Microsoft Mobile on Maui: Tiny Traditional Churches
Where: Maui || Grouped in: Maui Culture, Maui Romance || Tagged:
Aloha again from the Valley Isle. This trip, as by now you realized, is underwritten by Steve Balmer and the folks at Microsoft. Thanks! So, an easy walk from the center of Lahaina town, the whaling village turned charming tourist trap, is the Holy Innocents Church pictured here. It's one of a dozen or so simple, small country churches that are oases of calm and architectural elegance in a state with a short supply of interesting buildings....continue reading
Mala Lounge at Wailea Marriott: New Place, Good Vides, Good Grinds
Where: Maui || Grouped in: Maui Food || Tagged:
This is one of the last Microsoft Mobile Posts. You see this logo and it means I'm posting on the go. Again, thanks to Microsoft for underwriting this Maui trip (indirectly, of course). So here we have a picture of Mala(WARNING-SITE AUTO-PLAYS LOUD MUSIC), the second location of this upscale restaurant concept by Maui chefepreneur Mark Ellman. This was part of the massive makeover of the Wailea Marriott. All I can say is the place is nice -- lots of nice exposed wood, a bit of an Indo style decor, comfy chairs, big open vistas, drinks could be stronger, food -- particularly appetizer menu, is solid. Definitely nosh on the ahi bruschetta and ask about the vegan dishes -- we had a white bean and truffle oil soup that was awesome. It is heartening to see that more and more Hawaii hotels "get it" and are tossing the old, trite, hit you overt he head with tropical motifs, over the transome for a more casual tropical-urban cool type vibe.
Microsoft Mobile Post on Maui: Iao Valley, Mellow Hike, Marvelous Views
Where: Maui || Grouped in: Maui Kids, Maui Nature || Tagged:
A post on the go from Iao Valley on Maui. We stopped at the phenomenal little cafe in the back of the Hawaii Nature Center in the valley and sucked down an insanely delish mango smoothie (I also wolfed down a crab salad and avocado on foccacia sandwich that was amazing) before embarking on this mellow tramp over Iao Stream back into the valley. Cool, green watering holes. Restored taro loi. And the wonderful sound of the wind whispering through the narrow valley that is still considered a very sacred place by native Hawaiians. Understandably.
Microsoft Mobile on Maui: Aquarium Extravaganza
Where: Maui || Grouped in: Maui Kids || Tagged:
Like most big kids, I dig aquariums. I spend a lot of my spare time in the water so any chance I get to learn about or see up close the sea life native to my nautical haunts is a good thing. Natch, on this Maui trip (doh -- this is a Microsoft Mobile Post -- see that icon up top? Means I'm posting mobile) we hit the Maui Ocean Center. ...continue reading
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Microsoft Mobile on Maui: Wailea Wonderland
Where: Maui || Grouped in: Maui Kids, Maui Nature, Maui Romance || Tagged:
This post is brought to you by Microsoft, which generously sponsored my trip to Maui (indirectly, of course). When you see the Mobile Post icon, you know I'm posting somewhere in Hawaii. Look closely. Here's a picture of Wailea Beach on Maui in the ritzy Wailea subdivision. It's pretty close to a perfect beach. The sand is so fine it feels like talc. The water is clear. The waves gentle, the bottom sandy and sloping. A bit too many hotels but this is Hawaii. So what's missing from this picture? People. We pretty much had the beach to ourselves from 7-8:30 am. On a Saturday. Amazing. I highly recommend this one -- there's actually lots of public parking nearby and by 8:30 its probably time for breakfast and a nap. Or a Mai Tai.
Hawaiian Sailling Canoe: Going Native Afloat on Maui with Sage
Where: Kauai, Maui || Grouped in: Kauai Kids, Maui Nature || Tagged:
Aloha from Maui. Here's another Microsoft Mobile Post, on the go from the most beautiful island in the world and underwritten by Microsoft (literally). Thanks, Steve!
Three years ago our neighbor's son Sage Spalding moved to Maui with a wacky plan. A licensed boat pilot permitted to steer anything afloat (and get paid big bucks doing so), Sage opted out of the big boats and launched a Hawaiian sailing canoe concession on Maui with his wife, the lovely Liz. Sage bought a modern version of the old Hawaiian sailing canoes made of wood and fiberglass, rigged with a lateen sail and a traditional ama or outrigger pontoon. He started taking out tourist for snorkel sails, teaching them a bit about how the ancients drove their boats and dropping visitors in the water far from the cattle car snorkel excursions with as many as 100 passengers. I finally got to go out for a sail with Sage today on Maui and it was a heaping blast....continue reading
Interisland Air Fares: Up, Up and Away!
Where: Statewide || Grouped in: Statewide Any Kine || Tagged:
We knew it was coming. After Aloha shuttered and with go! apparently on the rocks, you can't blame Hawaiian Air for raising prices on interisland travel. Considerably. We noticed prices had gone up before this announcement but this seems to make it official. The article says $5 to $20 higher per segment. I have found that it probably is more than that, plus fuel surcharges. Bottom line - expect to pay $100 more round trip, minimum, for future interisland travel. This should also further the move by visitors away from island hopping and towards non-stop flights to the Outer Islands. Net loser in all of this is probably Oahu.
Aloha Air Cargo Shuts Down: One Big Loser -- Farmers and High-End Restaurants
Where: Statewide || Grouped in: Statewide Food || Tagged:
Shocking news out today. Aloha Air, which had recently shuttered its passenger operations, on April 29 closed down its profitable air cargo operations after no buyer would bite (no surprise -- the Airline Pilots Association had threatened to strike). Aloha carried roughly 85% of all inter-island air freight, which meant the majority of the high-end Outer Island produce. So chefs on Oahu and in other big resort areas are going to be left scrambling to fill the gap. Be forewarned that menus are going to look somewhat wan with gaps as the Outer Islands have been the source of most of the really primo produce (tomatoes, asparagus, lettuce, mangoes). Also, expect prices on local produce to soar in supermarkets around the state. Imported food products that are perishable, likewise, will likely soar in prices, too, as Aloha Air had supplied Outer Island restaurant supply companies with plenty of food stuffs. All told, yet another sad chapter.
