Aloha! Below is a free copy of Christie’s MAUI UPDATE with lots of good and interesting information about things that are currently happening on Maui. If you would like to receive future copies, please email Christie at paradyse@comcast.net
Romantic dining at Lahaina PR & Fish Co
LAHAINA – Lahaina Fish Company is now Lahaina Prime Rib and Fish Company and they have updated their menu along with their name. All their beef dishes are Angus beef and while there are plenty of old favorites on the menu, you’ll also find some fun new additions! Currently offering a Hawaiian Plate lunch $14.95, Mai Tais for $3.50 from 11am – 6pm and a sunset dinner special from 4:30-6pm for $29.95. 831 Front Street. (808) 661-3472.
A rainy day idea! Movie discounts at Lahaina Center all day on Tuesdays! Only $5!
It has been years since I’ve had the opportunity to visit the Old Lahaina Luau and I was anxious to experience it again with some friends. As guests file in before dusk, they are greeted with a REAL orchid lei and an alcoholic (or non) beverage. No standing in line for photos as they have photo opportunities around the grounds. You are taken to your seat and then invited to tour the grounds and learn a little more about Hawaiian culture. I was so captivated by the young man in Hawaiian garb explaining the history of taro and the making of poi that I never got around to any of the other pavilions. He was very informative and did an excellent presentation. The luau grounds couldn’t be much better with the ocean just footsteps away. There were a few performances as folks found their seats and an open bar served amazingly delicious concoctions akin to the slurpies at the local 7/11 store that are frosty and smooth. I had a coconut mixture to which they poured in some rum and it was DE-licious! They could also serve it without the rum. A beverage menu explained all the interesting tropical selections. While it is a buffet, they have it figured out so there are no long lines and the plates are more platter size. You are encouraged to go back too! The desserts and coffee are brought to the table at the end of the meal. Lu`au fare was traditional and included Big Island sweet potato, ahi poke, poi, laulau, chicken long rice, mahi, stir fry vegetables, taro salad, lomilomi salad, pohole salad and more. New in this and future newsletters you are going to hear more and more about gluten free dining on Maui. That is my new diet regime, although not by choice. Unfortunately I have other allergy foods that complicate my menu options. I was MOST impressed with the multi-page print-out that is available to dining guests (on request) and includes a list of ALL the ingredients in all the dishes. With so any of us dealing with health related diet issues these days, was a very detailed summary. I was surprised and disappointed that the Chicken Long Rice (a traditional dish of rice noodles and chicken) had added gluten. Perhaps the chef could use tapioca flour or some alternative thickener and skip the soy protein? I’d really looked forward to the kalua pig, figuring for sure roasted pork should be fine – but again my printed ingredient list showed gluten added. Because of the other food sensitivities, the only thing I could eat was the haupia so my friends were there to help checkout the other items on the buffet line. The reviews were that the mahi was moist, the stir fry vegetables crisp, and the pulehu (grilled top sirloin) was tender and not over-cooked. I ate up everyone’s haupia and suffered the consequences because I couldn’t resist the moist and succulent kalua pig and ate it anyway.
The show was nothing short of wonderful and I was really in awe of the headdresses the performers wore. The show included the Kahiko (ancient hula), a presentation on the missionary era, the `auana (modern hula) and a lovely finale featuring solo dancers. A lovely evening and great for the whole family. www.oldlahainaluau.com (808) 248-5828.
Delicious food at delicious prices!
While I had wanted to do the trilogy (the Old Lahaina luau folks operate Aloha Mixed Plate next to the lua`u grounds) as well as the newest restaurant, Star Noodle. Aloha Mixed Plate is a great option for sampling local food and they use biodegradable paper products … yipee! Very affordable and plenty of local style foods and the portions look generous. The Hawaiian Plate is their most popular and offers kalua pig, cabbage, lomi lomi salmon, poi, mac salad, rice and haupia for only $8.95. Also kalua pig sandwich, mahi sandwich, teriyaki chicken sandwich, burgers and noodle dishes .. nothing over $10! Mini portions available for some items. Beer and wine served. A local style restaurant on the water and open 10:30am-10pm. (1285 Front Street). www.alohamixedplate.com
Chef at the Star Noodle
Up the hill in the Lahaina Business Park (across from Safeway) seems an unlikely location for one of West Maui’s best new restaurants. The third in the trilogy of businesses that is part of the Old Lahaina Luau – the Star Noodle – this newest location offers something really special. The pasta is all freshly made and a fun and unique selection of dishes! One entree was made with soba noodles and I need to digress a moment for folks who aren’t familiar with them. The noodles offered here are organic and imported from Australia. Soba noodles are gluten free and are made from buckwheat which isn’t any form of wheat at all. Buckwheat is actually a relative of rhubarb. Hence, soba noodles are a great gluten free option but rarely do you find 100% soba noodles. Because of the cost they are almost always a mix of buckwheat and wheat. A small package of 100% buckwheat noodles will run about $8-9 and that’s on the mainland! Unfortunately, for me, the evening we dined they were out of soba. I was plenty happy trying two different versions of rice noodles: the pad Thai with a delicious peanut sauce, chicken and shrimp and as well as the Singapore noodles with Vermicelli rice noodles chicken, shrimp and vegetables. And you can’t eat at Star Noodle without having the brussel sprouts. Really??? Yes!! Even kids will be brussel sprout converts after enjoying these tasty veggies that have been roasted but not overcooked and served with a splash of wonderful kim chi sauce on the side. Wowzers! The adult beverage menu is fun and inventive and we headed to the sake section. A sparkling sake was our beverage of choice and we found it cool, refreshing and so gently flavored that it would be a great combination with any meal. While there isn’t any oceanview, the decorations are lovely and the place is generally packed (open for lunch and dinner) so if you have a big group you should call ahead for reservations. Looking at the plates of food served to my dining neighbors I’ve already picked out what I’m having next trip! Definitely five stars and congrats to the Lahaina Luau folks on a restaurant well done! (808) 667-5400. 286 Kupuohi Street.
Pad Thai has returned to The Wharf Cinema Shopping Center. Open daily 9am – 9pm in the mid-level area. Another good option is on the other end of town at Anchor Shopping Center … Saigon Seafood!
A nice surprise was a chance dining one evening when the place we’d been headed to turned up closed. We found ourselves at Fu Lin which is down on the Ka`anapali side of the Safeway Shopping center. It is a spacious restaurant and these folks have been in operation for a couple of years now. Fu Lin calls itself a 
Chinese Seafood Restaurant and they do have a heaping selection of seafood items. Mussels with Black Bean Sauce, Garlic Bok Choy with Fish and more in the $13-$20 range. Plenty of soup options, noodle soups, appetizers as well as egg fu yung, sizzling platters, entrees with pork , beef, chicken, duck, plus Chow Mein and more! Our foursome tried four dishes and I have to say the whole duck was amazing! it was crisp on the outside with a great sauce (I have no idea what was in it) and plenty of big tender portions of bone-in duck. We also had the fried rice which was perfect and not loaded with soy sauce or filled with formerly frozen peas and carrots … simple and tasty. The other dishes were equally good (most items $9.95-12.95) and they do serve beer and wine. Indoor, patio seating or to go. 1312 Front Street (808) 661-7071.
KA`ANAPALI – Tropica Restaurant & Bar at the Westin Maui has a new look and is offering happy hour from 4-6:30pm with Martini’s $5 off and you choose from 10 interesting martini options. Another new restaurant/ bar option on Ka`anapali Beach is Japengo located at the Hyatt Regency Maui in the former Cascades Restaurant. The recent Hyatt face-lift included renovations to this dining room that sits on the bluff overlooking the resort pools. The lobby level restaurant is open daily starting at 4:30pm with dinner beginning at 5:30 and choose indoor dining in the sushi lounge or table seating in their Asian-Pacific themed dining room. I didn’t get a chance to eat here, so send me your review!!! I have to say that I STILL miss the chocoholic bar though. For reservations (808) 667-4727.
New at the entrance to Ka`anapali is the Clubhouse Cafe & Bar. They are open for breakfast and also have happy hour daily from 2 – 7pm.
Dukes on the Beach
While I love Kimo’s and Leilani’s … I’m pretty drawn to the new Duke’s a little north at Honua Kai. This time we decided to go early (a great stop before the Slack Key concert in Napili) and have appetizers and beverages. As usual, the sun coming down over the dunes was great and the entertainment was super. Salads and appetizers were very satisfying and everything was cooked to perfection. The bar menu is a little smaller than the dinner menu, but service can be faster and the prices are great! Save your receipt and on your return visit you can get a free Hula Pie!
NAPILI – Maui has some fabulous international and local entertainment, but a unique aspect to the cultural and musican scene happens every week in Napili. Grammy Award-winning George Kahumoku Jr. hosts the weekly event with 
guest masters each week and additional local entertainment performing extra sets. After dinner at Duke’s, we headed north to the Napili Kai Resort. The entertainment starts at 7:30 pm but it is open seating so arrive early! You can follow signs through the lobby to a lower level open-air tented area. (Bring a sweater on cool nights!) The evening we attended Led Kaapana was the featured master slack key guitarist. (He was just nominated for a Grammy this year!) George warms up the audience with some favorite tunes on his own or with some friends and family doing hula or duets. Led’s set began with a little explanation of the tiny bay village of Kalapana where he grew up and that music was their entertainment. He also explained just how the slack key instrument came to be. After his solo performance there was a brief intermission (they offer POG and water) and then some music with the Ulkulele Boys and George and Led joined in. It is great to see the young musicians playing in harmony with the older, mature musicians as the transitions are made to continue the culture in the youth. I have to say I am now a HUGE fan of Peter DeAquino. Born on Maui, he is a master on the ukulele. He was joined by Garrett Probst who perform together as “Da Ukulele Boyz.” CDs are available for sale and they were quickly snapped up! In addition to the show only, you can arrange for a dinner package with the Napili Kai as well. Check out which artsits you might want to see and make your reservations by calling 888-669-3858 or booking online at www.slackkey.com. For $40 it is a deal!!
KAPALUA — Village Cafe and Sweet Shoppe opened in late December in the Village Center at Kapalua serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.
KIHEI — Gion Don has closed and newly opened in south Kihei is a new Mama’s Rib’s (they are also up in Napili).
WAILEA — Peter Merriman will soon be opening his new Wailea Gateway Plaza restaurant with the name Monkeypod Kitchen. Originally it was planned to be called Pete’s Island Grill. They will use locally sourced food, serve an incredible array of 36 beers on tap, and have a wood burning oven for pizza and bread. Look for Maui raised beef and everything as local, organic, and sustainable as possible.
Fairmont Kea Lani is bringing back some classics at their Luana Lounge. Classic drinks that is like Singapore Sling and White Lady. Some bars and restaurants invent new drinks, but what a fun idea to re-popularize the old time favorites!
If I ever compile a new ‘best bets’ for Maui the Kea Lani’s outrigger canoe adventure will win one of the top spot. They go out weekdays at 7, 8, 9, and 10am — weather permitting — from the beach in front of the hotel. Two excellent guides give you an explanation of the canoe then give proper Hawaiian acknowledgment to the earth, sun and sky in traditional fashion. Equipped with a swimsuit, sunglasses and sunscreen you push off into the surf and then a little hop gets you into your seat. (Not difficult but I could have used some practice to do it gracefully.) We learned the commands for paddling but ‘lava’ which means to stop paddling was my favorite! The paddling commences and in no time the hotel shrinks in size and we are out in the calm and quiet ocean. Since it is whale season we were hopeful that we’d have a duplicate experience of the previous crew that had seen a double breech! No such luck but still an awesome time floating and watching the horizon, a chance to take a swim and listen to the whales sing (they have masks on board) and then all too quickly it is time to paddle back in. The opportunity is an amazing one and something not-to-be-missed since the hotel offers the experience at no charge to guests as well as non-hotel guests! You simply call and set up your reservation with the concierge at the Fairmont Kea Lani. What a way to start your day on Maui! Phone the Fairmont Kea Lani and make your reservation with the concierge (808) 875-4100.
KAHULUI / WAILUKU — I heard they are doing a new plate lunch at the Maui Culinary School in Kahului. They are featuring a $5 lunch plate this semester downstairs in the Pa`ina Building at the University of Hawai`i Maui Campus. It sounds like a heck of a deal. Their cafeteria is always a wonderful dining option – but only open for lunch and they do close between class terms. I love having an early afternoon weekday flight so I can enjoy a good meal before I head to the airport!
Four Sisters has been serving up some decadent pastries on Maui for a number of years but now they are selling more than just desserts. They have opened at Vineyard and Church Streets and are serving a $9.99 lunch buffet. The food is primarily Filipino with familiar as well as hard-to-pronounce offerings such as dinardaraan, pancit and pinakbet. You’ll also find flavors of the international variety with hot dogs, chicken and even Italian and Mexican days. Look for Hawaiian and local food on Fridays. Looks like they are aiming for dinner as well! for more information contact them at (808) 242-1135.
JUST PLAIN WEIRD — I feel that this topic needs its own category. I’m always happy to see some new and wonderful little item to bring home to my friends and family — but I just wasn’t brave enough to buy them the Spam flavored macadamia nuts. It’s a new one … available at Hilo Hatties for that special someone. Or maybe for yourself! Yum???
MISCELLANEOUS — The January 11th ban on plastic bags at point of sale threw a number of visitors for a loop as they stopped in local stores to purchase their items. Many, like Walmart, were selling their own reusable bags and a lot of folks simply filled up their arms and headed to their cars. Stores like Whole Foods continue to provide paper bags or get a nickel discount if you bring in your own. One local to-go restaurant in Honokowai may be taking advantage by charging 50 cents for a container. We found the best place to purchase the reusable insulated (hot and cold) bags was the Saturday Swap Meet. Greet assortment of designs and colors and super gifts to take home to friends. They also have them at Hilo Hatties for a bit less money, but designs that didn’t capture my eye.
Pi`iholo Zipline is only a couple of years old and is upcountry but just down the road from Makawao and easy to find. Our four-member zipline crew were well organized and knowledgeable and did a great job of getting us through all five of the courses. There were nine in our group and most of us were pretty much novices. Francine and I had been on another course the previous year, but Pi`iholo had some special treats in store! The first course was four-line, the only four line on Maui, and over a long grassy field. It gave you a feel for the harness and allowed 
the crew at the bottom to give you signals to slow down, speed up or stop. The rest of the rope courses were two lines at a time that became fun as you could race your partner to the finish! They offer two options, one is four lines and the other includes a fifth line that is the longest, about 1/2 mile from top to bottom. In between course three and four there is a tree-house type area with beverages, snacks and ‘facilities.’ The gear is a little different than my first experience. At this course you each have a trapeze contraption and you can slide it over your shoulder. We were told it weighed about 11 pounds. Another big difference was that the departures were not from the side of a gulch, but required some swinging gangways that were a bit steep. If the gear is too heavy, one of our crew would offer carry it up. The walk up the gangway was the only complicated part of the experience! The trapeze gave me a lot of confidence as it was such a nice big bar and I certainly made good use of it with a firm grip. There really was no need to have upper arm strength though and the slowing down and speeding up were made simple by just moving your body from a sitting position to one that was more streamlined. Others in our group I’d guess were in there 60s so I felt like the young kid on the block! Obviously age isn’t a factor in the interest to zip or the ability to do it! We were told it would be about a three hour excursion but we were reminded several times that this was our group’s adventure and there was no pressure to hurry and plenty of time to linger over our chips and soda. If you opt for the fifth line you get a bonus ride in quads up a steep slope (I’d looked at it and grumbled that it looked like a steep hike but was I wrong!). At the top we had a chance to look down onto the vistas of Maui and then meander down to the final jump. By now I was really getting into this zipping thing!!! They do operate rain or sun and provide rain gear. Only exceptional weather conditions will cause a cancellation. Our day was mostly clear and just warm enough that we didn’t need any outerwear. A small pocket in the back of our harness had room for small cameras or any other small essentials you might need. You do need close toed shoes and I’d recommend sunglasses and some sunscreen! Thanks Bren, Sarah, Josh and all the staff for making it a great day upcountry flying across beautiful Maui. Five line zipping, four line adventure, high ropes adventure tower or a walk along adventure are all options! Look for couples discount coupons in the free visitor publications. www.piholozipline.com (808) 572-1717.
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