With some help from our friends at the Maui Visitor’s Bureau, we’re listing the top festivals and events for Maui Nui – Maui, Lanai and Molokai. As you can see, there are plenty of excellent celebrations and events throughout the year. JANUARY Hyundai Tournament of Champions PGA Tour champions from the previous year compete in this televised, season opening, golf tournament at Kapalua Resort’s stunning Plantation Course for a $5,600,000 purse. www.pgatour.com/hyundai This event is usually scheduled for the first full weekend in January after New Year’s Day. FEBRUARY Great Maui Whale Festival This celebration honoring humpback whales features special events and eco-activities all month, including The Great Whale Count, sponsored by the Pacific Whale Foundation. The Parade of Whales and Whale Day Celebration offer live entertainment, a craft fair and food booths at Kalama Park, Kīhei. www.mauiwhalefestival.org . In 2012, World Whale Day is scheduled for February 18. MARCH Haʻīkū Hoʻolaulea & Flower Festival This event celebrates rural life and benefits local youth education programs. Enjoy lei making demonstrations, a floral design contest, bake sale, arts and crafts show, farmers’ market, historical displays, games and live entertainment. In 2012, this event is slated for March 31. APRIL Celebration of the Arts This annual event pays tribute to the people, arts and traditions of Hawaiʻi, hosted by The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua. Enjoy hula performances, workshops in Hawaiian cultural topics and crafts. A Hawaiian lūʻau with traditional foods, music and hula highlight Easter weekend. www.celebrationofthearts.org 2012 dates TBA. Annual East Maui Taro Festival Hāna’s annual cultural event celebrates Hawaiʻi’s traditional food staple with an all-day festival featuring live music, hula, arts and crafts, Hawaiian games and food booths, plus a taro pancake breakfast. www.tarofestival.org In 2012, this event will be held April 21.
Continue reading...28. November 2011
I don’t know about you, but I’ve got Christmas shopping on my mind today. So, I wanted to revisit last year’s gift idea post with some fresh ideas for what to get your friends and family that love the Aloha State. Hawaiian Happy Cakes –
Continue reading...4. November 2011
Kalopa State Park (c) 2011 All Hawaii News Gov. Neil Abercrombie said Thursday he wants to double the watershed forest area in Hawaii that’s protected from invasive species and other threats — a plan he estimated would cost $11 million a year. Associated Press. Gov. Neil Abercrombie is proposing to spend $11 million a year through the next decade to create 150 jobs and stop destruction of watershed areas by invasive species. Star-Advertiser. The FBI is investigating Hawaii school bus companies for possible collusion in setting prices, Civil Beat has learned. Civil Beat. A small group of commercial aquarium fish collectors has proposed state regulations it says is aimed at ensuring the long-term well-being of tropical species. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Politicians Can File for Unemployment Benefits if They Are Voted Out or Meet Term Limits, But That is Not the Case in All Mainland States. Hawaii Reporter. A sharp increase in earnings at its electric utility subsidiary drove Hawaiian Electric Industries’ profits up 49 percent in the third quarter compared with the same period a year earlier, the company reported Thursday. Star-Advertiser. Hilo attorney seeks House seat. Tribune-Herald. Former state Sen. Gary Hooser is not running for Congress. Tribune-Herald. Oahu Former Acting Mayor Kirk Caldwell is holding a fundraiser in two weeks and intends to challenge Peter Carlisle for mayor in 2012. Civil Beat. Hawaii taxpayers foot the bill: Is APEC business our business? Hawaii Independent. On the day of a federal deadline, Honolulu city officials outlined their most detailed plan yet for bringing a Wahiawa elderly care center into compliance with federal grant requirements. Civil Beat. A groundbreaking ceremony Thursday marked the start of what will be the largest retail development in Ewa history. KITV4. Hawaii Pacific Health, owner of Kapiolani and Straub hospitals, is among several potential buyers for all or parts of the bankrupt Hawaii Medical Center, owner of HMC-East in Liliha and HMC-West in Ewa. Star-Advertiser. Several dozen restaurants and stores were forced to shut down at Ala Moana Center Thursday after burning oil in an unattended wok ignited a fire in the kitchen of Panda Express at the Makai Market Food Court. Star-Advertiser. Hawaiian Airlines will begin daily Sydney-Honolulu flights. Pacific Business News. Hawaiian Telcom workers packed into their Union’s meeting hall Thursday night. KHON2. Hawaii Push is coming to shove for a redistricting plan. West Hawaii Today. With time running out to create new County Council boundaries, the Redistricting Commission on Thursday virtually abandoned its alignment in favor of a popular community-generated alternative. Tribune-Herald . A dust screen is going up at Lanihau Properties’ land mauka of Queen Kaahumanu Highway. West Hawaii Today . Maui Maui Land & Pineapple’s proposed West Maui housing development Pulelehua will come before the Maui County Council for final approvals Friday. Maui News. Central and South Maui residents are being urged to conserve water Thursday after an early-morning power outage in Waihee disrupted the Department of Water Supply’s transmission system. Maui News. The abandoned boat that ran aground on Maui three weeks after being abandoned at sea when its injured captain needed to be rescued by a cruise ship will be hauled off the beach today. Associated Press. Kauai Project delays to mitigate burials and cultural artifacts has resulted in unanticipated budget costs and arrests of protesters wanting to protect what they consider sacred and cultural lands. Garden Island. The board of the Kauai County Department of Water will consider rate increases today of 7.5 to 11.2 percent a year over four years for about 20,000 customers. Star-Advertiser. A foul smell caused Lihu‘e Airport to be shut down Thursday evening for approximately two hours. Garden Island.
Continue reading...7. October 2011
Gov. Neil Abercrombie (c) 2011 All Hawaii News In a major internal shakeup, Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s chief of staff and his deputy chief of staff have resigned just 10 months into an administration the governor acknowledges has fallen short of expectations. Star-Advertiser. Asselbaye Senior Dems Pushed Gov To Shake Up Staff: From early in his administration, longtime associates of Gov. Neil Abercrombie were alarmed at their friend’s performance. Civil Beat. Less than a year after taking office, Gov. Neil Abercrombie has lost his top two aides to resignation. Hawaii Reporter. Aoki Two top members of the Hawaii governor’s administration who played key roles in getting him elected are stepping down. Associated Press. Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s office announced Thursday that his Chief of Staff Amy Asselbaye and Deputy Chief of Staff Andrew Aoki have resigned. KITV4. Ten months after being sworn into office two key members of Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s administration abruptly announced their resignations Thursday. KHON2. Coppa New Chief of Staff an Accomplished Businessman With Strong Labor Ties. Civil Beat. The same day Ed Teixeira stepped down from a job he held through three administrations, workers circulated a petition that he be reinstated. KITV4. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is hoping to pick a successor to longtime Administrator/Chief Executive Officer Clyde Namuo in the next three to five months, OHA Chairwoman Colette Machado said Wednesday. Star-Advertiser . A state official says an agency intended to allow development of public lands won’t have “land-grabbing power,” opposed by environmentalists and Hawaiian rights groups. Star-Advertiser. Patricia M. Loui won approval Thursday from the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs for her nomination to the board of the Export-Import Bank of the United States. Pacific Business News. Oahu Swimmers, surfers and boaters will be banned from some parts of the ocean during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit next month, according to preliminary security plans released Thursday by the U.S. Coast Guard. Star-Advertiser. Unite Here Local 5, Hawaii’s largest hotel workers union with over 11,000 members, is continuing its campaign against the Hyatt Regency Waikiki for subcontracting local jobs and challenging union wages. Hawaii Independent. The City of Honolulu celebrated the 50th anniversary of a very special sister-city relationship today. Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii A public shooting range for West Hawaii is on target to open in a “couple of years,” with state and county cooperation on the use of land near the Puuanahulu landfill. West Hawaii Today. The County Council has given a name and face to pending legislation aimed at keeping impaired drivers off Big Island roads. Tribune-Herald. Public funding to support North Hawaii Community Hospital, health record privacy and long-term health care were among the concerns North Hawaii residents voiced to hospital officials Thursday in Waimea. West Hawaii Today. Ironman athletes strip down for Underpants Run, the Kona fundraiser began in 1997 to poke fun at the Speedo-clad triathletes wandering through town before the big race. Hawaii News Now. Maui The Maui County Council Land Use Committee voted 8-0 Wednesday to recommend approval of Maui Land & Pineapple’s West Maui housing project Pulelehua. Maui News. A March trial in 2nd Circuit Court is scheduled to determine the fate of the $70 million-plus estate of Laurence Dorcy, one of Maui’s richest men, who died in June. Maui News. Kauai Some Kauai County employees will soon be driving electric vehicles. Associated Press. Carolyn Larson, librarian at the Lihu‘e Public Library, has the cure to the “boarded-up Borders blues” — the Lihu‘e Public Library Fall Used Book Sale. Garden Island.
Continue reading...16. September 2011
Hapuna Beach (c) 2011 All Hawaii News A hand grenade found Sept. 2 and a 57 mm Japanese mortar round discovered Thursday at Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area on Hawaii Island have been detonated by the Army Corps of Engineers as an ordnance cleanup continues there, officials said. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii’s unemployment rate rose to a seasonally adjusted 6.2 percent in August in yet another sign that raises questions about the strength of the state’s economic recovery. Star-Advertiser. Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s Human Resources director, Sunshine Topping, will leave her post Friday. Civil Beat. Gov. Neil Abercrombie has appointed Barbara Krieg as interim director of the state Department of Human Resources Development after director Sunshine Topping resigned. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii’s latest graduation policy proposal that reverses a recommendation to reduce social studies requirements also goes against promises made in the state’s Race to the Top. Civil Beat. Russians Help Hawaii Hunt for Japanese Tsunami Debris. Hawaii Reporter. Oahu The Asia Pacific Clean Energy Summit and Expo ended today in Honolulu. Some policy makers and planners asked why not use more volcanic heat to generate electricity in Hawai’i. Hawaii Public Radio. They came by land and by air and in the end, more than 50 homeless campsites were torn down and removed along Diamond Head Crater. KHON2. The state has ordered evacuation of 28 Niu Valley houses this weekend when two boulders — one of which weighs 7 to 10 tons and is likely to come loose — will be removed from a ridge above the structures. Star-Advertiser. The University of Hawaii is considering raising tuition and on Friday the public will have the chance to weigh in. Hawaii News Now. Lane closures related to nighttime soil sampling work for the Honolulu Rail Transit Project will begin Monday, September 19, the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) announced today. Hawaii Independent. Former Kaneohe Marine Awarded Medal Of Honor. KITV4. The U.S. Department of Education on Thursday named three Oahu schools to the 2011 National Blue Ribbon Schools list. KITV4. It’s a decades old debate of how to go about growth while maintaining the north shore’s unique environment and community. KHON2 . Hawaii A spat involving Safeway and Hawaii coffee growers is still brewing, even after the supermarket giant agreed to change labeling on its Kona blend coffee. Associated Press. In a modern take on the great land rushes of the 19th century, Hawaii County is preparing to issue agricultural leases for Paauilo lands that have sat idle since 1994. Tribune-Herald. Kona Blue Water Farms Inc. will soon be no more. The company that marketed its farmed amberjacks as Kona Kampachi is dissolving. West Hawaii Today. Only two members of the public showed up Thursday evening to a hearing in Hilo by the state Department of Health’s Clean Air Branch on proposed new restrictions to open burning. Tribune-Herald. With supply lagging, a slow economy, high gas prices and used car prices rising, some local automobile dealers said sales may continue to creep ahead or fall behind last year’s numbers, but no one can be certain in a volatile market. West Hawaii Today. Maui Maui Land & Pineapple Co. presented formal requests to Maui County Council members Wednesday for the entitlements the company needs to build the Pulelehua housing development in Mahinahina. Maui News. There’s been a lot of belt-tightening across the state in recent months, but nothing like what happened on Maui. Pacific Business News. State officials are completing a report with recommendations for the East Maui Animal Refuge to obtain a wildlife rehabilitation permit in the wake of an inspection and the federal seizure of 17 birds from the Haiku facility last month. Maui News. Kauai County ends fiscal year with 160 jobs open. Garden Island. A sailor participating in a beach cleanup in Hawaii found a message in bottle that had been dropped in the ocean more than five years ago by a Japanese school girl. Star-Advertiser. An unexpected treasure was found underneath the sizzling sun on the beaches of the Pacific Missile Range Facility Thursday, discovered by Navy Petty Officer Jon Moore during Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup Day. Garden Island.
Continue reading...8. September 2011
As I mentioned yesterday, we’re back from 11 days in Maui. This trip was our fifth to the Valley Isle and, still, we feel like we need to return for new experiences. I’ll be writing many more details about individual aspects of our trip. In the meantime, I wanted to provide you with a summary of what we liked and didn’t like on this trip in case you’re planning your Maui visit. Where We Stayed We spent the first six nights at the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua . We had high expectations and they were met at this luxury resort. We’ve loved the Kapalua area ever since our first stay in the villas in 2003. By the way, their best deal starts at $399 per night and includes daily breakfast for two. We ended our trip with a four-night stay at the newly rebranded Hana resort, Travaasa Hana . We felt like we’d taken a step back in time to the real Hawaii on a relaxed pace. Where We Played A semi-private, guided-tour of the Road to Hana with No Ka Oi Adventures – Wade’s knowledge and expertise of the Road to Hana definitely provided me with many new experiences that I may not have ever discovered on my own. We did some great hikes and walks around Kapalua , the Kipahulu area of Haleakala and around Wailea. Horseback riding along the Hana coast was superb! Jolynn lead us through Hana Ranch land by the coast for gorgeous views. One interesting tidbit I’ll go ahead and share is that Jolynn’s grandfather and friends climbed to the top of Alau Island to plant those curious palm trees you see on top of the island. (See a photo of Alau Island .) Surfing Goat Dairy Farm – because when you think of Maui, you immediately think of petting goats and tasting goat cheese, right? A short tour at Surfing Goat Dairy was a fun side trip in the upcountry and definitely something the kiddos would enjoy. Two self-guided garden tours – one at Kahanu National Tropical Botanical Garden off the road to Hana and Kula Botanical Garden in the upcountry. I rate Kahanu Gardens a four out of five with its beautiful coastal views and peeks at the massive Pi’ilanihale Heiau. I rate the Kula Botanical Garden a three out of five. It’s a fairly small garden with some lovely protea flowers.
Continue reading...22. August 2011
WARNING: You may want to have a napkin nearby as we review these mouthwatering sweets. If you like sweets, you’ll find some onolicious ones in Hawaii! From easy to find to off the beaten path, here’s my list of Hawaii’s tastiest sweet treats: 1. Coco Puffs from Liliha Bakery in Honolulu, Oahu When I took my first bite of a Coco Puff , instinctively I said, “Mmmmmm…..mmmmm!” This puffed pastry treat is filled with a buttery, creamy chocolate pudding and topped off with a coconut and vanilla topping. How good are Liliha’s Coco Puffs? Well, here’s what one reader wrote in the comments of my Liliha Coco Puff post . All I can say is WOW – stumbled across this post before going to spend a week in Oahu and it was more than worth the $50 round trip cab ride from Waikiki just to taste one of those amazing coco puffs !! Of course, I couldn’t just stop at one and after buying a box to go I was left licking the wrappers after the last one was eaten . Thank you so much for this recommendation!! 2. Maui Gold Pineapple Upside Down Cake from Pineapple Grill on Maui Pineapple from Hawaii is delicious, but Pineapple Grill in Kapalua takes this fruit to a whole new level in their signature dessert. As if the cake wasn’t delicious enough, they top it with Roselani macadamia nut ice cream, toasted coconut and a caramel sauce. 3. Shave Ice If you need to cool down after a day at the beach or a hike, a Hawaiian shave ice will refresh you. Shave ice is similar to a snow cone but with ice that’s very finely shaved making it soft and smooth. You then have a choice of flavorings that add the sweetness. You can find shave ice all over Hawaii. A few of our favorite shave ice joints are: – Matsumoto in Haleiwa on Oahu’s North Shore – This shave ice place is the most famous. – Waiola Bakery & Shave Ice on Kapahulu Avenue by Waikiki on Oahu. – Aloha Island Shave Ice on the Hana Highway in Paia on Maui 4. Malasadas Portuguese immigrants introduced this doughnut-like pastry to Hawaii. Malasadas are filled with a variety of creamy fruit-flavored centers, as well as chocolate and vanilla fillings. The best way to have a malasada is to purchase it while it’s still warm and eat it right away. You can find malasadas in most Hawaii bakeries. Freshly made malasadas are also popular at Hawaii’s farmers markets . Three of the more famous places to try a malasada are: – Leonard’s Bakery on Kapahulu Avenue by Waikiki on Oahu – T. Komoda Store & Bakery on Baldwin Avenue in Makawao on Maui – Tex Drive-In off Highway 19 near Honokaa on Hawaii’s Big Island 5. Happy Cakes on Oahu As I said in my Happy Cakes post , this cake lives up to its name. This golden moist cake bursts with the iconic flavors of Hawaii – pineapple, macadamia nuts and coconut. Need I say more? There’s a chocolate version, too. You can pick up a Happy Cake at a variety of locations that I describe in my Happy Cakes post or you can order them online. 6. Hula Pie If you go into any of the TS Hawaii Restaurants (for example, any of the Duke’s restaurants) save room a slice of Hula Pie . This generously-sized (e.g. sharable) pie is made of macadamia nut ice cream, topped with chocolate sauce, whipped cream and more macadamia nuts. 7. Chocolate Haupia Cream Pie from Ted’s Bakery on Oahu’s North Shore I must thank a Go Visit Hawaii reader, Janet Rivera, for telling me about Ted’s Chocolate Haupia Cream Pie. I had been to Ted’s Bakery a number of times for breakfast or lunch, but somehow missed that chocolaty, coconuty, creamy goodness up until last year. If you’re stopping into Ted’s with a large group, purchase an entire pie to share, otherwise I recommend purchasing the a slice that’s individually packaged. 8. Mochi How does one describe mochi ? It’s a soft Japanese rice cake usually filled with ice cream. I realize that description doesn’t exactly sound delicious, but you’ve got to trust me on this one. You can find mochi in grocery stores and bakeries around Hawaii. 9. Chocolate Covered Macadamia Nuts No list of Hawaii’s best sweet treats be complete without chocolate covered macadamia nuts. Though they’re not too difficult to find on the US Mainland, you certainly can’t find the variety that Hawaii offers. See my post on where to find macadamia nut farms in Hawaii . Most farms have a shop where you can sample all sorts of macadamia goodness. My favorite kind is the milk chocolate toffee covered macadamia nut. They’re delish! — Did your favorite sweet treat make the list? What’s your favorite sweet snack or dessert in Hawaii? Where did you try it? © Go Visit Hawaii – Republication of this entire post is prohibited without prior permission. Using extracts of less than 100 words are permitted with full attribution and link back to GoVisitHawaii.com .
Continue reading...5. August 2011
Aloun Farms courtesy photo In a courtroom disaster for the federal government, prosecutors this morning dismissed all criminal charges against brothers Alec and Mike Sou, accused in 2009 of illegally importing and exploiting farm laborers from Thailand. Hawaii Reporter. Cleared of human trafficking charges, farmers Alec and Mike Sou want to get back to growing crops instead of defending themselves against allegations they forced 44 workers from Thailand to harvest melons, lettuce and pumpkins. Associated Press. Jurors in the Aloun Farms human trafficking case were stunned by the mid-trial dismissal of all charges Thursday, but said it made sense given that the prosecution had put up a weak case. Civil Beat. The abrupt collapse of the federal government’s prosecution of the Aloun Farms brothers likely will affect how the court handles the related case against Global Horizons Manpower, several attorneys associated with the cases said. Star-Advertiser. Mike and Alec Sou were just boys when their family arrived as refugees from Laos and began farming a small plot of land in Waianae in 1977, pulling out thorny kiawe bushes and rocks to clear the land. Star-Advertiser. “What a relief!” Kapolei farmer Alex Sou said to the press after the federal government dropped its long-running criminal case against him and his brother, Mike. Hawaii Reporter. After three days of trial in the human trafficking case against the owners of Aloun Farms, federal prosecutors on Thursday made a startling move of asking the presiding judge to throw out the charges “in the interest of justice.” Hawaii News Now. Federal prosecutors on Thursday morning dropped charges against two Hawaii businessman on trial in a human trafficking case. KITV4. It was a stunning turn of events. KHON2. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has wrapped up its investigation of depleted uranium at Pohakuloa Training Area and Schofield Barracks by issuing a “Notice of Violation.” West Hawaii Today. The manager of the Kona Airport has been disciplined for mismanagement, while the manager of Lihue Airport was fired, after numerous complaints about mismanagement on Kauai. KITV4. National Democrats are setting traps for former Gov. Linda Lingle as she considers a campaign for the U.S. Senate, depicting the Republican as a “partisan bomb-thrower” whose poor judgment led to teacher furloughs that closed public schools. Star-Advertiser. Tax collectors are taking a gentler approach in going after cash business that bend state tax rules. Hawaii News Now. Historic Ewa Airfield proposed site for renewable energy park. KHON2. The ever-changing, ever-growing
Continue reading...5. August 2011
Aloun Farms courtesy photo In a courtroom disaster for the federal government, prosecutors this morning dismissed all criminal charges against brothers Alec and Mike Sou, accused in 2009 of illegally importing and exploiting farm laborers from Thailand. Hawaii Reporter. Cleared of human trafficking charges, farmers Alec and Mike Sou want to get back to growing crops instead of defending themselves against allegations they forced 44 workers from Thailand to harvest melons, lettuce and pumpkins. Associated Press. Jurors in the Aloun Farms human trafficking case were stunned by the mid-trial dismissal of all charges Thursday, but said it made sense given that the prosecution had put up a weak case. Civil Beat. The abrupt collapse of the federal government’s prosecution of the Aloun Farms brothers likely will affect how the court handles the related case against Global Horizons Manpower, several attorneys associated with the cases said. Star-Advertiser. Mike and Alec Sou were just boys when their family arrived as refugees from Laos and began farming a small plot of land in Waianae in 1977, pulling out thorny kiawe bushes and rocks to clear the land. Star-Advertiser. “What a relief!” Kapolei farmer Alex Sou said to the press after the federal government dropped its long-running criminal case against him and his brother, Mike. Hawaii Reporter. After three days of trial in the human trafficking case against the owners of Aloun Farms, federal prosecutors on Thursday made a startling move of asking the presiding judge to throw out the charges “in the interest of justice.” Hawaii News Now. Federal prosecutors on Thursday morning dropped charges against two Hawaii businessman on trial in a human trafficking case. KITV4. It was a stunning turn of events. KHON2. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has wrapped up its investigation of depleted uranium at Pohakuloa Training Area and Schofield Barracks by issuing a “Notice of Violation.” West Hawaii Today. The manager of the Kona Airport has been disciplined for mismanagement, while the manager of Lihue Airport was fired, after numerous complaints about mismanagement on Kauai. KITV4. National Democrats are setting traps for former Gov. Linda Lingle as she considers a campaign for the U.S. Senate, depicting the Republican as a “partisan bomb-thrower” whose poor judgment led to teacher furloughs that closed public schools. Star-Advertiser. Tax collectors are taking a gentler approach in going after cash business that bend state tax rules. Hawaii News Now. Historic Ewa Airfield proposed site for renewable energy park. KHON2. The ever-changing, ever-growing
Continue reading...29. July 2011
Today’s Aloha Friday Photo is actually a video. Dave from Oahu created this very cool video explaining how to grow a pineapple, which happens to fit nicely with our series this week on Hawaii plants and blooms. Starting and growing a pineapple sound pretty easy actually. I may even give it a try, but by planting it a container so that I can bring it indoors for winter months. Dave recommends these helpful instructions for more information on growing a pineapple in your home. (Email subscribers, click here to access the video .) Mahalo, Dave, for providing our very first Aloha Friday video! © Go Visit Hawaii – Republication of this entire post is prohibited without prior permission. Using extracts of less than 100 words are permitted with full attribution and link back to GoVisitHawaii.com .
Continue reading...
24. January 2012
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