has never stepped foot inside a spa.

Brad and I have just arrived at Sheraton Maui’s Spa at Black Rock, which borrows its name from the landmark cliff at Kāʻanapali Beach.

Known as Puʻu Kekaʻa in Hawaiian, this sacred promontory was a leinaa-ka-ʻuhane (literally ”leap of the soul“), where spirits of the departed soared from this world to the next. Brad is a taking a leap of his own today, and landing far out of his comfort zone.

“This is supposed to be relaxing,” I remind him, playing it cool to ease his worry. I admit, though, I’m skeptical as we step inside the small yet comfortable spa. How romantic can it be with two strangers beside us?

Do we shout sweet nothings across the room? Stare lovingly into each other’s eyes while avoiding awkward eye contact with the therapists?

We’re about to find out.

After a short wait in the outdoor relaxation area, we meet Anne and Yumiko, our therapists, who lead us to a room that’s both outdoors and completely private; walls shield us from passersby while allowing sunlight and sounds inside.

We settle in and wait for our therapists to return. We’re in for a treat with the full-body lomi lomi massage, Anne tells us, explaining that this form of therapy is characterized by long flowing strokes that mimic ocean currents.

Anne begins by positioning me face up, allowing her to slide her hands under my spine and use my own body weight to open and release tension.

She transitions into rhythmic strokes, moving her forearms broadly across my muscles in a wavelike pattern. She continues this cycle from my head to toes, seamlessly transitioning from one extremity to the next.

Because I have a petite frame, therapists tend to apply less pressure than I like, but Anne needs no guidance. Her firm touch penetrates deep into my body, spurring me further into relaxation with every stroke.

I turn towards Brad to ask how he’s doing. He murmurs something that sounds like “smueroghms,” a response I take as a good sign. I also understand it as “Ask me later.”

I soon hear Anne whisper that our treatment is done. She and Yumiko quietly step outside, and I immediately turn to Brad for his reaction. I find him still relaxing face down, which I again interpret as a positive sign.

While you won’t find a steam room or plunge pool in this boutique spa, we decide to prolong the experience by returning to the outdoor relaxation area, where a pair of lounge chairs awaits.

“I’m really glad we did this,” Brad says, sinking further into the cushion with every breath. “I think a lot of guys, like me, just accept body aches and pains as a part of life. I’d never think to come to a spa, but it’s not just about getting pampered—it’s about taking care of yourself.”

I ask him about his favorite part of the experience.

“Well, it was my first time at a spa and I was pretty nervous, so the best part was having you with me,” he says.

I’m touched—and also pleasantly surprised. I realize that a couple’s massage isn’t about pillow talk or exchanging googly eyes across the room. It’s a chance to simultaneously unwind, leaving both partners refreshed. For spa novices like Brad, it’s also a gentle way to step inside an unfamiliar domain.

“Most importantly,” I say to Brad, “would you do it again?”

“Absolutely,” he replies.

Now, that I hear loud and clear.

The Spa at Black Rock The Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa 2605 Kā‘anapali Parkway | 808-667-9577 BlackRockSpa.com

Top photo: The spa’s Hibiscus Room has twin tubs for relaxing after your couple’s massage. Above: For their treatment, guests may choose from mango, pomegranate and kukui coconut oils by Absolutely Natural. Below, left to right: The Hawaiian healing art of lomi lomi is characterized by rhythmic movements and long forearm strokes that realign the body. Lehia and Brad chose to customize their massages with the addition of a warm pōhaku (stone) treatment to help melt away tension.

Spring-Summer 2016 69

At Spa Helani, relax in an open-air setting before or after your massage.

TWICe THe FUN When it comes to massage therapy, sometimes your best bet is to double down. Grab your loved one and head to these Kāʻanapali spas:

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(Or spend it on your favorite mai tai.) *Off the newsstand price

70 Kā‘anapali Magazine

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Couple’s Massage Kamaha‘o—a Marilyn Monroe Spa Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa Choose among a variety of spa packages and customize your experience with added services, including a vintage rose bath. 50 or 80 minutes 200 Nohea Kai Drive | 808-667-4500 MarilynMonroeSpas.com/Mms-Location/Maui Kāʻanapali Couple’s Ritual Spa Helani, a Heavenly Spa by Westin The Westin Kāʻanapali Ocean Resort Villas Experience a Polynesian-style massage featuring flowing movements and a coconut-lemongrass oil, followed by a bath for two. 80 or 110 minutes 6 Kai Ala Drive | 808-662-2644 WestinKaanapali.com Couple’s Instructional Massage Also at Spa Helani Learn the basic techniques that will enable you to give your loved one a relaxing massage at home. Includes instructional couple’s massage book. 80 minutes

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Pa‘a Male Couple’s Massage Heavenly Spa by Westin The Westin Maui Resort & Spa This full-body massage is customized for your needs, using heat and a blend of tropical oils.

Opt for an indoor couple’s suite or a poolside cabana. 50 or 80 minutes 2365 Kāʻanapali Parkway | 808-661-2588 WestinMaui.com

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FootGolf?

The last time I kicked a soccer ball in a formal, organized setting, the Westin Kā‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas had yet to be built, and Bill Clinton was president.

You can imagine, then, how disoriented I feel to be cradling a bright orange soccer ball . . . on the Kā‘anapali Kai Course, in my first attempt at FootGolf. I place the ball on the manicured tee box, and give my quad a healthy stretch as if I were going for a jog. I step back to the edge of the tee box and line up my “drive” with the fluttering flag about 120 yards out.

If I aim for the concrete cart path, I guess, I might get a longer roll, but if I try to thread the monkeypod tree I could potentially shave off a stroke.

Then, with all the grace of Happy Gilmore approaching his drive on the run, I burst forward, strike with my foot—and watch the orange soccer ball go slicing off to the right.

When it rolls to a stop in the nearby rough, I pause. This sport could be more challenging than I’d thought.

Walking the fifty yards to where my ball has landed, I envision replacing my initial frustration 72 Kā‘anapali Magazine

�tory & Photography by kyle ellison

with a perfect chip towards the hole, and that’s also when I realize I like this sport. The strategy, the strokes—the range of emotions—in many ways it feels just like golf.

Unlike regular golf, however, FootGolf doesn’t require pricy equipment or years of professional training, which is precisely the reason General Manager Ed Kageyama brought FootGolf here in June 2015, making Kā‘anapali the first on Maui to offer the family-friendly sport.

“Not everyone who visits plays golf,” says Kageyama. “With FootGolf, families and friends can all come out and enjoy being on the course.”

Indeed, by my second chip shot—which is much better than my drive—I’m already thinking of three or four friends I’d love to come back and play with. They all play soccer, but none of them golfs, yet I know they’d enjoy the challenge of kicking the soccer ball into the hole.

That “hole,” by the way, is a plastic cup that’s twenty-one inches in diameter. To protect the Kai Course’s fairways, FootGolf is played in the rough where the grass is bushy and thick— which also helps keep the ball from rolling too far towards another hole. The course comprises

nine different holes that range from 60 to 150 yards, and to avoid any awkward encounters with golfers, FootGolf begins at 4 p.m., once the golfers have played through.

Lining up my par kick from twelve yards out, I instinctively kneel to read the lie as I would if putting in golf. Then, with as much finesse as my right foot can muster, I send the ball towards the cup, only to watch it stop three feet short and a little bit left of the hole. The next one, however, drops in the cup, and I pump my fist by my side. Mark a bogey; I’m +1—and instantly hooked on the sport.  Kā‘anapali FootGolf costs $15; $5 to rent a ball. Players must wear athletic shoes—no soccer cleats, bare feet, or slippers—and course dress code still applies; no bathing suits allowed.

Kā‘anapali Golf Courses Managed by Billy Casper Golf 2290 Kā‘anapali Parkway Reservations/Pro Shop: 808-661-3691 Toll Free: 866-454-GOLF (4653) KaanapaliGolfCourses.com

Spring-Summer 2016 73

 SEE

This Fourth of July, leave the pyrotechnics to the pros. Every year, the West Maui community and local businesses collaborate on a fireworks display that’s ignited from a barge offshore of Front Street. The fireworks get cracking at 8 p.m., but the party starts well before, with live bands, keiki (children’s) activities, food and shopping specials throughout Lahaina town. For details, see VisitLahaina. com. For another kind of aerial entertainment, check out The Westin Maui Resort & Spa’s annual flower drop at noon on July 4. Be there as a helicopter showers guests with fresh flowers. Sure beats confetti.

74 Kā‘anapali Magazine

MITCHELL LEA

Fireworks

SEE LEARN DO



Whale Tales

TOP: FLIP NICKLIN/MINDEN PICTURES, NMFS PERMIT #13846; ALL OTHERS COURTESY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE RIGHTS HOLDERS

Hosted by Whale Trust Maui, the tenth annual Whale Tales is an international gathering of scientists and conservationists who share their insights about Maui’s humpback whales. Held from February 12 to 15 at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, festivities include presentations, parties and a whale-watching cruise. Funds raised during Whale Tales support research on Maui and across the Pacific. 572-5700; WhaleTrust.org

Teralani

Celebrate the season aboard a whale watch with Teralani Sailing Adventures, where a naturalist will satisfy your every cetacean curiosity. Cruises depart from Kā’anapali Beach, fronting Leilani’s Restaurant in Whalers Village. Trips run from December 15 through mid-April, and whale sightings are guaranteed during the height of the season, from January though March. Visit Teralani.net.

A Whale of a Deal

The Sheraton has put together “A Whale’s Tale” package with deluxe oceanfront accommodations, a two-day pass to Maui Ocean Center; and a tote filled with whale-themed items, plus a $25 donation to Pacific Whale Foundation. Book now for dates through April 15, 2016 (three-night minimum). For reservations, call 866-716-8140 and mention rate plan WHALEPKG, or visit Sheraton-Maui.com.

Maui Plein Air Invitational Ever since missionary and teacher Edward Bailey began documenting his beloved Maui on canvas in the mid-nineteenth century, artists have had an ongoing love affair with the beauty of this island. What better way to discover Maui than seeing it through the eyes and talents of artists? During this weeklong event, held February 13 through 21, two dozen of the country’s best plein-air painters will gather on Maui to produce works on location all over the island—and you’re invited to observe or participate in workshops. At week’s end, the paintings will be on display, and for sale, at an artists’ reception at Village Galleries in Lahaina. Schedule at MauiPleinAirPainting.org.

Cheers!

Sun and sand. Peanut butter and jelly. Sonny and Cher.

Like other great pairings, libations and live music are better together. Local musicians play contemporary Hawaiian music and popular hits with a local twist at The Westin Kāʻanapali Ocean Resort Villas’ Ocean Pool Bar & Grill, 4 to 7 p.m. Mondays and Fridays; and Pailolo Bar & Grill, 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and 6 to 9 p.m. Thursdays. Details at WestinKaanapali.com.

Spring-Summer 2015 75

 LEARN

Add this celebration to the list of beloved cultural traditions brought to the Islands by Hawaiʻi’s early plantation workers. This centuries-old Japanese custom is rooted in an ancient Shinto spring-welcoming ritual and celebrates daughters, using symbolism from that season of renewal. Kāʻanapali Beach Hotel hosts a festive brunch on March 6, complete with demonstrations and hands-on activities by the Japanese Cultural Society of Maui. Past years have included taiko drum performances, kimono dress-up and photo taking, calligraphy, and ikebana (flower arranging). Commonly known as “Girls’ Day” in Hawaiʻi, Hina Matsuri translates as “Doll Festival,” and there will be a collection of ceremonial dolls on display at the hotel. Find more at KBHMaui.com.

76 Kā‘anapali Magazine

MELANIE AGRABANTE

Hina Matsuri

SEE LEARN DO



Talk Story

TOP: THE WESTIN KĀ‘ANAPALI OCEAN RESORT VILLAS; LEFT: KĀ‘ANAPALI BEACH RESORT ASSOCIATION/PETER LIU; RIGHT: KĀʻANAPALI BEACH HOTEL; BOTTOM: ROYAL LAHAINA

“Our kuleana [responsibility] is to pass along the knowledge our kūpuna [ancestors] have passed down to us. It’s the history and the culture that distinguish Hawaiʻi from being just another resort destination,” says Makalapua Kanuha. As director of culture at The Westin Kā‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas, Makalapua brings these words to life, sharing her cultural expertise with visitors during talk-story sessions at the resort’s Pu‘uhonua Cultural Center. These intimate hour-long sessions begin at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Wa‘a Kiakahi Before jumbo jets, before steamships like Lurline and Malolo, the canoe was the mode of transport throughout Polynesia. The Hawaiian Sailing Canoe Association is perpetuating this cultural practice through its annual Waʻa Kiakahi celebration, held at Kāʻanapali Beach June 3 through 5. Festivities include talks with HSCA crewmembers, and Hawaiian welcoming and closing ceremonies.

Native Hawaiians believe that the best way to learn is by doing, and Waʻa Kiakahi is your chance to experience this sport firsthand by joining one of the free sailing-canoe rides throughout the day.

For more information, visit KaanapaliResort.com.

Coconut Husking

Go on, take a crack at it! Cultural specialist Makahiva Thompson demonstrates how to husk a coconut every Thursday at The Westin Maui Resort & Spa’s Colonnade Café from 10 to 11 a.m. Makahiva also discusses the history and versatility of what was one of the original canoe plants brought to Hawaiʻi by early Polynesians.

This family-friendly activity is free and open to the public.

For a closer look at coconuts, see page 20.

Hawaiian Steel Guitar Spanish cowboys introduced the six-string guitar to Hawaiʻi in the early 1800s. Islanders soon made it their own, loosening the strings to create a style called kī hōʻalu (“slack key”). From April 15 through 17, the Maui Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival will bring master musicians to Kāʻanapali Beach Hotel for free performances, workshops and kani ka pila (jam sessions), plus hula, lei making, storytelling, and a display of vintage Hawaiian steel guitars. Find info and schedule at MauiSteelGuitarFestival.com.

Tennis Lessons

Whether you can barely swing a racquet or have a backhand like Roger Federer, there’s a place for you at the Royal Lahaina Tennis Ranch. Get individual lessons with the pros, or have the ranch match you with a playing partner at your level. Lessons available at the Royal Lahaina Tennis Ranch and the Sheraton Maui Tennis Club. TennisMaui.com Spring-Summer 2015 77

 DO

It’s all in the numbers. Ten celebrity chefs, ten finalist mixologists, and ten nonprofit mixologists will convene at Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa on April 16 for the third annual Ultimate Ocean Vodka Showdown. Finalists will be selected from hundreds of contestants across the U.S., and paired with a celebrity chef and a Maui nonprofit organization. Watch as these hopefuls mix and muddle their way into the hearts—and taste buds—of the judges. The winning cocktail recipe will be featured on the menus of Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa for one year, with a portion of proceeds donated to the paired nonprofit organization. OceanVodka.com 78 Kā‘anapali Magazine

COURTESY OF OCEAN VODKA

Ultimate Ocean Vodka Showdown

SEE LEARN DO

Pali Trail Hike



TOP: BOB BANGERTER; LEFT: PETRA KOVACS; RIGHT: WESTIN KĀʻANAPALI OCEAN RESORT VILLAS; BOTTOM: SHERATON MAUI RESORT & SPA

First, a disclaimer: This rugged hike is more than five miles long, lacks shade, and has enough uphill sections to set your calves on fire. But the challenge reaps major rewards, including unparalleled views of Molokini crater and Kaho‘olawe and Lāna‘i islands. During whale season, watch humpbacks playing offshore. The trail snakes along a rocky cliff above Highway 30.

(Don’t worry, cars aren’t visible during the hike.) Trailheads are located near Mā‘alaea Harbor Shops on one end, and Ukumehame on the other.

To experience the entire hike, we suggest parking a car at each trailhead.

For just a taste of the trail, park at one end, go half the distance you can comfortably hike, and return to your starting point. Either way, start early to avoid the intense heat of midday. Details at HawaiiTrails.eHawaii.Gov.

Wine Social

Sip, savor, and socialize during this weekly wine event hosted by Westin Kāʻanapali Ocean Resort Villas’ Pūlehu, an Italian Grill.

Guests can nibble on charcuterie and cheeses while sampling a selection of wines from 4:30 to 5 p.m. Sundays and Mondays. This is also a chance to mingle with other oenophiles, including the restaurant’s wine-list manager, Jim Hansen. Cost is $20 per person and reservations are required; call 808-667-3200, ext.

2655, or visit OpenTable.com.

Cinco de Mayo at Sangrita

When Lebanese immigrants moved to Mexico in the early 1900s, they brought with them the technique of spit-roasting meat. Mexican shepherds adapted the technique, and added a chile marinade. The result is the beloved taco al pastor. Stop by Sangrita Grill + Cantina on May 5 for this cross-cultural favorite, along with live flamenco music and an old-fashioned, outdoor taco al pastor preparation. A portion of the evening’s proceeds will benefit Lahainaluna High School’s agricultural program. SangritaGrill.com

Maui Paintball

Camouflaged figures, bunkers, and masked gunmen.

Like a scene out of a zombie apocalypse, players at Maui Paintball maneuver along a playing field dotted with obstacles, shelters and armed opponents. This may be mock warfare, but the thrill is real. Players ten and older can arrive solo and join open play games, or bring friends for group fun. Rental gear is available, as are instructors to explain the rules. MauiPaintball.com

Late-night Party

When the sun goes down, the volume turns up at Sheraton Maui’s Black Rock Lounge. This oceanside hot spot is the place to be for after-hours dancing. Friday and Saturday nights attract an energetic crowd who come for the live DJ music, themed nights and craft cocktails. So dust off those sandy toes, put on your weekend best, and cheer to a night of revelry. Doors open at 10 p.m. More info is at Sheraton-Maui.com/BlackRockLounge.

Spring-Summer 2015 79

Calendar KĀ‘ANAPALI EVENTS June 3–5 Maui Jim OceanFest, Kāʻanapali Beach Athletes vie for saltwater supremacy during this annual event that challenges them in sports including swimming, standup paddling, surf-ski, one-man canoe, and prone paddleboard.

On the line is a $40,000 prize purse. Festivities include keiki (children’s) races, plus a grand finale tug-of-war that pits the top finalists in a battle of strength. MauiJimOceanFest.com.

February 6

Sangrita Grill + Cantina’s Anniversary Celebration Winner of Maui Nō Ka ʻOi Magazine’s 2015 ʻAipono Award for “Best Mexican” restaurant, Sangrita Grill + Cantina celebrates two years as one of Maui’s favorite tastemakers. The festivities include a jalapeño poppers contest, with the winner receiving a gift certificate to the restaurant. 6 to 9:30 p.m.

662-6000; SangritaGrill.com

February 19, April 8, June 10. Maui

Tastemakers, Japengo, Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa This gustatory series celebrates the abundance and variety of fine foods on Maui with a dining experience crafted around and inspired by local partners, including farmers, fishermen, and beverage makers. Seating is limited, and reservations are required. 5:30 p.m. 667-4796, JapengoMaui.com

March 17 Yoga and Cocktails, Spa Helani, The Westin Kāʻanapali Ocean Resort Villas Spa Helani poses the question “Can yoga and cocktails mix?” They do at this rejuvenating St. Patrick’s Day event featuring a sunset yoga class taught by Maui yogini Julie Mitchell, a complimentary cocktail, and live music by Jimi Canha.

The yoga event is followed by a beer social on the hotel’s Ocean Lawn. For details and prices, call 662-2644 or visit WestinKaanapali.com.

March 19

Earth Hour Celebration, The Westin Maui Resort & Spa This global movement aims to unite and encourage individuals, businesses and governments around the world 80 Kā‘anapali Magazine

to take positive actions for the environment by switching off their lights for one hour, starting at 8:30 p.m. At The Westin Maui, hotel associates and guests will celebrate this hour with a luminary spectacle, astrology teachings, Hawaiian fire-knife performance and more.

WestinMaui.com

March 26

Fantasia Ball, Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa Hosted by Imua Family Services, the popular gala helps fund therapeutic services for children with special needs.

This year, the ball goes Hollywood with musical theatre and television actress Megan Hilty, and includes a cocktail reception and chef-crafted dinner, 180-degree fashion cam, and entertainment. Not ready to stop dancing? Keep the party going at the official after party, Fantasia on the Rock, with Next Level Entertainment. For tickets and details, call 244-7467 or visit Imua FamilyServices.org.

March 27 Easter Eggs-travaganza at The

Westin Maui Resort & Spa The hotel invites its young guests (four to twelve years old) to this beloved Easter tradition, with egg hunts and pictures with the Easter Bunny from 8:30 to 11 a.m. WestinMaui.com

April 15–17 Maui Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival, Kāʻanapali Beach Hotel Hawaiʻi calls— over the strings of the Hawaiian steel guitar. This free event brings together master steel-guitar players and aficionados from around the world, and features performances, presentations, workshops, and jam sessions focused on the instrument and its importance in the Hawaiian music genre. Cultural activities such as hula, lei making, ʻukulele and storytelling take place throughout the weekend. For a schedule, visit MauiSteelGuitarFestival.com.

May 5 Cinco de Mayo, Sangrita Grill + Cantina Bite into Mexican favorites, including an old-fashioned preparation of taco al pastor specially made for Cinco de Mayo, while enjoying live flamenco music by Indio and Avi from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Proceeds benefit Lahainaluna High School’s agricultural program.

662-6000; SangritaGrill.com May 27 Tequila Pairing Dinner, Sangrita Grill + Cantina As part of Sangrita’s specialevent series, Chef Paris Nabavi will host David Ravandi, tequila expert and founder of 123 (Uno Dos Tres) Organic Tequila, for a fourcourse pairing dinner. Seating is limited, and reservations are required. 6 p.m. 662-6000; SangritaGrill.com June 3–5 Waʻa Kiakahi, Kāʻanapali Beach

The ancient Hawaiian art of outrigger-canoe sailing comes to life during this free event that coincides with the second race of the Hawaiian Sailing Canoe Association season. Festivities include sailing-canoe rides, talks with HSCA crewmembers, and Hawaiian welcoming and closing ceremonies. HSCA.info

July 4 Flowerworks, The Westin Maui Resort & Spa Leave it to The Westin Maui to create this uniquely island-style Independence Day celebration: an explosion of color that happens at noon when a hovering helicopter releases a “flower shower” into the skies above the hotel. WestinMaui.com July 24 National Tequila Day, Sangrita Grill + Cantina Celebrate all things tequila with Sangrita from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. The menu will feature a special tequila seafood dish, and festivities include a blind tequila tasting with judges. 662-6000; SangritaGrill.com

COURTESY OF MAUI JIM OCEANFEST

Ongoing Craft Fair on Kāʻanapali Beach, fronting The Westin Maui Resort & Spa Bring home a Maui memory with a handcrafted creation by a local artist. Mondays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. WestinMaui.com

Make cherished memories at Maui’s most exciting lu‘au!

Stunning sunset views from the ocean side venue Traditional imu ceremony Delicious all you-can-eat Hawaiian cuisine Open bar featuring beer, wine, Mai Tais and more On-stage hula lesson Authentic songs, chants and dramatic dances Three-man Samoan fire-knife dance!

Best Maui Lu’au

‘Aipono Award Winner

Receive a FREE GIFT when you book online at

www.drumsofthepacificmaui.com and enter Special Offer Code: KAANAPALI

200 NOHEA KAI DRIVE, KA’ANAPALI HYATT CONCIERGE 808.667.4727

Offer available for online reservations only, Offer expires December 31st, 2016. May not be combined with other offers. A Tihati Production. The trademark HYATT and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation. ©2016 Hyatt Corporation. All rights reserved.

Calendar

MAUI EVENTS May 14 Maui Brewer’s Festival, Maui Arts & Cultural Center, One Cameron Way, Kahului The 21-and-older crowd is invited to enjoy craft beers from Hawai‘i and beyond, appetizers by local tastemakers, and live entertainment in the A&B Amphitheater, 2 to 7 p.m. MauiArts.org

February 13

Parade of Whales/World Whale Day, Kalama Beach Park, Kīhei Hawaiʻi’s humpback whales are the main attraction at this all-day celebration. The revelry kicks off at 9 a.m. with a parade along South Kīhei Road, featuring costumed sea characters and floats of all shapes and sizes created by community organizations, school and activity groups, local businesses and others. World Whale Day includes live entertainment, a children’s carnival, made-on-Maui artisans’ fair and environmental displays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

MauiWhaleFestival.org

February 13–14 Kukahi: Kealiʻi Reichel &

Hālau Keʻalaokamaile, Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s Castle Theater, One Cameron Way, Kahului One of Hawaiʻi’s most popular recording artists and a multiple Nā Hoku Hanohano award-winner, Reichel and his hālau hula (hula troupe) present traditional and contemporary music, chant, and dance. 7:30 p.m.

242-7469; MauiArts.org

February 13–21 Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational Plein-air painters from Hawaiʻi and 82 Kā‘anapali Magazine

the mainland spend the week capturing Maui on canvas. Come watch. Plus workshops, paintoffs, a lecture by Jean Stern, executive director of California’s Irvine Museum, and opportunities to view and purchase artwork at a Village Galleries reception February 19, 6 p.m.; and final sale February 21, 9 a.m.–9 p.m. Find a schedule at MauiPleinAirPainting.org.

February 14–15, 29 Fine Art Fair, Banyan

Tree Park, 648 Wharf Street, Lahaina The Lahaina Arts Society invites everyone to browse paintings, ceramics, photography, jewelry, carvings and more at this art display and sale held under the banyan tree next to the Old Lahaina Courthouse. 661-0111; LahainaArts.com. Also held on March 13; April 9–10, 24–25; May 1, 27–28; June 4–5, 11–12; July 2–3, 21–23

March 5 An Evening with Santana, Maui

Arts & Cultural Center’s A&B Amphitheater, One Cameron Way, Kahului For more than four decades, guitarist Carlos Santana has been a musical force who transcends genres, as well as generational, cultural, and geographic boundaries. Rock out with him under the stars at the MACC. MauiArts.org

March 19

Hoʻomau, Maui Nui Botanical Gardens, 150 Kanaloa Ave., Kahului This benefit for Pūnana Leo o Maui Hawaiian language immersion school features a lineup of Hawaiian music, crafters, food booths, demonstrations, live and silent auctions, keiki (children’s) zone, and more. Information is at Hoomau.com.

April 29–May 1 OluKai Hoʻolauleʻa, Kanahā Beach Park, Kahului Stand-up and OC1 paddlers race the eight-mile Māliko Bay “downwinder.” Back on dry land, activities celebrate Hawaiʻi’s ocean culture. OluKai.com

May 7

Seabury Hall Craft Fair, 480 Olinda Rd., Makawao This Mother’s Day weekend tradition is one of the most anticipated local craft fairs of the year, with vendors ranging from painters and photographers to jewelers and sculptors. For details, visit SeaburyHall.org.

June 15–19 Maui Film Festival Movie buffs, armchair critics, and curiosity seekers converge at this favorite summertime festival (along with a sprinkling of Hollywood glitterati), as a curated selection of feature films and documentaries lights up screens across the island. For details on the festival’s cinematic fare, celebrity sightings, filmmakers’ panels, culinary events and extravagant parties, visit MauiFilmFestival.com.

July

Date TBD Makawao Rodeo & Parade, Oskie Rice Arena, 80 Ohaoha Pl., Makawao Saddle up for this annual Fourth of July tradition. The state’s top cowboys and cowgirls compete in four days of bull riding, steer chasing, calf roping and more. For details, contact the Maui Roping Club at 357-3524.

Events are subject to change.

Please call to confirm before heading out.

COURTESY OF MAUI ARTS & CULTURAL CENTER

February 12–15 Whale Tales, The RitzCarlton, One Ritz-Carlton Dr., Kapalua Hosted by Whale Trust Maui, this tenth annual fundraiser is an international gathering of scientists and conservationists who share their insights about Maui’s humpback whales.

Whale Tales’ presentations, parties and whalewatching cruise support research on Maui and across the Pacific. 572-5700; WhaleTrust.org