100’s of employees will be laid off as a century old business is shut down. Many are worried about what will happen with the 2,000 acres used in the ceased pineapple operations. Though ML&P has expressed that it will be used for other agricultural products, only time will tell whether it’s really sold for commercial and residential property.

This marks the end of an iconic industry that runs deep in many local families’ roots. With sugarcane also suffering, it’s not difficult to imagine what might happen to all of Maui eventually. Let’s hope we can keep the central valley green a little longer.

Advanced Maui Optical & Space Surveillance Technologies Conference

The AMOS conference was held at the Wailea Beach Marriott Resort on September 1st through 4th, the only conference bringing together international astronomers and space surveillance experts.

Hosted by the Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB), the conference had prominent speakers such as Senator Daniel K. Inouye (appropriately via satellite), Air Force Lt. General larry James, Keawala’i Congregational Church’s Kealahou Alika, MEDB President Jeanne Skog, and Wes Friewald (the President of Pacific Defense Solutions) among others.

One of the major topics was the satellite collision in Early February of this year.  Discussion over the concern about large amounts of debris in Earth’s orbit from the Russian and American Satellites was deliberated.

Senate passes measure for additional MSSS funding

MSSS (Maui Space Surveillance System) is home to the largest optical telescope in the United States, designed for tracking satellites.  10,000 feet above sea level, Haleakala Crater’s summit has multiple telescopes that are crucial for space research.

On October 6th, the US Senate passed a measure to increase funding by 207.5 million dollars for projects involving Hawaii.  $20 million of this will go to the research projects at the MSSS.

Maui Observes Spacecraft Crash into the MOON!

We know. It sounds untrue, but it’s a fact! Because Maui and Hawaii have such incredible observing facilities and excellent proximity for viewing, we have been asked to observe a spacecraft being intentionally crashed in to the surface of the moon on October 9th.

The plume of debris will rise up to 3 miles from the surface of the moon.  NASA and the university of Hawaii are hoping this event will determine whether water exists under the surface at the Moon’s poles.  If there is enough water on the moon, we could very possibly colonize it.  With water, agriculture, oxygen, and protective radiation shields would be possible.

We’ll keep you updated!

Perhaps induced by the recent anniversary of the original Woodstock, our favorite Aloha sticker company has come out with a whole line of great Hippie Stickers!

Stuck on Maui has been producing the most authentic Aloha and Tiki Stickers for years, and it’s great to see them branching out.  Maui is home to many hippies, and we love to see a Maui business building new quality products.

If you live on Maui or in Hawaii, please support our island economy.  If you live on the mainland, don’t buy your stickers anywhere else!  It’s hard these days to buy anything that’s not made, packaged and sold from China.   Support our friends on Maui and spread the Aloha!

We recently caught up with Tamera, head wedding coordinator for Akia Weddings & Events.  She told us about the great weddings she’s enjoyed putting together lately and shared some photos with us.  All of the photos on this page are from one of her latest Maui beach weddings.

“Most brides choose to get married in the summer on Maui.  The weather is usually best during this time on the South and West side of the island.  One thing many couples don’t realize is that the weather is pretty consistent throughout the year in these areas.

Sometimes choosing a wedding off-season can save you and your guests a lot of money.  These are some of the things we like to discuss with you to help keep you in budget without losing out on all the wonderful details you want at your wedding”

There are a million things to do when you get married, and we know that you’ve come to Maui because it’s has gorgeous locations and you want to cut down on some of the stress.  This is where we see Akia Weddings help brides the most.  Having a Maui wedding planner makes everything easier.  And that’s what your wedding should be: easy, enjoyable, and unforgettable!

Maui Beach Wedding Tips

• Make sure you know what time the sun sets before you plan the timing of your wedding.  Consult your wedding photographer for the best time to shoot post-wedding photos.
• Hawaii is Windy!  Make sure you’ve got enough product in your hair to keep things from going awry.
• If you’re wearing a strapless dress, or any type of wedding dress that could possibly show tan lines, make certain that you use sunblock before your wedding.  Better yet, buy a strapless bikini to be safe.  This tip pertains to both large and small Maui weddings, and we mention it because it is all too often a problem.
• Make sure you have parking and transportation arranged for your different locations.  Nothing is worse than having a group of guest late to the wedding because of insufficient parking.  Your wedding planner can help you with this.
• Make sure the beach you choose allows you to have a wedding there.  Some beaches (ex. Kaanapali Beach) do not allow any commercial wedding activity on the sand.
• Understand that if you’re getting married on a public beach, there may be other weddings in progress.  Some beaches are more popular than others for weddings.  you may want to reserve a private estate on the sand.  This way there’s no guess work.
• When your Groom is deciding on his Maui wedding attire, keep in mind that Hawaii is hot!  If you’re in the sun with a 3 piece suit, it might be a very short wedding.

We hope a few of these tips were helpful.  If you have more questions about your upcoming wedding, speak to the Maui Wedding Planners at Akia Weddings.  They’ll start you off on the right foot and make sense of your destination wedding in Hawaii.

Call Tamera at (808) 870-5525 to start planning today!

Thank you Natalie Brown for allowing us to post your beautiful wedding photos.  Cheers!

We recently enjoyed a top notch sailing trip aboard the Kai Kanani, which leaves from shore in South Maui.

Unlike most boats in Maui, the Kai Kanani offers shore entry, meaning you walk from the sand onto the boat.  It’s also the only boat that leaves from South South Maui, in front of the Maui Prince Hotel.  This makes it much more convenient for those staying in Wailea, Makena, or Kihei.  When getting on the boat, keep in mind that you’ll probably get wet up to your knees, and possibly thighs (depending on the surf.)  It’s best to wear shorts.

We left an hour or so before the sun sets and cruise along the South shore by sail.  There’s very little on Earth that matches the simplicity, peace, and relaxation that’s found while sailing in Maui with out a motor.  Maui’s warm breezes helped lull us into a sense of total relaxation (though the Mai Tai’s helped too.)  Being on a catamaran is also nice because it’s less turbulent, offering less of a change for sea sickness.

One of the things we really loved about the Kai Kanani is that they don’t pack the boat like a can of sardines.  It’s a pretty big boat, and they only put on a small amount of people.  There’s plenty of room to sit and move around both in the cabin and on the decks.  Another plus is how new and well kept the Kai Kanani is.  You can tell the captain and crew take pride in their work and love that boat.

Here’s a real quick list of why we recommend the Kai Kanani for your next sunset voyage:

• Convenient South Maui Departure
• Ultra-Friendly Captain and Crew
• New High-Tech Catamaran
• Plenty of Room
• Great Cocktails
• Excellent Pupus (Hors D’Oeuvres)

The food on board is really good.  They have jumbo shrimp, meatballs, assorted cheeses, salad, bread, and vegetables with dip.  Unlike some other boats, they dont’ charge for cocktails, and you don’t have a limit (unless you’ve had too much.)  Mai Tais, Local Beer on Tap, Wine, and Pina Colodas are spun up at your request.

Of course, the sunset over the water is what we’re inevitably after.  Watching the sun disappear between the neighboring islands and into the ocean is something best enjoyed on a boat.  We left feeling warm, relaxed, and happy.  We think you will too.

Book your trip direct by calling (808) 879-7218 or visit their website at Kai Kanani.

Thank you Greg Hoxsie for your photos!