We’ve recently been running some giveaways and contests on our Hawaii Facebook Page.  The following are some of our favorite submissions by our Facebook fans about their favorite Maui memories.  We hope this brings a smile to your face.  To see the winners of 4 Hawaii iPhone cases, see the best Maui stories.

I have a few good memories of Maui, but how can anyone have any bad ones. My fiance and I were in Maui last year in March. We were married at Makena Cove in the rain. We thought that was bad luck, but in fact some locals that were on the beach witnessing said the rain was good luck. On another day we thought that we would try to do some snorkeling just off of the place where we were staying (Kaanapali resorts) and as beginners we looked like two beached whales flopping around trying to get on our flippers. We sat too close to the waters edge and the waves kept flipping us over. It was hilarious and we were wondering why everyone kept walking sideways in those things…we figured it out afterwards. We also went whale watching and for some reason it made me cry. I think just being in such a beautiful place and having the opportunity to watch those beautiful creatures was just breathtaking. When I am in not such a good mood and I need to find my “happy place”, I think about Maui and those whales. That memory always takes me back to Maui even if I cannot be there, I’m there in spirit. Oh and let’s not forget the Tsunami. We were supposed to leave that Friday, but Thursday night we had to evacuate our room and move to a higher level floor. All flights were cancelled, but when we were able to leave and fly to Honolulu to catch our flight back to the mainland, there wasn’t another flight out until Sunday. So we were able to stay in Hawaii for 2 extra days. What great memories and we hope to get back to Maui next year when my business takes off and we are financially okay. Thank you! Oh and I love the pink cover. A Hui Hou!
by Olivia

my favorite family vacation to Maui was when our youngest son was almost one(it was our family of 5 and my parents) – we celebrated Easter on Maui (which was awesome) and our little one decided to take his first steps while we were there…such a great memory. We tried coming to Maui ever-other year but financially have not been able to do that the last couple of years. would love to come back!
by Julie

I have sooo many “favorite” Maui memories. From spending relaxing time with our family, walking down Keawakapu hand in hand with my husband, snorkeling the crystal clear blue waters off the Mana Kai to exploring the “un-touristy” parts of the island. But hands down, my favorite Maui memory is all the wonderful people we have met through our years of visiting, many who we now call friends. The people, the ALOHA…that is my best memory. Thanks!
by Tami

My Favourite Maui memory was celebrating our first morning as a married couple by welcoming the sunrise at the summit of Haleakala. Just as the sun peeped over the summit a native Hawaiian was performing a traditional chant. The experience was very spiritual and one we will never forgot. What a perfect way to start married life (August 12th 2011).
by Sarah

Favorite Maui memory: 2005 was my 25th wedding anniversary. Dear wife and I had never had a REAL vacation in that whole time, so I planned a SURPRISE Maui vacation. The trip was in November. On the day of our anniversary in September I gave her a framed certificate that said she had earned an 8 day, 7 night all expenses paid vacation to a tropical paradise. Nothing else. For two months she prodded me but I never let her know where we were going. We flew out of Eugene, OR to San Fran. This was her first time flying, so she missed it when the person behind the counter confirmed that we were flying through to Maui. It wasn’t until we reached our gate at SFO that she knew we were Maui bound!!
by Dennis

I just got back from 2 weeks in Hawaii. The last 10 of those days we were on Maui. I stayed at the Bay Villas at Kapalua and the joy and peace I found just sitting on the lanai looking for the last of the whales and enjoying the spectacular sunsets, has got to be what heaven is like. Sooooo worth the 12 hour trip to get there. There’s no place like Maui, LOVE IT!
by Cathy

One time when out sailing a whole school of Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins was running with the boat. We stopped and they stayed there. So I jumped off the boat and was in the middle of them swimming all around me. I had my arms outstretched and they would touch my hands.
by Joan

My favorite Maui memory was going to Maui with my Mom for a girls only trip and enjoying our drive to Hana and black sand beach. We stopped many many times along the way stopping at fruit stands, Ho’okipa, Paia, bamboo trail…all precious memories spent on the island with my mom 3 years ago yesterday!
by Kerrie

My favorite Maui memory is going into lahaina on front street, eating at kimo’s and getting my first tattoo at Spikes Westside Ink. He designed it with my help and I love it! We were there on a company trip, which only gave us 4 days in Maui, but as we speak, we have been saving for our return trip and also to look for a home to rent or buy so that we may live. We left our hearts in Maui for sure♥. If I win the phone case I would love the pink turtle one, long life, which will match with my next tat I am getting! Maholo!
by Frannie

We just got back from Maui yesterday….Yep, back to Texas and all the heat! There wasn’t ever a bad time on Maui! Loved the Swap Meet shopping! So many beautiful things to see and buy! I love all the jewelry on the island, so different! The trip to the crater was awesome! Such a beautiful view even tho it was of cloud’s, well worth the trip to see. Probably the best part of Maui that we have ever seen is the Luau at the Marriott. The dancing was awesome, the food was great. Being on the beach looking out at the water as the background of all the entertainment was grand! Just driving around seeing the site’s, swimming in the ocean…the flower’s and the palm tree’s! Life was good on our 12 day trip to Maui!
by Marie

Best Maui memory: Last month my daughter and I took our first trip to Maui and we decided to learn to surf! (I am 48 and this was way out of my comfort zone) We both agreed it was one of the most exhilarating experiences of our lives. I had such a great instructor that I got up on my first wave! We love MAUI!
by Carrie

Our best memory of Maui is definitely our 2 years old’s first time being on beach was at the beach by the Marriott hotel in Makena area… we enjoyed him amazed by staring at the ocean. Ocean in Hawaii means a lot for us because we named our son’s name, “Kai” as we know it means “ocean” in Hawaii… it’s no surprise that he wasn’t even scared when he fell in the water on that day, but he just wanted to go back in there [:D] Best family vacation ever it was in November 2011!!!!
by Hiromi

My favorite Maui memory was during our honeymoon 2 years ago in May. We did the standard road to Hana and we read somewhere about a Red Sand beach. It was inaccessible by cars and no clear trails or anything. So we got out of the car and just wandered around in the bush for awhile until we saw someone else walking. We quickly found what looked like a trail and took it. Straight down to a tiny red sand beach. It was treacherous as my wife was wearing flip flops. We got down there and I’m like “no way this is the beach its too small and not really beachy, and it actually had quite violent waters.
Luckily we saw a dog running on another trail near us and we were able to find the real trail and proceeded to the gorgeously hidden red sand beach. The way back was way easier and we laughed at the treacherous route we took when there was a much safe…almost flip-flop sandal friendly path to take!
It was a great little adventure and go tot see the beauty of the beach as well…hands down my favorite memory from Maui
by Troy

Favorite time in Maui was 2 years ago last Feb. Our 27 years together anniversary. Stayed in a lil mother in law house at the end of a culdisack in Haiku. Drove down a block every morning to watch the local surfers ride their first waves as the sun was coming up.
Then we would drive to the west side & go whale watching on these amazing little mini-cruises. Whales so close I could almost reach out & touch them. Tears rolling down my cheeks as I video the Momma & baby coming up for air right before our eyes. I still tear up when I see the videos.
So in Love in this beautiful paradise. We’re saving to come this next February 2013 to celebrate 30 years together. Can’t think of ANY place on earth I wanna be with the LoVe of my life ;~}
My video wouldn’t load…I will try a pic…
It was like she was waving at us after the show as she danced around swimming off into the sunset. It really was just magical
by Lavender

My favorite Maui memory was snorkeling in the water off of Black Rock and seeing all the fish and coral and then a sea turtle can right up to me. It kept following me. It was so beautiful to see so close. It was very calming to me.
by Kathleen

I got Married to the man of my dreams on 2/25/06 on Lahania Beach. We had our reception at the old Lahaina Luau. it was perfect. We waited 10 years to plan the perfect wedding and it was a dream come true.
by Rachelle

I was visting my husband (then boyfriend) who was stationed at Hickam AFB. He told me we were going to go on a whale watch cruise for the day in Oahu, so he told me to pack a light bag and a change of clothes for the day. Well…after several turn of events on our way to the “Maui whale watch cruise” we ended up at the airport…he forgot to mention that we were going to watch whales in Maui. We boarded a flight to Maui and got our rental car and first drove to Lahaina, where we had lunch at Cheese burgers in Paradise and then on to Wailea, where my next surprise awaited…we were staying at The Kea Lani (now Fairmont Kea Lani). However on our way to Wailea, we stopped at the lookout (can’t remember name) and right there below us we saw whales and a baby whale breached right there…it was amazing! We continued on to the resort where I thought, I was a princess checking into the Kea Lani. It was amazing. We had a wonderful stay in Maui and always go back…because Maui holds a special place in heart! obviously, this trip was planned to a T to surprise me and it did! A hui ho!
by Theresa

My greatest memory on Maui was swimming/snorkeling at Black Rock in Kaaanpali and a pod of dolphins came up and swam with us for about 45 mins. To hear them underwater was absolutely amazing and to watch them play with each other was beautiful.
by Pam

On our 25th wedding anniversary we went to Maui. My husband and daughter wanted to go snorkeling, but I don’t swim very well and was afraid of getting sea sick, so I told them I wasn’t going. But my husband kept insisting on me going, would not let it go, so reluctantly I went. When we were near Molokini after they had snorkeled a couple of times I was so upset seasick, took no precautions. (silly me)All of a sudden the captain announced that he had someone on board that wanted to say something.My husband was standing near the captain and said he was so grateful for his wife being a good sport and coming, even though I didn’t want to, he announced he had a gift for me for our anniversary and then gave me a diamond ring! I was so shocked, i couldn’t believe it. It was so precious, because he had bought it at Maui Gold jewelry. I’m still wearing it today. Now I love going on the ocean!
by Barb-Vern

Ok and this is so the truth my Maui Story is we went to Big Beach to experience more waves. As my friend and I stood in the water facing shore a wave came up from behind and totally took us off our feet. When I fianally got my feet back under me my friend starts frantically screaming at me…thinking a shark was about I almost ran to shore when she finally yelled…….you have no pants….the water had taken my bottoms right off and I had no idea!!! Luckily i had a tankini on so the top could be pulled down somewhat till she could go retrieve my shorts……So no on the beach totally mad that I lost my 60 bottoms….about 1 hour later a man teaching his daughter to boogie board pulls them out of the ocean… [:)] And I totally swear its the truth…who would make that up….
by Brenda

I was snorkeling near Kamaole Beach Park 2 in early April 2009 on a day that had the clouds scudding across the sky. I slipped under the water, and looked at a school of fish that were rather unremarkable, and turned away. In my peripheral vision, I saw rainbows as the sun peeked out from behind the clouds – I turned a saw the same school of fish all lit up. Suddenly, they were just GONE. I turned around to see what scared them, and saw 4 sharks that were about 4 feet long chasing after them. This happened about 10 feet from me. A little while later, I poked my head out of the water to drain my mask, and saw a lot of people on shore pointing – I turned around to see a mama whale and her calf swimming along about twice as far out from shore as I was. I raced after to get a better view, but they were gone. On my way back, a turtle with a milky eye swam up form the ocean floor to take a breath – I swam with that magnificent creature for a few minutes until he decided to go back to the depths. This was the most surreal snorkel experience I’ve ever had.
by Bill

It is very difficult to come up with my most favorite Maui experience, but I will share one that includes others who feel the same:
In 1986, after spending a couple of weeks in Japan sightseeing and going to concerts with my friend (and world known, Grammy winning friend Kitaro), I wanted to show him my favorite place on earth … Maui. I gathered up a few of my local friends and we took Kitaro to Haleakala Crater so that he could see the “Moon”. As we hiked about in awe I noticed Kitaro had stopped and was sitting on the edge. He was staring into the crater. While at the same time, he was gracefully moving his hands about, with the artistry and magic of a composer. Later that day when we were all walking back to the ca , I asked him what had been doing. He replied with a big smile on his face, ” I was making beautiful music in my head as I was feeling the energy of the crater”. Maui has the ability to put some people into a very spiritual place. We all felt it that day while enjoying the magnificence of Haleakala Crater.
by Barbara

There are a lot of fantastic memories of Maui, from simple things like cruising the highway in Kihei in our open-air Jeep, to incredible moments, like diving with honu at Turtle Town, or swimming with the fishies 100 feet below at Molokini. But the best-ever moment has to be marrying my best friend in the entire world on Makena Surf Beach in the pouring rain with our families and friends cheering us on, and the sweet sounds of a ukelele surrounding us. The two manta rays that came up on shore near us during our ceremony and flapped in the surf were pretty sweet too! Blessings from Maui all the way. We’re looking forward to relocating to Maui in a few years too. It’s where we know we’re meant to be, and in the meantime we Live Aloha every day from the mainland! Maui no ka oi!
by Lisabeth

My husband and I spent 7 days in Maui last May 2011 on our Honeymoon and it was AMAZING!!!! Everything was perfect about the trip but the best story has to be about the “Time Share” thing, so here it goes:
Well, as you know, when you are a tourist in Maui you pretty much get “suckered” into going to a Time Share event so you can get AWESOME deals on all of the fun activities. My Husband wanted to do the Helicopter ride and I wanted to do the Horseback Ride and the two activities would save us a bunch of money if we went to the Time Share thing… I was pretty much dreading going to this thing, but figured it was worth it since we would got to do beautiful Helicopter Ride and Horseback Ride first. I was kind of bummed a little bit on our Helicopter ride because my husband and I had to sit in the back with another “honeymooners” parents while the other couple of honeymooners got to sit in front with the pilot. (Wouldn’t you think they could sit with their own parents??) Come to find out the new husband was a pilot himself so he always gets to ride up front once he tells everyone he is a pilot… Bummer for us, but what comes around goes around right? So the next day my husband and i went to the Time Share thing and we ran into that other couple that we rode in the helicopter with and said “hi” to eachother but that was it. They got called first to go meet with the time share guy and then we got called a few minutes later (we were informed this would be a 2 – 3 hour ordeal). When we started to talking to the guy he could TOTALLY tell that we were not interested in buying any timeshare since my husband told them that his parents already have one in Maui and we are able to share with them. He then told us that they were WAY short on staff and if we weren’t buying a Condo today we were free to leave… Literally out of there in 10 minutes AND got to keep our activities for the super low price.. That made our day or maybe whole week!! When then got up & walked out of there waving & smiling so BIG to our “friends” that were in the helicopter with us and they were shaking their heads back at us and giving a mean / confused look…It stll cracks me up just thinking about it right now!! It was priceless!! [:)]
 by Jeannie

I will never forget watching the sunset over Heleakala on my daughter Katie’s 18th birthday. It was a fantastic memory for all of us!
by Deb

have been there 3 times…once three of my husband’s brothers and wives came along and we had a “brilliant” idea one night to go to the ocean and once in, remove suits – just to say we did!! after a super large wave upended me, the top to my suit disappeared. we looked the next morning to no avail and I’m teased unmercilessly often!! they did get me a new suit at Goodwill…..
by Joleen

My favorite Maui memory was seeing the Dali Lama speak at the War Memorial Stadium, it was a beautiful Maui Day and his presence was so enlightening and made me feel like I was exactly where I was supposed to be at that moment in time. Later as we were leaving the stadium and he was driving away in his limousine flanked by security, he passed right by us, rolled down his window and waved and smiled to me.
by Nancy

While on the isle of Maui we decided to take a drive around the Northwest side. It started out so beautiful – we stopped to see Black Rock and the Blowhole. We kept going and soon realized we had forgotten to eat lunch – we were getting hungry and had no cash. We decided to keep going. The road was windy and only one lane wide! I honked the horn as we came to each curve just in case a car was coming from the other direction. The road twisted and turned and had a fabulous view of the ocean. truly paradise! We felt like we were getting further and further from civilization when we came upon a small town. FOOD we thought. There were a few guys selling banana chips and pineapple slices – we had no cash. Luckily they were willing to barter – 3 Maui Brew beers for a bag of banana chips. Those are the best banana chips we ever had.
On another day we went on a whale watch. LOVE whales! Well, we went in an 18 passenger Zodiac in hopes of a close encounter. We saw whales in the distance and they were very nice. We had been out for about an hour and I was getting a little discouraged when here comes “henry” (we named him) the whale. He swam under out boat and came up on the other side on his back. He then turned over and waved his fin at us. He kept swimming back and forth under our boat and around us for then next half hour. It was truly an amazing experience.
by Rhonda

My favorite memory of you is marrying my best friend in January at your beautiful Po’olenalena Beach. We had an amazing 2 weeks full of whale watching, swimming, sun bathing, relaxing and eating the wonderful food. We especially loved Ululani’s Shave Ice! And Da Kitchen! YUM! Mahalo for the wonderful memories. Aloha, until we meet again.
by Beki

My husband and I got married on Maui (in front of the Mana Kai Maui) in 2006. My parents, his parents, our siblings and three of our grandparents were all able to make the journey from MN to Hawaii! It was an unforgettable experience. When we left, we promised we would go back ATLEAST every 5 years….
Who knew that when we went back on our five year anniversary that we would have a one year old tagging along. My favorite moment was when we arrived back to stay at the Mana Kai Maui (HEAVEN!)….and my daughter was crawling on the very spot that we got married—and at the end of our two week stay—-WALKING on the very spot we got married! My picture at the top of my Facebook page is of my husband, me and my daughter sitting on the very spot we got married….
We are now planning to go BACK to the same spot next summer—so we are heading back within three years this time [:)]
by Megan

One very special memory is while pregnant with my son born on Maui, I used to walk down to Kaanapali beach and dig a little hole in the sand to sink my baby belly into while laying on the sand to soak up some lovely Hawaii sun.
by Brenda

Five years ago my husband and I made our first trip to Maui with some friends to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. We stayed at beautiful Napili Shores. The second day there, I fell and sprained my wrist in the tide pools, and had to wear a brace the rest of the trip. A day or two later, we went to Lanai to do some snorkeling. The water wasn’t real clear, but we saw a lot of fish and I had a great time. When we got out of the water, my friend looked at me and said, “What happened to your eyes?” I didn’t have a clue what she was talking about, but when she found a mirror, I saw that both of my eyes were black & blue! Apparently, my rented mask was a bit loose, so I was sucking it on my face too hard to keep the water out!! I wore sunglasses until it cleared up!! In spite of all that, we had a fantastic time–and we’re going back in a few weeks to celebrate our 35th!
by Debbie

I spent a summer on Maui in 1986…we had a lot of adventures…we crossed a rope bridge and went swimming in a private pond that had a rope swing. One morning, we drove to the top of Halehakala and watched the sunrise in 40 degree weather in July. I hiked up behind O’heo Gulch and went swimming in the pools that very few people see…and we sat on the edge of the rocks next to a 200 foot waterfall. We hitchhiked across the island from Paia to Lahaina and back. We met a lot of fabulous people who lived there. One couple…David and Violet Cup-Choy invited us to their home in Makawao and had a cookout for us and told us stories of their life on Maui in the early 60′s. He had been the plant manager at the Dole Pineapple Plant and he brought us pineapple fresh from the field. I went snorkeling for the first time in my life in Hana Bay. I ran into people i knew from Florida in the rest stop on the Hana Highway. It was the best summer of my life and i ddin’t want to come home. I have sent a number of couples to Maui for their honeymoons…just because i speak so highly of it. Maui Na Ka Oi…..
by Sullivan

I’ve always been afraid of the underwater! But I wanted soo much to be able to snorkle when we took our children to Maui last November. We booked our tour early so i could not back out. I had trouble getting out of the boat then when floating in the water started to hyperventalate in the snorkle mask. My children tried to help, the instructor tried and my husband tried I just was too scared. Then someone yelled hey there are turtles here. Once I saw a green turtle floating majestically in the water close by, I let go grabbed my underwater camera and swam away. I was like magic!
by Kim

Please message us with your favorite Maui memories (NOT comment, but private message.) The best 2 stories will result in an iPhone case each! Please also attach your mailing address, the iPhone case you want, and your email address to let you know you’ve won. Winners announced on Saturday.
My favorite Maui memory is from our second trip to the beautiful island of Maui. We rented a VW camper van and drove the whole perimeter of the island (where there are roads, of course!). We got a very intimate view of the island and had the freedom to go where ever we wanted each day without having to worry about getting back to a hotel. We saw every road, every unique environment, and every scenic overlook the island has to offer! It was especially amazing to see Honu swimming in the ocean. We got to feel like Maui was our home for the week we were there, camping just feet from the beach. We even did a little beach clean up at our favorite spot– unfortunately other campers did not show Maui the same love as we felt for every inch of the island that we were able to explore. Can’t wait to go back and get re-acquainted!
by Becky

Favorite maui memory so far is boogieboarding at big beach with my two kids and getting rocked and tossed to the beach while others on the beach were watching and laughing…must have looked awesome slamming down 7ft to the sand.
by Maureen

Hard to choose only one. but my parents had treated our family of thirteen-plus to a stay at the Kea Lani. Several of us were snorkeling about 100 yards offshore when my sons and nephews heard whales. I decided to jettison to shore to capture our last sunset for this trip with my video camera. I was primed for this event, when everyone started yelling and screaming. When I followed their voices, I saw what the excitement was about — a mom and her calf were breaching playfully with the Maui sunset behind them. My nephew said it best when he commented, “Where’s Spielberg? Cue the sunset, Cue the whales!” We’ve never recovered from the inspiration of this moment, nor do we want to.
Thanks for enabling us to keep alot of our Maui moments alive via your own awesome photography!
by Janet

I have many but my favorite was on April 8,2012 we renewed our wedding vows for our30th anniversary on Kapalua Bay at sunset with the wonderful Pastor Laki Ka’ahumanu. I fell in love with Maui on that trip.
by Brenda

On my wedding day we were getting married in Maui on Changs beach but staying in West Maui. I got my hair and make up done at the four seasons and my husband to be, being stubborn decided to get changed into his tux at the beach. Little did he know there was no restroom there. Needless to say, he changed in the parking lot. When the Rev. Kenneth Hoopai jr showed up my husband to be was puttin on his pants and accidentally dropped them. In front of the Rev! Glad to say he had a good sense of humor and asked “nervous are we?” “Aloha, nice to meet you.”
by Dena

And last but not least, a fun Maui story from Brittany!

The Molokini Palani
I grew up going out on the water with my family anytime I possibly could. My grandpa called us “River Rats.” Virtually every single river or body of water I have been to has been dirty, dark, and had little to no visibility of the bottom or anything for that matter. That drove me crazy because I couldn’t see if any fish were around–especially the bottom feeders and my least favorite, sturgeon.

For my honeymoon I got the chance to go to Maui with my fiancé, Brook. It was amazing. The people, food, and smells were unforgettable. The paradise lifestyle everyone seemed to be living was so immensely intriguing. We ate Maui Tacos for approximately half of our meals. They had fast-food prices with restaurant-sized meals. The activities available in Maui were by far not like anything we could do in the Tri-Cities. The water blew me away the most. I had never seen water so clear and pristine blue before in my life. What better to do in this type of water but snorkel? I had never been snorkeling before, so my fiancé booked two seats on the Molokini Crater Express. We had heard that it was suppose to take us to some of the best snorkeling around Maui.

So there we were, my Fiancé and I, headed out to Molokini on the Molokini Express. We had a great view of the city of Lahaina, from which we departed, as well as an insane view of the whole west side of Maui. The boat ride seemed to fly by, and we arrived before we knew it. The two guides gave us the run-down and boundaries of the crater while we all geared up.

My heart was pounding when I realized I might have made a huge mistake–too late–it was our turn. My fiancé got down on the ladder to get in. After the guide provided us with few more rules, Brook went for it and jumped in. He made it look easy, since it was his 6th time snorkeling. My heart felt like it was going to come up my throat and feed the fish. I was a scared snorkel virgin!

I put the much-needed defogger on my mask and stepped onto the ladder. With 15 people behind me and approximately forty-five minutes left, I had no choice but to push myself to get into position. There were over one hundred fish in sight from above the water. I let myself fall off the ladder into the beautiful bathtub-warm water as normal as possible. I was so overwhelmed and my heart was beating so fast, I thought I was going to die. I swam off towards Brook and put my fears aside, plunging my head into the water.

It took my breath away. There were such vibrantly colored fish just a few feet from me. They looked amazing compared to the drab brown fish in the Columbia River. There were countless Black Durgon all around us. I soon came to find out the little buggers had teeth. I quickly brought my arms close to my chest, folded them, and swam to Brook. He was looking at a huge 2-foot fish that was watching us with it’s huge eye.

We swam on a bit, when a foot long Silver Palani came towards us. It came closer and closer until finally Brook reached out to see if he could touch it. It was about an inch too far away–an inch! It began to circle us. I felt my heart pounding so hard my head felt like it was throbbing and going to burst. The crazy fish circled us 5 or 6 times, then suddenly it was gone. It had disappeared somewhere, somehow, behind Brook. That’s when I thought I was going to lose my mind.

Once Brook realized it was gone he swam off a bit, thinking I was following close behind like I had been. Instead I had to go up and get some air. After seeing all the fish around me below the surface, I couldn’t stand to be above the water for too long not knowing what might be after me next. I knew I had to go back under.

At the very same moment I put my face back in the water, the Silver Palani that was circling us before, was coming towards me at the very same instant. It darted at my face, from about 2 feet away. I screamed into the snorkel, shut my eyes and kicked as fast and hard as I could away from it, swimming backward, until I smacked my head right into the side of the Molokini Express. I thought I was going to throw up. I popped my head out of the water, swam to the ladder and got onto the boat. I wanted to cry, more for the bump on my head than the crazy Silver Palani that I thought wanted to bite me.

It was such an insanely scary feeling thinking this fish was coming for me. Brook told me it wasn’t coming after me and that I happened to go into the water at the perfect time for it to appear that way. What an experience for my first snorkel adventure.

**Note…we are not legally married but did our private ceremony on 11.11.11 to know and have that date in our hearts. We will be legally married when I am out of school. Didn’t want you to think this is a crock of crap…

by Brittany of Kennewick, WA
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME!!

The evening began with cocktails and familiar faces outside the entrance of the Castle at MACC.  We were really happy to see that the art exhibit next door was still open (closes I believe in a few days.)  Beautiful pieces lined the walls, including one piece from Jefferson Stillwell. We strolled around seeing some amazing local art before The Shins began playing.

They played flawlessly and got the crowd grooving and dancing.  It was a blast!  Thank you Anna Kim for taking these beautiful photos.  You can see more of her photos on her Maui photo blog.

Jessica Dobson, Richard Swift, Joe Plummer and Yuuki Mathews played along side James Mercer giving a great show.  We honestly can’t say there’s one song on any of their albums that we don’t like.  They have a truly unique sound that defines indie rock. Mercer mentioned that their performance of New Slang was the best they’d ever done.  Let’s hope that they remember this and come play Maui more often!

This is our 100th blog post on the Maui Goodness!

Snorkeling is our favorite thing to do in Hawaii.  Yes, even more than surfing, hiking, diving, etc…  The reason being that you can almost always go snorkeling somewhere on the island and have an amazing experience.  Surfing needs waves, hiking needs good weather and a lot of time, scuba needs heavy equipment, but snorkeling needs some inexpensive gear, some clear water, and very little time.

Our favorite places to snorkel are at:

• Molokini Crater (Boat Destination)

   

  The crater has incredible visibility.  On certain days, you can get the same visibility off the shore, but the abundance of sea life at Molokini is pretty amazing.  Also, taking a boat out is a lot of fun.  We enjoy getting the full experience with meals, coral gardens, and a cocktail on the way back.  Pride of Maui offers a great trip from Maalaea Harbor. We like them because their staff is great, the price is right, and we’ve never had a bad experience.  Maalaea is an excellent place to leave from since it’s close to Wailea, and not far from Lahaina either. Call (808) 242-0955 to book your seats on the Pride.

   

• Black Rock (West Maui)

   

  We love grabbing some towels and gear, heading down to Kaanapali Beach, and enjoying some snorkeling between beach time.  It’s one of the prettiest beaches on Maui, and the snorkeling around Black Rock is great and easy to get to.  Keep in mind that once you get to the end of the rock, currents can become stronger.  Also, cliff divers often jump off the rock repeatedly, so stay clear of that area.

   

• Ulua (South Maui)

   

  Mokapu and Ulua beach sandwich a reef outcropping that harbors many turtles and ocean life.  We’ve seen huge manta rays, loads of fish, and beautiful coral here.  At the second reef, there’s a turtle cleaning station.  The station is pretty deep and better to get to when scuba diving, but it’s still worth a gander.

   

We hope you enjoy your next snorkeling trip on Maui.  Remember to be safe and to pay attention to all signage.  It’s always best to let people know before you go, and ALWAYS snorkel with a buddy.  If you’ve never snorkeled a spot before, ask an expert before going out.  Aloha!

Below we’ve copied a few letters we’ve gotten from a concerned Maui resident about these rentals.  Please read it and continue to be respectful to our local people.  MAHALO!

Thank you for your time to allow me to express my feelings. This issue is very political and is starting to get heated up within Maui Meadows in Kihei, so let me apologize for the lengthy reply.

As always, there are two sides to all issues and you will only get mine on this open letter. So, for what it’s worth, I happen to live next to an illegal TVR and a legal B&B. I know this issue is often confrontational, and for those who do not live next to them, they do not know what it is like, and either do not have my noise issue, or like the fact that they can rent to vacationers to get money, but none of that money ever gets to the county.

Let me say this, I understand some tourists like to live in a home that has 4 bedrooms. The fact is, four families can get in on it, so that a $5,000.00 per week rental, only costs $1,250.00 per couple. It costs a lot more if they stay at a Condo or Hotel, yet when they do stay at a condo or hotel, local jobs are created, and revenue is paid to the county from taxes that go for services.

The problem is when multiple families do this, many times they come into a quiet neighborhood and disturb everyone…I live in Maui Meadows and since they are on vacation, they forget they are in a neighborhood, so I end up living their vacation with all the late night partying and the keiki’s getting up at 6AM and screaming out Marco Polo in the pool. Now not all vacationers are like this so don’t think everyone is, but over the last four years I have lived in Maui Meadows, too many are!!!

As the rent for these TVR’s go out over the internet, no money is seen by Maui County in tax revenue, and it does not promote any local jobs and only puts money into the hands of the owners and the MVRA who manage some of them. The homeowners who rent their homes lie by claiming their 300K personal home deduction by saying they live there full time, and some of these properties are owned by corporations. All of this is illegal, but it is the real estate agents and the MVRA that have started all of this by promoting the homes as investments, and shows them how to pocket big money and not give any to the county in the way of taxes. These owners promote their sites on line to perspective renters. So their theory is…if you post it…they will come, and they do!

I want tourists to come to Maui. We are a tourist economy, but for the locals like myself who live there, is it fair that we be on vacation with them? I want a quiet neighborhood to live in. I did not ask the homes around me to become hotels. I pay my tax and should be entitled to my enjoyment of life. Just because some want to cheat the county and make money…I don’t! I just want to live in peace and quiet.

A lot of this is explained on this new website See  http://www.stoptvrs.com/

If we want real growth in Maui, expansion of local jobs, and increased taxes to the county in order to provide better services to its residents and communities, then we need to make sure we have our visitors stay in licensed hotels and condos that have to pay the transient rental tax. It is these hotels and condos that hire the locals for full time jobs. If we are to have TVR’s then they have to be regulated. They have to pay the tax to the county, and the county needs to regulate them so they do not create noise pollution in the neighborhoods. The owners should be required to have someone live on site to keep the peace and quiet at all times, and the county should go after all illegal TVR’s and shut them down for failing to pay taxes. If the county wants to have TVR’s, establish a number, regulate them, tax them and do the right thing by making sure they are regulated. Those who violate too many times should then get shut down and fined.

One thing you could do is to inform those who are coming to Maui and end up renting illegal TVR’s to remind them that they are moving into a residential neighborhood for the one or two weeks they are there. Some people like me who have to get up at 5AM to work do not want to be kept up to 2AM listening to them being on vacation. I get it…they are on vacation, but I am not. I am sure they would not like it if someone rented next to them and did what they are doing in their neighborhood.

Sorry to make this so long, but the last 4 years have been very frustrating. It is killing my dream of living on Maui.

A good deal of people do not know about this. They don’t have sympathy to a sensitive issue, and most do not not really understand the depth of the problem. Some are very angry about this as we are trying to take a lot of money out of their pockets. A couple of these people are making under a million dollars a year, so you can imagine if they got shut down!

So yes, I do not want any repercussion by my name being attached only to find out someone is looking to hurt me, or damage my property. As you know, Maui is still a very good ole boy town. The shame is that for those who do not live next to TVR’s, there is no issue. The fact that money does not get to the county for jobs and other services does not bother them. They just complain that there are no jobs on Maui and do nothing about it. If they could spend a couple days in my shoes, they would all be up in arms against TVR’s. Until they are effected like I am, they do not see it my way.

I have to believe that visitors want our Island to be stable and see our local people have jobs. Without that, the Maui experience is dead. Maui is a great Island for both visitors and residents. If we can get our story out, maybe some would be sympathetic and try to keep their noise down should they rent legal or illegal homes. For those who want to party hard into the night, well there are hotels and condos for that.

All we ask all visitors for is their Kokua, and to respect our Mana… When their vacation is over, some local residents do not get any rest. Another visitor begins their vacation as soon as the last ones check out, and they check in.

We got married on Maui, and thankfully we LIVE here.  That doesn’t mean that some of the wedding vendors we chose didn’t fall short of the perfection we foolishly expected.

This is why it’s important to have connections to those that have worked with the many wedding professionals that make up the Maui wedding industry.  We suggest contacting Maui Beach Weddings & Events to help you coordinate your wedding.  It’s important to go with planners that have many years of experience in the industry and know the good and bad people to work with.  I can tell you from experience that a few vendors with the best websites and best magazine ads are some of the worst to work with (and vice versa.)  Having someone on the inside is important.

When establishing a relationship with your Maui wedding planner, make sure that they’re professional, friendly, not pushy, and flexible.  Keep in mind that your coordinator isn’t going to be able to do everything, so ask them what they can and can’t do for you.  Also, make sure that the person you’ve been working with will be the same person on-site during your wedding.  Sometimes directions can get lost when dealing with too many people.

Again, we highly suggest working with Maui Beach Weddings & Events for your big day.  have a great time, try to relax, and don’t sweat the little things.

If you have family with you while visiting our incredible island, make sure to get a professional family portrait in Maui, Hawaii.

You’ll find that years from now your exact memories from your vacation will have faded, but your photos will still hold every happy smile.  Give Grins 2 Go a call or visit their new location at the Hyatt shops for more information.

We’ve listed 6 of the most popular activities done on Maui in 2011.  We hope you’ll experience some of these when you visit Maui in 2012!

Big Aloha and happy 2012!!!

The Road to Hana is Maui’s number one attraction for a good reason. Cascading waterfalls, breath-taking coastal views, lush rainforest, and the untouched purity of the islands bring visitors back again and again. Hana is exactly what you imagine it to be. It’s home to local Hawaiians that pride themselves on keeping Hana undeveloped and untarnished by encroaching “civilization.”

Maui is world famous for the best whale watching in the world! Maui whale watching is what Africa is to safaris. You get a chance to not only see Humpback whales enjoy the freedom of warm waters with no predators, but you’ll most likely be given a show in acrobatics. Every year our Humpbacks journey to Maui in order to mate and give birth. If you haven’t witnessed whale surface behavior in Maui waters, you’re in for a treat!

Haleakala is Maui’s largest mountain/volcano with views of the surrounding islands and all of Maui. The best way to experience these views is by riding down the slopes of Haleakala on a bike. There are many Maui bike tours, and we recommend a self-guided tour for safety and convenience. Watch the sunrise from the crater, then bike downhill at your leisure through Maui’s Upcountry.

Molokini Crater is a volcanic atoll sitting just off the south coast of Maui. Conveniently, it harbors and protects some of the most awe-inspiring ocean life in Hawaiian waters. Snorkeling Molokini has become one of the most popular activities on Maui due to it’s incredible water clarity. Scuba diving is also a world famous activity for advanced divers on the backside of Molokini.

Maui is home to all kinds of surfing. Wind, kite, stand-up, longboarding, and shortboarding are all increasingly popular on the Valley Isle. You’ll find different areas attract different surfers and different skill levels. If you’re new to surfing, there are plenty of surf schools in Maui. If you have more experience under your belt, you can find great waves depending on season.

Duck Ingredients (cooking time 20-30 minutes):

• 2 duck breasts (we prefer free range, organic)
• liberal sea salt
• liberal fresh ground pepper

Chutney Ingredients (cooking time 45 min):

• 2 tablespoons coconut oil
• 1/2 Maui onion
• 2 guavas (juice strained)
• 2 figs
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh ginger
• 1/2 cup of blueberries
• 4 table spoons of dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup of white wine
• 1 lime

Quinoa Ingredients (cooking time 12 minutes):

• 1 cup of chicken broth
• 1 cup quinoa
• sprig each of rosemary and sage

Start the chutney first.

Begin by sauteing the chopped onions in the coconut oil in a small sauce pan on medium high heat.  Cook until the onions are translucent and soft (5-10 min).

Pull the juice from the guavas and add to the onions with the brown sugar (toss out the seeds).  stir until the sugar has melted down.

Add all the other ingredients, cover, and reduce to a simmer.  Let it simmer for 20-30 minutes.  (Time to start the duck prep!)  Then uncover and let it reduce on low-medium heat for 5-15 minutes.  Continue stirring and don’t let it burn.

It’s true, you don’t need as many different ingredients, so if you want to taste 1 thing over the other, limit or cut ingredients.  The dates can take over if you have too much.

Cook the duck!

When the chutney is all mixed and is reducing, begin cooking the duck.  score the fat/skin being careful to not cut into the meat.  Use fresh ground pepper and coarse sea salt to liberally cover the duck.

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.  Use an oven proof saute pan and bring to a medium, medium-high temp.  Cook the open duck breats fat down for 10-15 minutes.  Flip over and cook the other side for 2-3 minutes.

pour the fat out and save it for later in a glass container. (duck fat is God’s gift to food.  Use it in eggs, or anything you want to add savory umami flavors.

Flip the breasts back over on the fat side, and place the pan in the oven for 15-20 minutes. (Begin the quinoa.)

Pull the duck out and place on a cutting board.  Let sit for no less than 10 minutes before slicing.

Quinoa time!

Bring the chicken broth (or duck stock if you have it) to a boil, then lower temp to continue simmering.  Add the quinoa, chopped rosemary and chopped sage.  stir then cover and let simmer for 12 minutes.

Duck is one of the most flavorful pieces of meet and lends well to sweet sauces.  The quinoa is an excellent, light side.  We added the sage and rosemary to the quinoa instead of the chutney because we felt it would be lost.  This way, you get all the flavors.  Hope you like this Roasted Duck Breast Recipe!

• Resorts tend to charge for things that vacation rentals don’t.  A good example is using certain areas of the pool.
• With a kitchen, you save a bundle!  Doing even just 1 meal a day at the house will save you considerably.
• Cocktails!  Resort bars and pool bars will crush your wallet.

With that extra money you save, why not put a few extra bucks into your accommodations?  With Hawaii Bound, agents will help you find the perfect spot for you and your family.  Call today and ask about inexpensive, beautiful homes.  You won’t believe the kind of places that are available on Maui.  Give them a call at (808) 443-0221 or toll free at 1-800-711-6284.

To see listings available on all islands, go to Hawaii Vacation Rentals.

THE GOOD

• Location! Perfect for outdoor photo shoots and workshops. The beaches here are amazing and perfect for sunsets.  you can’t ask for a better area to shoot at.
• Warm, Strong Community. This is different from any other photography convention we’ve been to.  It’s not as huge as some of the mainland conventions, which brings people together more to meet and learn from each other.  These things are fantastic for networking and learning from other professionals and enthusiasts. It’s a less intimidating environment allowing everyone time to speak to the pros and mingle.
• Off-site Workshops. There are plenty of opportunities to shoot with the expert speakers away from the hotel.  There’s a trip to Haleakala Crater for sunrise, doors-off helicopter rides, and much more.
• Studio Lighting. For a few hours they set up studio lighting for anyone to use.  They also had some models there to give everyone a chance to shoot.
• Contests and Prizes. Each year there are multiple contests for photos taken during the week of the festival.  Awards are given on the last day and prizes are exceptional.  Some prizes this year included: Wacom Tablets, CS5 Photoshop, camera backpacks, and many more.  See some of last year’s best photos.
• Student Scholarships. We love that the Maui Photo Festival sponsors aspiring photographers from local high schools.  These kids are truly gifted and have a bright future in photo.
• Magazine Staff. We liked that staff from popular magazines came and spoke to us about how to submit photos to their magazines and what they’re looking for.  People from The Knot and from Maui No Ka Oi Magazine came and spoke.
• Live Models. Beautiful models are brought in to allow us opportunities to hone our craft.  There was studio shoots, outdoor shoots, hula dancers, bikini models shoots, etc…
• Great Speakers and Experts from all Over. World renowned experts and local legends include:

Jim DiVitale – I’m in awe of this man.  Unfortunately, most of the teachers I’ve had over the years for any technical matter offer too slow a pace.  Jim, on the otherhand, moves at times too fast.  He’s perpetually on a serious caffeine high and blows through material.  He’s incredible.  I’ve tried to go to all of his workshops the last 2 years, and I gain so much from each one.  he is a Photoshop wizard.

Randy Jay Braun – Randy is a local artist that is gifted in bringing the culture of Hawaii to the masses through beautiful images.  He’s proven to be one of the more successful photographer artists in Hawaii, and just happens to be one of the nicest guys you’ll meet.

Some of the Other Speakers include: Jim Tierney, Michael Sweet, Douglas Peebles, Judy Host, Stacy Pearsal, Andy Dunaway, Eddie Tap, Jack Reznicki, Randy Hufford, Lou Freeman, Lewis Carlyle, Rebecca Crumley, Frederick Van Johnson, and Mike Sidney.

Our Suggestions

• The Rooms are Too Cold. Air conditioning needs to be cut down a bit. This is an easy fix that I think they can have set up better next year.  Bring a sweatshirt just in case though.
• Parking. Many times we’ve gotten lucky, but the Hyatt isn’t great for parking.  If you get there too late, you’ll have to valet.  It’s $18 to valet, but you can get it validated if you eat at one of the restaurants.  Umalu is reasonable and good, but the new restaurant Japengo is outrageously expensive.
• Offer More Broad Classes, other than Photo: It would be nice if we could have some classes on business, marketing, branding, advertising, website design, networking, etc… I know that’s kind of a lot, but if there was time and an extra room, it’d be nice to offer some of these workshops.
• Mixers to Mingle. It would be great to have a different local restaurant/bar help sponsor a different night for every night of the fest.  This would be a great way for our photographers to get to know eachother away from the classrooms and help build lasting relationships in an even more casual setting. Sponsor host restaurant/bars could offer 1 free drink to each paid attendee and all other drinks are cash bar.  I’m sure plenty of locations would be interested in the exposure if Maui Photo Festival were to add some advertising for them.
• Breakout Sessions. We’d love to see a few hours each day dedicated to sign up sessions to have pros interact one on one with attendees.  Photoshop or shooting, it’d be nice to have a few hours where our experts stick around a classroom and meet with each person to discuss their questions one on one.  Not sure if this is possible, but it’d be cool.

Learn more at the Maui Photo Festival.

Moral of the story:  Leave the ocean life to itself.  Maui has some incredible life in the ocean, but it’s best to enjoy from a safe distance.  This ensures everybody’s safety.  Going within 10 feet of a sea turtle on purpose is against the law.  Sea turtles are protected by law because they can become overstressed and possibly drowned by human interaction.

If you’d like to see more about snorkeling, check out these Maui snorkel maps, or read this information about snorkeling Maui.

A few more things about the tour.  Expect to be picked up and dropped off at your hotel (no driving for you!)  Also, expect a delicious breakfast and picnic lunch.  There’s so much more that you’ll be doing on this tour, so we’ve listed a few more things you can expect:

• Watch waves being surfed at Ho’okipa Beach Park (often Huge waves!)
• Visit Charles Lindbergh’s Memorial
• Explore Hana Town
• See the volcanic village of the Keanae Peninsula
• and much more!

Get your seats today while they’re available!

Play all day at the beach, then retire to the quiet and cool of Upcountry Maui at the Kula Cottage.

The Kula Kottage is a 2 bedroom 1 bath private vacation rental with 180 degree views of Maui.  Watch the sunset over the ocean from your lanai!

Call today and book your cottage by calling toll free: 1.888.922.2453
Ask them about bike tours and bike rentals.  If you book the cottage and do a bike ride from Haleakala, you can keep the bikes for the rest of your stay!  It’s a great deal because Kula and Makawao are really fun areas to bike around.

I’ve been asked many times how one can propose marriage creatively on our island. I tell my own story, and then give suggestions. It’s time to share this with everyone.

How I Proposed to my wife on Maui

We live here, so I felt that I needed to do more than just walk down the beach and propose (though it would have sufficed.) I rented a beautiful house in Hana and told my girlfriend that I’m taking her camping in Hana.

My lady is notorious for sleeping in (as am I), so I woke up early and packed everything I needed for a weekend at the house. I added a few camping accessories to seal the deal. When she woke up, she marveled at how I’d packed the car already. We left early for the Road to Hana.

Once we arrived, my lady was very surprised about the house and asked what occasion we were celebrating. This is where I blew it. I should’ve made something up, but I said it was for some spontaneous fun. Bad liar. She knew something was up.

I immediately began setting up a picnic on our property (great views!) The day before, I’d visited Who Cut The Cheese in Kihei to pick up some wine and cheese. Despite the horrific name, this shop is something really special. The woman working there helped me pair some of my favorite cheeses with some half-bottles of wine.

During the picnic, I nervously unpacked each cheese as we sipped on complimentary splits. It was great! Then, as we savored a french grape-leaf-wrapped goat cheese, I proposed to her. It went off pretty damned well. We then spent the next 4 days running around Hana, hiking, swimming, exploring, and relaxing. The perfect start to our engagement.  (And today we celebrate our 3 year anniversary! I love you, honey!)

My one regret is not having the ability to wait a little longer to propose under a beautiful waterfall we’d discovered the next day. There was NO WAY I could hold out for a whole night without relieving myself of the burden of holding all of this in, so I proposed immediately when we got there (that would be 1 long sleepless night in Hana.) It would have been cool though If I’d swam up to her under the waterfall with the ring (so long as I didn’t drop it.)

Here are a few ideas I have about some unique ways to propose to your woman while visiting Maui, Hawaii.

1. Picnic on the beach - You can find a spot on a low-density beach or on a grassy bluff along the water. Sunsets are a great idea for both #1 and #2 if on the South or West side.

2. Walk on a deserted beach – Try some of the long stretches between North Kihei and Maalaea or go up North to some of the kite beaches. Most of these are long and don’t have many occupants.

3. Go on a hike and find a waterfall - Wait for any other hikers to leave before popping the question. Bring a little bottle of champagne or sparkling cider. If you don’t know of any less-traveled hikes, have a local take you up to a good waterfall, then have them leave. This only works if you’ve got friends on the island, or if you find someone nice enough to do this for you. (Consider calling around for a private tour like this.  If the hiking tours out there don’t already have one, they should.)

4. Propose while fine dining - We’re not talking about hitting up Outback or Applebys. Reserve a secluded table at Ferraros at the Four Seasons or at Capische. Dress nice and order some good wine. Take your time with a long meal and propose whenever you want. See a list of Maui restaurants.

5. Go on a cocktail sunset cruise - You can take a trip on the Kai Kanani or another vessel that doesn’t have too many people on it, or if you’ve got the bucks, charter a private cruise on the Island Star. The later would be preferred. If you can go sailing in Maui, that would be the best since you get less fumes and noise.  Plus it’s more romantic than a power boat.

6. Take a drive - There are many gorgeous spots to stop and enjoy Maui views. You might want to drive around exploring, and once you find the perfect spot, drop to a knee.

Remember: Always get down on your knee! make some effort. You don’t want your future wife to be telling a lame story for the rest of your lives.

I hope this helps. If you can think of any other ideas, give us a shout.

Taking the plunge in Hana

We thought, considering Pepper’s recent success with their Volcanic Rock Tour, we’d revisit the past with some photos we took when the boys played at our little rat-hole pad at the beach on 42nd Street in Newport Beach, CA.  We think the show was in 1999, but that has yet to be confirmed (college dates and times are always a little blurry.)  They played an incredible show to the delight of us poor surf bums and the neighborhood rejoiced.

Our cancerous, toxic little pad on the corner of 42nd was barely big enough to fit the band (let alone any audience.)  We moved all of our furniture into the garage and a select few of us packed into the kitchen to watch the show.  The rest of us squeezed on the patio outside to listen.

It began raining, but no one seemed to care.  All of our neighbors on the street began migrating towards the good tunes.  Next thing you know, we had a load of people creating a block party in the rain.  EPIC ALL TIME EVENT.

We were a little worried that the boys would be bummed on the tiny venue and the crazy rainy conditions.  But, luck would have it that they we’re pumped on everything.  They said that the acoustics were incredible, and they’d consider recording at our pad (must have been the asbestos and cardboard walls.)

We were lucky that our little double-wide didn’t crumble under the weight and powerful sounds.  A cop came after a few hours and told us we needed to turn down the music.  I replied, “No worries, Officer Schaumburg.” (Unfortunately we knew all the cops very well.)  “They’d just finished their set anyways.”  Astonished on how we managed to fit them in there, he replied, “You mean you’ve got a band in there, Chris?”

All in all, it was an incredible experience, and we’re glad we got them early on enough to enjoy them before they became huge.  Thanks, Baldy, for arranging everything.  We’re sorry for treating you like crap for so many years, but you kind of deserved it (and still do, daddy.  Haha!)

Pepper Today

Today, Kona’s little rock-trio is one of the biggest bands around.  Guitarist and vocalist, Kaleo Wassman, leads the charge with his unique style and outgoing stage performances.  Bassist and vocalist, Bret Bollinger, is a multi-talented artist that not only sings and jams with just as much stage presence as Kalea and Yesod, he also writes music for some of the biggest names in the music industry.  Yesod Williams, drummer, is rocking as hard as ever and turns out to be a damned good pilot.  Though after having watched many performances with him nearly destroying the drums, I’d be a little fearful of being his passenger.

Looking forward to your next show in Maui.  The last one we went to ROCKED!  If you ever feel like doing another tiny venue, we’ll get Baldy and Ethan out here and have a reunion on Maui.

by Chris Norberg

We recommend going through Aloha Rents.

You can find competitive rates along with many options for makes and models. Their service was created to simplify the rental process while saving you money. Let them help you secure your discount rental car for the Hawaiian Islands.

Call 1-800-440-7029

Maui Driving Tips

1. Slow Down!! This ain’t the mainland.  It’s very easy to do, since a lot of our roads have lower limits than you’d expect. Keep in mind that if you go 30 miles over the limit, you’ll be getting mandatory jail time!  They’re serious in Hawaii about slowing things down.

2. Honk only in an emergency. Honking in Hawaii is considered very rude and is hardly ever done.  It’s not an easy thing to do, but t steady your hand and let go of the road rage.  You’re in Maui now.

3. Don’t trespass! A lot of places you’ll find in the guidebooks make it look like you’ll be on public land, but it’s not always true. The last thing you want is to piss off some locals or violate your car rental agreement.

4. Don’t leave valuables in your car. We don’t have much crime, but the little crime we have is usually nonviolent. Maui theives know what a rental car looks like.  Please keep your valuables in your hotel or on your person when you travel.

Maui Visitors

We’ve seen a lot of people get hurt on Maui while doing activities.  If you think that you were put in a dangerous position without warning, call Jan.  He can help you get compensation you may deserve.

Local Residents

Be protected! If you’ve experienced any kind of personal injury or have a family member that has died wrongfully, you should have a lawyer.  Jan K. Apo is your man.

Jan K. Apo
Hawaii Attorney at Law
24 North Church Street Suite 302
Wailuku, HI 96793
Ph: 1-808-244-6073

This is the first of many posts we’ll be adding about being pregnant on Maui.

For the most part, snorkeling while pregnant can be done without danger and can be a great way to get some exercise while increasing the mother’s happiness (both very important for a healthy pregnancy.)

There are a few things you should consider before snorkeling while pregnant. When in your 3rd trimester, it’s a bit more risky since you’ll have less energy and dexterity.

Dangers and tips:

1. Reef Cuts and Infection
Upon entry and exit of the water, you’ll often find yourself in shallow water. Shallows are also prevalent around reef outcroppings. If you touch the reef at anytime, you’ll likely be cut. Cuts lead to infections, which are bad news when pregnant. We suggest going out at calm beaches and staying a clear distance from any reef.

2. Pressure Issues
When snorkeling when pregnant, it’s imperative that you stay on the surface. Diving below causes pressure issues which can cause harm to the baby. Scuba diving is out of the question because of this.

3. Exhaustion
The 1st trimester and 3rd are the most exhausting. It’s suggested that you never overexert yourself with exercise at anytime during your pregnancy. When you’re out in the ocean, you can’t take breaks. Stay close to the shore and don’t stay out any longer than you’re comfortable with.

4. Currents
On the same lines as #3, currents can put you in positions that would necessitate you’re pushing harder than you should. Research the spot you want to go to for regular currents. Always start against a current if present. That way if you get tired, going back is the easy part.

5. Waves
I’ve seen a pregnant woman in her 3rd trimester swimming out at a heavy beach break (Big Beach). Unfortunately, I only realized her condition after she’d struggled to come in. That baby had a hell of a ride. Thankfully they both are OK, but it could have been much worse. Even if the water looks calm, watch it for a while before entering. The ocean can do some scary things even if you’re not pregnant.

6. Holding Your Breath
Some snorkelers find themselves involuntarily holding their breath. This is fine, but when pregnant, it’s a danger. Don’t hold your breath ever while pregnant especially when over-exerted.

We hope these tips have helped you snorkel while pregnant more safely (if we didn’t completely discourage you!) We think snorkeling in Maui is a great thing to do when pregnant, but we strongly urge you to take precautions and limit your activity to light exertion.

All of the photos were taken on a recent snorkeling session with my wife on the south side of Maui.  She is in her first trimester of pregnancy and doing great!

Land Paddling is the land version of Stand Up Paddle Boarding (SUP.)  In order to escape the monotony of the gym, this middleweight Maui native skateboards up and downhill near his home in North Maui.  Since 2008, Kendall has been using his long skateboard and six foot carbon-fiber pole to break a sweat while bombing hills and then climbing them again the hard way.

Kendall Grove (Da Spyder) does Land Paddling to clear his head while getting a workout and preparing for UFC.  I was fortunate enough to assist on the photo shoot and get some time with this Maui celebrity.  It’s hard to believe that such a funny and easy-going guy could tear my limbs off if he wanted to.  Meeting athletes like Kendall bring the realization that MMA is more than fighting.  It’s a sport for those strong in the mind and the body.

We look forward to seeing Da Spyder in his next bout.

Last night Sublime played at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center (MACC) with their new lead guitar and singer Rome Ramirez.  Rome made for an excellent replacement for the deceased Bradley Nowell.

Sublime, now “Sublime with Rome”, played most of our favorite classic Sublime songs along with a few new ones.  We think that they made a great move in doing this.  Appeasing the fan base is the only way for them to move towards newer material, especially considering how Bradley is now considered a legend.

We really enjoyed the show.  I’m sure the veteran members of Sublime enjoyed the crowd, and Rome seemed very pleased with his first trip to Hawaii.  Read about more Maui Events.

The main map, shown above, is a composite of hundreds of photos of Maui.  It was built using Photoshop, then converted to Flash.   Once you visit the site, you’ll see that everything moves, and when you put your cursor over different bubbles, you’ll find interesting things happening.

We’re hoping this grows to be a viral sensation for Maui.  Also on the site, we’ve added panoramic photo galleries of Maui photos taken all over the island this year.

Here are a few recent reactions to the site:

“This is a great site and for those tourists who haven’t been to Maui what a great idea for them to explore before traveling to the island.  Very clever and well created!”

JoAnn

“wow. you’ve got some skills.”

Mark

“Congrats on finishing the site Berg!! It’s been a long time in the making and it is awesome!!! You are such a talented web designer!”

Natalie

“Great site design Chris (even I can navigate it) and beautiful photos Natalie.”

Jinx

“Very Impressive! Definitely will be tweeting about it! (Love those Twitter streams in some pages ( love the Lahaina one)”

Liza

“That’s a really amazing job you did. I’m not surprised, all your sites are great, but this one stands out.”

Jared

“LOVE the map!! It’s the coolest thing on the internet right now… WELL DONE!”

Greg

“That’s a great site.  Good job!”

Patty

“This is a great site and for those tourists who haven’t been to Maui what a great idea for them to explore before traveling to the island.  Very clever and well created!”

JoAnn

Below is a screenshot from one of our pages.  We hope you like the site!  Please tell your friends!

Kaua’i Native and three time World ASP Surfing Champion, Andy Irons, died at the age of 32 today.  He was flying back from Puerto Rico after withdrawing from the 9th event of the 2010 ASP tour.  During a layover in Dallas, Texas, Andy died.

It’s reported that he withdrew because of illness.  The symptoms resembled that of Dengue Fever, a nasty viral disease carried by mosquitoes in tropical climates with polluted waters.  We had a friend get it on one of our trips to Bali, Indonesia.  She looked like she was going to die.  Very heavy.  Turns out that it’s usually not fatal the first time you get it, but if you get it twice, your chances become slim.

Andy Irons’ wife, Lyndie Irons, his brother, Bruce Irons, and the rest of the Irons family request to be respectfully left alone while they grieve.

Andy has been a hero to the people of Hawaii.  His grace under pressure, enthusiasm for the sport of surfing, and his sportsman-like conduct will leave him a legend to all that knew of him.  Andy Irons won the world title of surfing in 2002, 2003, and 2004.

These photos are of Andy at the 2009 Eddie Aikau Big Wave Surfing Competition.

Maui, Hawaii, USA

$85/hour

We’ve been testing out massage parlors on Maui for years now.  Most are outrageously expensive (ex. at the big resorts.)  But we just found one that does incredible massages for a decent price.  Massage Maui in front of the Sugar Beach Resort is outstanding.

The location is great because it’s easily accessible for anyone on the south side (Makena, Wailea, Kihei), not more than 30-45 minutes from the West side (Lahaina, Kaanapali, Kapalua), and a short hop from the North side (Kahului, Wailuku, Paia.)

The inside is large enough for at least a few people to get massages simultaneously.  The Asian decor and ambiance is quiet and soothing.  Our Masseuses were ready for us right away for our appointment.  They asked how hard a pressure we preferred, and I told her my preference for really getting in there.  She knocked out some serious knots, and somehow knew exactly where they were.  She asked what I did for a living and about any troubled areas.  I gave her pretty general areas, and she found the exact points immediately.

If you want to save money while getting a great massage in Maui, go to Massage Maui at the Sugar Beach Resort.  The big resorts charge a lot more for 1/2 the massage.  We were really pleased and plan on going back. Call them at (808) 357-7317 to book your massage.

THE WORST

Dalian, China

Cost: $15/hour

Visiting friends in the tier 2 city of Dalian, we were taken to the best spot in town for a massage.  We walked past a dozen or so piles of burning trash to a dirty sliding glass window in a large industrial building.  OK, first signs of discomfort reached.

We walk into a small room (100-150 sq ft) with 4 people, and 2 massage tables.  Our masseuses were blind (the leading job for blind people in China.  In fact, I’m pretty sure this job is reserved for blind people.)  We lay down on our respective tables and the massage begins.  The massage was actually pretty good (they practice more medicinal massage, which hurts like hell, but I like it.)

My wife told be about 2 things that disturbed her.

1. In some massage parlors, the hole you put your face through when lying down sometimes will have a bowl of water and flowers under it for you to look at.  My wife had the lovely view of a box holding dirty, smelly jars.
2. She also made the mistake of using the bathroom.  She’s still scarred from the experience.  Apparently, it was a hole in the ground and the entire room was beyond filthy.

Our massage ended with us getting up and dressed with close to 20 people crammed in the room.  Most of them had been smoking and conversing loudly in Mandarin during our last half of the massage.  The room was hardly large enough for 4 of us, but they were all fascinated to see westerners in these parts.  People were all over, sitting on tables, on file cabinets, and practically squeezed into every nook smoking feverishly.  Needless to say, we won’t be getting a massage there again.

THE BEST VALUE

Bali, Indonesia

$3-250/hour (depending on location)

Though you can get massages for as little as $3 on the beach, or as much as $250 at a resort, finding a good masseuse in Bali has nothing to do with price.  Most massages you’ll get are by untrained hands trying to make a buck.  Even the expensive resort massages (though better than the ones on the beach) sometimes are not all that great.

The best massage we had was at a hole in the wall spot in Seminyak (many of the best spots are in places you wouldn’t think) with a bunch of young girls.  My wife and I each had a 4 hand massage (20 fingers each) for 1 1/2 hours at $15 per client.  Incredible value because these girls knew what they were doing.  If we can find this place again, we’ll be back.

On the other hand, we had a different 4 hand massage at a place in Kuta with a bunch of similar girls.  Unfortunately, these ones were loud, laughing and talking the whole time.  They were not well trained, and at one point I found an unwanted fist up my bum.  We’ll stay VERY clear of this spot.

COMMENTS:

Great tips. Will certainly check out Bali. There’s nothing like a great massage while you face the ocean and hear the waves crashing on the shore. You may also want to know that some massage establishments also offer soothing sounds that help you relax. These are actually quite effective. Brian

Renting from Oahu and Maui, Hawaii Photo Rental has a large stock of Canon and Nikon cameras, as well as many compatible lenses and accessories.  You can also rent lighting, waterhousings, workstations, and video equipment.  They’ve made it affordable to photograph like a pro while visiting the Hawaiian Islands.

Visit their Hawaii camera rental website or give them a call at:

Oahu (808) 735-3838

Maui (808) 877-3005

Again, you can rent:

• Nikon Cameras
• Canon Cameras
• Lenses (for both Nikon & Canon)
• Lens Extenders
• Lighting equipment
• tripods (& Monopods
• Batteries
• Filters
• Memory Cards
• Waterhousings
• Computers
• Monitors
• Video Equipment and Accessories
• and more!

COMMENT:

I ended up renting a lens online from a different site and bringing it with me two trips ago. Being able to reserve on island and not have to worry about packing it for the trip and then shipping it back when I returned home would be much easier.

Trying this out next time, for sure. Kris Nelson

When searching for Wailea homes for sale, we’re finding that prices are finally becoming affordable.  Recently, some of our authors have been looking for new homes (this author included.)  Many of us live in smaller condos, which is great for location and maintenance.  But when you want a little more room, having a larger condo in the Wailea area can make all the difference.  Some of the floor plans we’re seeing are wide-open with a lot more square-footage.  Plus, you can’t beat the neighborhoods in Wailea.

As we search, we’ll continue to post information and properties that we think are tough to pass up.  If you’re looking as well, make sure to check the Maui MLS to see prices, descriptions, and photos for potential new properties on the market.  Contact Hawaii Life today to ask questions:  (800) 667-5028

This year at the Maui Photo Festival, some of the best photographers on the island joined up to enjoy lectures, hands-on sessions, and connect with the photography community.  We went to many of the classes and lectures and found most of them extremely helpful.  Some classes were enormously helpful in learning tips and tricks about Photoshop and Lightroom from masters.  Others were inspirational and good for business.

Throughout the event, we enjoyed photographing scenarios that the festival had set up for us. For example, they had portrait set ups, wedding set ups, and hula dancing shoots.  This allowed attendees a chance to shoot with their peers as well as master photography speakers.  It was a lot of fun and extremely educational.

At the end of the event, participants had an opportunity to submit their photos taken at the event to a contest.  This year’s event brought hundreds of photographers and around 1,000 submitted contest photos.  Among the awards given, Natalie Brown was able to take the most prestigious of them.  She won both the Best Hula Photograph Award as well as the Best Overall Photograph Award.  She was kind enough to share some of the award winning photos on this post.  Mahalo Natalie and congratulations!  These images are truly fantastic and really give our readers a unique view of Maui, Hawaii.

To see more of Natalie’s photos from the festival, visit Maui Hawaii Photography.

COMMENTS:

Congratulations Natalie! And congratulations to all the participants and organizers. Well done! Liza

If you hear the Tsunami sirens going off, make sure to check the time and date.  Every month, Hawaii Tsunami sirens are tested at 11:45am on the first weekday of the month for around 1 minute.  They do this to test them and make sure they’re working.  If you hear them at this time, don’t worry!

If you hear them at any other time, it would be wise to move safely up from sea level.  The photo below shows the coastal sirens on Maui.

If you’d like to learn more, read about Hawaii Tsunami History.

What you need to do:

1. Email us at the above address in red.  Let us know that you’re serious about writing blog post(s).
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Rules for Writing:

• You may only write about Maui related subjects.  We prefer only Maui Real Estate and Maui Development posts.  These can include a home for sale, new project in development, Maui news, or any other related subject.
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If all of this is done, your post will be accepted and posted.  If not, you will be deleted as a user immediately.

Why are we doing this?

Our site gets over 1,000 visitors per month and growing.  We’ve projected that this site will hit 3,000 in less than a year.  It takes quite a lot of time to promote this site, and we need your help in posting relevant, helpful Maui information.  This is a great way for you to promote your business, real estate, development, or any other Maui subject.  We’re open to any relevant topic.  Please don’t write short, crappy posts; you will be deleted forever.  Mahalo!

This year’s Maui Film Festival had the regular parties with many new faces.  The Starry Night Moondance party hosted by Tommy Bahama’s Wailea was a hit!  The dance floor was moving like never before.  Most of the photos on this page were taken at this event.

Another great night event was the Taste of Chocolate at the Four Seasons next to Duo.  Here guests enjoyed countless chocolate treats while sipping drinks and mingling.

The Taste of Wailea was held again above the Celestial Cinema on the golf course.  All of the best Maui restaurants showed up to make their signature dishes.  Southern also provided excellent wines for pairing.

A new event this year was held at the Wailea Resort (formerly known as Diamonds.)  This involved a pool side fashion show with club music and great drinks.  We hope this is offered again next year.

Celebrities such as Zac Efron, and the beautiful Malin Akerman (pictured below at the taste of Wailea) enjoyed the parties and promoted their movies.

Local celebrities also found their way to the parties such as Sherri Van and Lucas Woodford causing a veritable frenzy among young Maui fans.

As always, the events surrounding the Maui Film Festival are only secondary to how great the movie experience is.  Watching films under the stars on a Maui golf course with friends and family can not be compared to any screening at any other film festival.

Thanks for joining us!  We’ll post again about the events next year!

Aloha!

As you can see in the photo, Maui fires can scorch huge areas in a short period of time.  This one is in West Maui close to the Pali (the winding, coastal cliff road from Maalaea Harbor to Lahaina.)  Personally, I’ve spent  a long night in my car due to a similar fire a few years back.  I was driving south from Lahaina, and the roads were completely stopped.  The road closure lasted until the next morning around 8am.

If you ever find yourself stuck in traffic due to a road closing from a fire, it’d be wise considering staying on the side you’re on.  Some adventurous people decided to drive around the back side of the West Maui Mountains.  This route takes much longer, but some of them made it.  Unfortunately, annoyed locals shut the road off after sometime.  This area is pretty dangerous to drive in traffic because it is often 1 lane on cliffy roads.  If someone is coming in the opposite direction, someone is in for a long, scary reverse.

Almost every year, Maui experiences some fires.  There’s not much you can do about it.  Stay away from it and hope it doesn’t cause too much damage or danger to homes and lives.  If you need to get anywhere, and you’ve heard there’s a fire, call (808) 986-1200 for road closure updates. You can also contact your Maui car rental office.

COMMENTS:

There’s a new fire today that’s been burning on the Maalaea side of the West Maui Mountains. it began last light and is burning hard still today. All of South Maui is covered in ash and smoke. For a while we all thought the sugarcane was being burned again and stronger than normal. Nope, it’s another fire!

The fire continues to blaze today. 1 fireman was taken in for smoke inhalation and many have been evacuated from Maalaea and the wind farm.

The Maalaea fire that started the other night is still going. I can see it from our lanai. I am glad to told your readers this “If you ever find yourself stuck in traffic due to a road closing from a fire, it’d be wise considering staying on the side you’re on” that’s the wise thing to do during this Maui Fires.

That’s so scary! Hopefully they’ll be able to put out the fires soon. It’s especially sad that sometimes these types of fires are started intentionally by arsonists… it’s terrible to think that someone would put so many lives at risk that way!