Maui in December

Kea Lani's Christmas Tree

The last time I was on Maui was in December. A fantastic time to go if you're there early enough to beat the Holiday rush. The pricing is great, the crowds are few and there is still a sense of the Holidays as many of the resorts are in the process or already have their holiday decorations up. I figure, go early to mid December and start your holidays off early so by the time you get home, you are already in that festive holiday mood!
If you're smart, you'll also do quite a bit of your holiday shopping while you're in Hawaii. Think of all the original gifts you can get for the people on your list! For that special someone, create a basket of Hawaiian goodies along with one of our special gift certificates which lets them know they will be going on a Hawaiian getaway!
 The kids love the t-shirts from Hawaii, there are many to choose from but if you shop at the Crazy Shirts, they will either wrap or provide you with complimentary special wrapping for their shirts... their coffee dyed shirts come in a package that looks like fresh roasted coffee and the shirt smells like wonderful Kona coffee! Speaking of Kona coffee, make sure to get several of those since they also make terrific gifts and will last the recipient so every time they enjoy a great cup, they think of you! I happen to enjoy several brands including the Kona flavored coffees... mmmmm! You have a tea lover such as myself, then give them some of the great teas of Hawaii, they come flavored with some of the great fruits of Hawaii like guava and passionfruit!
There really is no bad time to go to the islands of Hawaii and I always make sure to come back with some Hawaii made items but wouldn't it be nice to be able to do your holiday shopping while in Hawaii... you know you're going to shop anyway!
Aloha & A hui ho,
Evalani~

Evalani on Maui~

Just a Short Trip to Maui

Ok, so I had a very quick five day trip to Maui but it was as sweet as the
pineapple that still grows there! If you make it to Maui… or shall I say
when you make to Maui, If you want to snorkel Molokini Crater, go early,
I mean early! The earlier, the less likely you are to be snorkeling in a parking lot
of boats. We had the place to ourselves and it was just beautiful. Also, head to
turtle arches also known as turtle town to be graced by the large Hawaiian green
sea turtles You can also find eagle rays, white tip sharks, if you’re lucky and
the famous humuhumunukunukuapuaa state fish!

If you’re staying on the Lahaina or Kaanapali side or just want to take go out on
the water there, check out sailings to or around Lanai. They have great snorkel
spots and you may get lucky and spot a school of spinner dolphins! I was once snorkeling
off shore and a school swam past, I couldn’t believe how fast, playful and cognizant they
were of us in the water!

Ok all that snorkeling must make you hungry right? If you’re into healthy food and you’re
on a bit of a budget. I highly recommend Down To Earth! They have a full food bar of
vegan food that is so delicious that sometimes I wonder…. how do they make it so ono?!

Also head to Costco right from the airport to get some great fresh fruit, salad and fish
especially if you’re staying in a condo. You can even find ahi and the Hawaiian favorite,
poke which is ahi and scallions, shoyu. Pick up the chocolate & coffee gift souvenirs as
they are inexpensive compared to the shops you’ll find as you walk around. Make sure to
get some for yourself… they are pretty good!

Head to Hula Grill on Kaanapali Beach and order the
crab wontons and fish and chips…trust me when I say this, they are so good! Fish & chips made
with ono fish and a spicy sauce and the wontons you dip into a wasabi sauce. All that and a view
of the ocean at a very moderate price! Go and let me know what you had!

Hi Everyone,

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Please follow us there for interactive communication and Hawaii tips!

A Hui Ho,

Evalani~

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A day of Dining on Maui

Raise your hand if you like food!  Raise your hand if you like food with a view of the ocean!!  Naturally, who wouldn’t?

 

When I think of all the lovely places on Maui where one can dine with the sites of the beautiful Pacific before them, it amazes me.  Let pick a few of Evalani’s favorite’s!

 

It’s breakfast time … you can either golf before or after.  If you plan to golf at the Gold or Emerald golf courses, make certain to reserve your tee time!   Even if you don’t golf, go to The Seawatch Maui restaurant for breakfast in Wailea, on the South side of the island.    Have a seat outside and enjoy the greens of the course and the blues of the ocean.  The breakfast menu has nice diversity from lox to the best french toast I’ve had since I was just a child.   The prices are very reasonable especially when you consider where you are!

 

It’s lunch time … lunch, just stopped into the Whaler’s Village after taking a stroll on the beach.   This is in Kaanapali, on the West side of the island. Go to Hula Grill and ask to sit in the sandy outdoor area.  The tables are in the sand and you can feel free to kick off your shoes and enjoy one of their specialty drinks.   I always order the crab wontons, they are delicious and not too heavy.  Then you must try their fish and chips.  They make them with Ono fish with is flaky and thick with a spicy/sweet light sauce to dip them in.  They are the best fish & chips I have ever had anywhere in the world.  They have a signature dessert but  it scares me because it’s so huge… a must share.  Lunch there is not expensive, you have a front row seat of the ocean and they usually have a local performer at different times throughout the day.

 

It’s dinner time …  make it an early dinner for this location and make reservations if you want to get in!   Mama’s Fish House is unique in that it is made of a lot of woods.. koa.  It sits in a cove of sand overlooking the ocean and the seafood is truly amazing.  Get there a bit early so you can walk around, enjoy a Hawaiian beverage at their bar before your table is ready.  You should be carrying your camera most of the time while  on Maui but make sure to bring it to here.  Ladies will want to dress up a bit… perhaps a nice new Hawaiian dress or that cocktail dress you haven’t had a chance to wear since you arrived.  Men, buy a Hawaiian shirt if you don’t have one already.  Reyn Spooner is a really nice brand and has a conservative and unique look; locals consider this a pretty formal Hawaiian shirt.  I’d suggest what to try  but Mama’s Fish House changes their menu regularly.   They are a bit pricy but this is special treat to be had.  It is past the airport going East by a famous area called Hookipa which is where the great windsurfers can be found.

Here’s to great dining experiences on Maui!

Great Snorkeling On Maui

Ok, it's been a while but that's what can happens when you're cruising Greece with a group of clients. My mind is now on snorkeling and diving. One of my favorite spots for snorkeling and beginner diving is in a place you don't have to pay to go to or even get on a boat to get to.

Nestled between the Wailea Renaissance and the Wailea Marriott is the lovely Ulua beach. This beach has a nice sandy area to sit on. Make sure to bring beach blankets because there are no beach chairs there. To the right, you'll find a lava reef that is teeming with marine life! You don't have to go far out at all to see the reef and all its residents. This is a very calm area to snorkel and dive. I suggest very early in the Morning. There are fewer people, the reef is calmer and the water is more clear.

You can dive forty or even fifty feet here and not be too far out. You'll see dive teams there. I got certified on that beach and had snorkeled there countless times before that. If you're not a diver or snorkeler, you'll be happy there to. The water has a sandy bottom and again, it's calm.

You can find all types of fish from the pencil fish to the humuhumunukunukuapuaa, (trigger fish), and even some honu, (sea turtles). There is a parking lot as you drive towards Ulua, another reason to go early, it fills up. The beach has a rest room and outdoor showers. I like to go for lunch to the Onion grill at the Renaissance. It's by the outdoors by their pool and is casual. You must try the Maui onion rings, they are big, delicious and sweet!

The Royal Hawaiian Center

Going to Oahu? You must visit the renovated Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, now named Royal Hawaiian Center or RHC. It's hard to miss as you stroll along Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki. Standing on the mauka (mountain) side of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. If you've been to the shopping center before, you'll be pleasantly surprised. After $15 million spent, It has been transformed. Where it was once a dim and concrete environment, it now is a tropical and open aired environment. The concrete bridges have been changed into open breezy walkways and escalators replaced the dreary elevators. The landscaping has become warm and welcoming, reminding you that you are in beautiful Oahu.

The roster of retail stores has changed as well. It is now a nice combination of luxury, international stores and lower priced and local stores providing the shoppers with a wonderful variety of choices. It has some local favorites such as Crazy Shirts, Xcel Hawaii and the ABC store mixed in with widely known stores such as Hermes, Cartier, Salvatore Ferragamo, Fendi, Harley Davidson, and Borders Express (the only bookstore in Waikiki). RHC is also home to the largest Apple store in Hawaii, the highest grossing Cheesecake Factory in the U.S and the Hawaii's only Senor Frog, Kate Spade and Tourneau.

RHC has the Paina Lanai food court which offers a variety of foods for their international visitors. They have kept some of their longtime restaurants like Paradiso Seafood & Grill and Suntory. Some of the new restaurants include Doraku Sushi, Wolfgang's Steakhouse and P.F. Chang's.

In keeping with RHC's Hawaiian history focus, the Kaulani Heritage Room invites visitors to view three special HD
presentations. Make sure to catch at least one of the free classes. There are Hula, lei-making, Hawaiian quilting, lomilomi massage and Bob's ukulele classes!

I think the Royal Hawaiian Center has improved greatly and visitors will find it a wonderful place to go to during their time in historical Waikiki.

Bishop Museum

If you find yourself on Oahu after August 7, 2009, (and I suggest you do), make sure to visit the newly renovated Bishop Museum's Hawaiian Hall. It's been going through a $21 million renovation for the past three years. The museum is a must for people looking to learn about the history and culture of Hawaii from the perspective its people.

With three floors to explore in, and admission at about $16.00 for adults and about $13.00 for children; the Bishop Museum is well worth the visit. I like going to the Arizona Memorial and the Museum on the same day and then having a late lunch at maybe Bubba Gumps at Ala Moana Shopping Center or Mariposa at the Neiman's in Ala Moana. You have fun and get to reflect on everything you learned and experienced.

The Big Island

You know many people think Hawaii is one big place so you can go to one island and know how the others will look and feel.
You could not be more wrong... with the exception that they are all surrounded by water!

Each Hawaiian island is uniquely different from the rest. They have different foliage, weather, animal life, atmosphere, water movement, people, culture, look and feel. This is what makes Hawaii so incredible; you can island hop and have a completely different experience just 30 minutes of flight time away!

The Big island, named Hawaii, is amazingly beautiful and still raw with the activity of Kilauea, it's active volcano. The national park has lava tubes that you can walk through! The largest of all the Hawaiian islands and the youngest has miles and miles of beautiful driving available to all.

Although the majority of hotels and resorts are found on the Kona side of the island, it is well worth the drive to visit Hilo.
You can make an entire day of visiting the volcano and then driving to Hilo. See where many of the locals live and have lunch at a local restaurant. They won't look like any restaurant in your Kona resorts but the local flavor is delicious and inexpensive!
Make sure to go to Big island candies, (one of my favorite cookie companies); address 585 Hinano Street Hilo, HI 96720. You can get samples of their cookies and coffee and even watch the great workers that create these goodies. Make sure to think of souvenirs here, they can ship them home for you! Head over to Rainbow Falls; the waterfall is right in Hilo and has a parking lot to make it easy!

Make sure to stop by Hilo Homemade ice cream on Waianuenue Avenue for some macadamia nut ice cream! Make sure you stop by Akaka Falls before heading back to your hotel!

Maui On My Mind

Ok, Maui is usually not far from my mind... how do you think I keep my sanity?!
But in trying to find a family a trip to San Diego, a lovely place; I was able to find
a trip in the same budget for Maui, including airfare and rental car.

When you find yourself on a budget or you're taking the whole family along, a
condo is a good choice. There are many available in different areas and they are
usually quite larger than the hotel rooms. They come with kitchens so you can
save a lot of money by simply cooking some of your meals. Remember, you're
on Maui where fresh fish is always available in the markets. I have stayed in
hotels and condos on Maui.

When in a condo, I'll have a great breakfast out on
the lanai and then head out. I'll have a nice lunch out and then a candlit dinner
on the lanai again or I'll have a nice dinner out. You can buy a cooler and have a
romantic picnic on the beach. I've gotten many compliments for doing that and it
was inexpensive and took little effort. Save the cooler for your trip to Hana and
upcountry; you'll be using it again!

Don't Forget Kauai!

Ok, I haven't spoken about Kauai... yet but it is well worth jumping up and down about.

First of all, how many places in the US are as beautiful and so down to earth that when
you exit the airport and try to get on the rental car shuttle bus, you are greeted by one
of the more colorful locals..... Da Kauai chicken!!!! That's right, you heard me correctly.

The chickens roam free on Kauai and are very much a part of the local atmosphere you'll
find there. They bring free entertainment, much laughter and stories to bring back home
that will have your friends and family wondering.... where are the photos!

In all seriousness, Kauai have fantastic mountains and foliage. Make sure you rent a car and
around. Movie buffs, get a map of where famous movies and shows have been filmed or take
a tour. It's fun imagining that big dinosaurs could be lurking behind the Na Pali Coast!

One of my favorite memories was finding turtles in the waters off our balcony in Poipu.
There were just hanging ten, trying to get some Breakfast from the coral.... you have to love it!

Oahu on Sale & Looking Good

The major renovations Oahu has been undergoing the last few years are pretty much done. With many properties renovated and new walk and shop areas in Waikiki, it looks better than ever. The economy has hit Hawaii hard as many other places. The pricing has fallen and if you've always wanted to go to Oahu or have thought of returning.... now is the time! I suggest using a travel agent so you don't end up in one of the properties that has not renovated.

Can You Believe It?!

Evalani says: Planning Hawaii this fall, get your tickets now won't last and must be purchased by first week of June... as low as $309 Round trip from Phoenix, AZ!!!!

Now is the time!

Evalani says: "now is the time to go to Hawaii." The prices of flights, hotels and activities are great but will be going up.
Even though people are being more careful with how they spend their money, Hawaii remains the most tropical and cultural
destination within the United States. With no passports required, English spoken, friendly environment and absolutely beautiful
islands, Hawaii is a winning destination!

Welcome To Ask Evalani!

Thinking of a place to Honeymoon? Want to go surfing and wondering where to go? Considering Hawaii but not sure about which island is best for what yo're looking to do? Don't have much time but want to go to the best restaurants? Just ask Evalani!