Each year, the Kapalua Resort welcomes some of the finest surfers in the world.  The Billabong Pro Maui is held at the world famous Honolua Bay.  This unique bay is a marine sanctuary.  Sheltered in the summer months, it is home to some of Maui's best snorkeling.  In the winter, the waves swell, and the surfers flock to the water.  This is last Triple Crown contest of the year and the only women's stand-alone ASP event in Hawaii.  The Tenth Annual Billabong Pro Maui has a holding period of December 8 - 20, during which 17 of the top female surfers will compete along with 6 aspiring trail winners for the $85,000 prize purse promises. There is a live webcast at www.billabongpro.comor you can get updates from the event hotline at 808-665-1712. 11/30/2008

As it turns to a very chilly winter here on Maui (it was only 72 degrees this morning), I look forward to all the great things it brings: big waves on the north shore, kalua turkey at Thanksgiving, perhaps a rare snowfall at the top of Haleakala, and the decorating of the palm trees at the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua.  The trees sparkle all month, but the lighting ceremony is a cherished local event.  This December 3rd at 5:00 pm, celebrated local musician, Henry Kapono, will perform as the trees are lit.   The Ritz-Carlton underwent a $160 million plus renovation this past year, creating 107 new Residential Suites, and you should take note of the stunning new decor. 11/30/2008

Or are they just teasing us again. The Maui News reported today that Transportation Director Brennon Morioka states work on the Lahaina bypass will begin in Mid-December.  After over 30 years of delays this vital project is set to commence in just over 2 weeks.  The most recent set of delays occurred due to previously undiscovered archaeological sites.  The newest plan avoids those sites. The bypass will help ease traffic congestion in and out of Lahaina.  Currently the 2 lane road known as the Pali, is the only road between Lahaina and vital services such as our only hospital in Wailuku.  The road is completely jammed every morning and afternoon during commute hours.  During the high tourist seasons of summer and fall, the Pali can grind to a complete halt.  It can sometimes take 2 hou... 11/29/2008

Thanksgiving in Maui is a bit different than Tday on the mainland.  For starters it's warm, very warm.  While some mainlanders spend the morning getting bundled up to go visit the family (ohana), we went snorkeling at Airport Beach.  That might not exactly be traditional elsewhere, but it seems like a good tradition to start here.  After touring the coral and seeing hundreds of brightly colored fish we returned to our home at Aina Nalu (land and wave), to carry on another new tradition.  It was our second year of what we hope becomes a long lasting tradition and the smells from the kithens around the complex were definitely traditional.  We roasted turkeys, made giblet gravy with dressing, or filling which seems to be an east coast term.  We had guacamole, gugoma (Korean sweet potatoes ... 11/28/2008

Traffic was light at the Banyan Tree I used to run with friends on Sunday mornings.  We didn't run just to stay in shape.  It was a weekly opportuntity to catch up on everyone and every thing.  I'm trying to get back to that old tradition and this Sunday I went for a run/walk with my best friend.  We wound up our outing in Lahaina's Banyan Tree Park.  On Sunday mornings this park is bustling with artisans, craftspersons, artists and musicians.  But not this Sunday. There were a lot of empty spaces.  Maybe it was the forecast for heavy rain that didn't come.  Maybe it was the lack of patrons. We stopped and spoke with Julia, a well known local artist who keeps a particular spot under the banyan tree.  We noticed several spots that were normally occupied by a local artist were empty.  Jul... 11/24/2008

We were very sorry to hear that Napili Tavern, formerly known as Fish and Poi just closed their doors. This restaurant has been opened for many years, on the premises of Napili Shores. All I can say is thank you for treating me, my family and my friends with such an amazing food, pleasant atmosphere and great views, for the past few years. I loved your Blackened Mahimahi with papaya salsa, the spicy chicken rolls and the HAMBURGERS! This was world class dining at very affordable prices. Appetizers were under $8, while entrees were priced between $14-$20. I hope you will be back one day!     11/20/2008

Golf World has just released it's 2009 Reader's Choice Awards, ranking the Top 50 Public, Private, and Resort Courses in the Country.  The criteria readers evaluated included the quality of the course, the condition, reputation/prestige, practice facilities, speed of play, clubhouse/locker room facilities, hotel accommodations, caddie program, pro-shop, food/dining, off course amenities, service and over all value. With these guides, readers voted The Kapalua Resort among the best of the best, ranking #6 in the top Resort Courses nation-wide.   The Kapalua Resort is the only golf facility in Hawaii (public, private, and resort) to be ranked in Golf World's Reader's Choice top 10.   11/17/2008

Mornings in Lahaina, Maui, are uncommonly cool in every sense.  Yes, it gets warm, OK, hot later in the day, but mornings are cool.  Barb just left for her walk with Mihaela and sister Kathy at Kaanapali.  I've decided to take advantage of the cool morning and go for a run.  I usually like to run in the afternoon.  I head out down Wainee Street, which is between Front Street and the Highway and parallels them both.  I start off at a fast walk to warm up.  I've reached an age at which my bones, joints and feet need to get used the idea that a 200 pound body is going to be bouncing up and down on them for the next 40 - 45 minutes.  This morning there is a lot of traffic on Wainee, and when I turn mauka (toward the mountains) on Shaw I see there is a lot of traffic on the highway as well. ... 11/13/2008

 The president of Save Honolua Coalition, Kahu David Kapaku and  Richard Moon, the president of the Honolua Advisory Council, plead for initiation of negotiations between Maui County Council and Maui Land and Pineapple in regards to preserving Honolua Bay and surrounding areas. There are only two developments in Honolua, both zoned agricul;tural and both regarded as luxurious real estate: The Plantation Estates and Honolua Ridge. There are no developments oceanfront, but there are a few private homes. Maui Land and Pineapple's initial plans proposed developing another luxurious subdivision, along with a golf course which may have restricted access to Lipoa Point. The local community had a very strong reaction to these plans and two organizations were created: Save Honolua Coalition and ... 11/10/2008

If you're trying to decide where to buy a vacation home, pick up the Robb Report's October/November 2008 Vacation Homes Issue,  "Where to Buy Right Now: 10 Top Market's World Wide."   Among the top destinations are Aspen, Coeur d'Alene, Las Vegas, Miami, Abu Dhabi, Belize, Croatia, Curacao, St. Kitts/Nevis, and Maui.  Prominently featured in their overview of Maui was the Kapalua Resort and the Residential Suites at the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua.  The strength of the West Maui real estate market was a focal point as well. 11/09/2008

It surprises many people to find out that the Kapalua Resort is owned and managed by Maui Land and Pineapple Company.   In the mid-1800's Dr. Dwight Baldwin received a land grant, and through a series of additional grants and purchases, the land known as Honolua Ranch expanded to approximately 23,000 acres.  In addition to the ranch, agriculture took root, and the Honolua Ranch was transformed into a working plantation. Maui Pineapple Company was formed in 1932 by J. Walter Cameron.  In 1969, his son, Colin Cameron, acquired the Maui Pineapple Company, and the name was changed to Maui Land & Pineapple.  Colin Cameron was the visionary that created the Kapalua Resort in 1974, and it was under his leadership that a focal point of the company was its dedication to the environmental steward... 11/09/2008

Every year, I get phone calls from people planning their next vacation to Maui, wanting to know when the whales will be here, when it's sunniest or most quiet, or when a particular festival or sporting event will be held.  And every year, I receive a call or two from someone planning their trip around the Kapalua Logo Sale.  This two day event is held each year at the old Cart Barn on Office Road, across from my office and the Honolua Store.  Over the years, I've observed that there is a strategy to shopping at this event:  On Friday, people start lining up an hour or so before it opens, hoping to get their first pick of the merchandise.  On Saturday afternoon, bargain hunters arrive en masse, as the final markdowns are taken. Savings are 50-70% off such items as golf apparel, aloha shi... 11/09/2008

There were two races in particulat that draw a lot of attention from West Maui Residents. One was the race between Jo Anne Johnson and Alan Fukuyama for West Maui seat on the Council. Jo Anne Johnson,  is a veteran with a Council and also quite famous/notorious for her opposition towards any new developments on West Maui, as well as for the moratorium on developing agricultural zoned land. Alan Fukuyama was newcomer to politics, but with a reputable past running a business on Maui, managed to gather 16,884 votes, that is 40% of the total number of votes that were casted! Surprising, I would say, given the fact that we hardly get to know Alan, while we got to know Jo Anne quite well... The second most controversial race, that involved significant funds spent to entice the voters, was for... 11/07/2008

The Kaanapali Golf Resort features two courses, the Kai Course and the Royal Kaanapali Course.  The Kai Course was most recently featured on the Golf Channel, in their series the Big Break. In reading up on the resort, I was tickled to learn that Bing Crosby was in the first foursome to play the Royal Kaanapali Course back in 1962.  Home to the Wendy's Skins game in 2008, over 8000 spectators watched golf legends such as Watson, Zoeller, Jacobson, Nicklaus, Player and Roberts in a two day event at the Royal Kaanapali Course.  This Friday and Saturday, the Kaanapali Golf Resort will host a tent sale from 9-6 Friday and 9-4 on Saturday.  Pick up your logo wear, and if you can make it on Saturday, its also a demo day, where you'll be able to try out the latest clubs. The Kaanapali Golf Res... 11/05/2008

The following is an update on the activity within the Kapalua Resort for the past week:  New Listings: MLS # Status Address Neighborhood Unit L Price Bds Bths Liv-SF Lnd-Acr Days On Market 334266 ACT 1200 Summer Road Pineapple Hill   $2,850,000 3 3.5 3321 0.37 5 334309 ACT 22 Ironwood Lane Kapalua Ironwoods 22 $4,100,000 2 3.0 1935 9.19 4 Price Changes: MLS # Status Address Neighborhood Original Price L Price Bds Bths Liv-SF Lnd-Acr DOM 327033 ACT 232 Crestview Pineapple Hill Estates $3,950,000 $3,800,000 3 3.0 3354 0.44 401 Pending Sales:No new pending sales to report. Closed Sales:No sales to report. To view these listings, Click here and enter the MLS number This information is taken from the Maui MLS system and covers the week from 10/30 to 11/5/2008.  It is believed accurate, but i... 11/05/2008

  Halloween in Lahaina is large. Some estimate that up to 30,000 people arrive for this holiday that was once special for children only, but is now special for children, children with families and, in some cases, adults only. This year for some political the normal parties couldn't get all the permits they've always been able to get. So would we have Halloween or no Halloween? Well the Keiki parade, the best part of Lahaina Halloween for some of us, was still on and here's how it went.   Lahaina Sne Smurf and Junior, you had to be there.   Sne junior on Lahaina Halloween 2008.  Cuter than dad but where's mom?  No costume, no photo, what are you going to be next year, Tab?     the bubble bath family Witchy Woman, Susie D Daddy D., not so scary Just wait until she's a teenager! The white ... 10/31/2008

For those of you who have never experienced Halloween in Lahaina, it's quite an event - with thousands of people descending upon Front Street in the afternoon to watch the Keiki Parade and then hanging out to participate in the celebration and see all the creative and interesting costumes. The evening's festivities begin at 4:30 p.m. with the West Maui Soroptimist and Lahaina Rotary Clubs' Annual Children's Costume Parade. Hundreds of costumed children will make their way down Front Street to Kamehameha Iki Park, where they will receive a parade ribbon and a free bag of goodies to start off their night of trick-or-treating. With Front Street being long and oceanfront, it's the perfect location for a big party. The numerous second story bars and restaurants provide the perfect viewing p... 10/31/2008

Aloha! Halloween in Lahaina was cancelled this year!  For those of you who may not be familiar with Front Street in Lahaina, Maui, it is a quaint and very historical area/street on the water's edge of an old whaling port that is lines with many shops and restaurants.  I have posted a link that will give you more information on Lahaina town!  In the past, the road would be closed from automobile traffic and Halloween would be celebrated.  There would be lots of great costumes and fun!  Over the years however, alot of problems with traffic and crime developed.  However, compared to other big city events, Maui was still able to boast a small town Halloween celebration event that most were able to enjoy.  Many tourists make Maui their destination centered around this event.  Many may still ... 10/31/2008

The following is a summary of the activity within the resort over the past week: New Listings: MLS # Status Address Neighborhood Unit L Price Bds Bths Liv-SF Lnd-Acr Days On Market 334160 ACT 1000 Sunset Place Pineapple Hill   $3,500,000 4 4.50 3368 0.31 9 334106 ACT 12 Coconut Grove Coconut Grove 12 $3,600,000 3 3.50 2638 11.13 7 334119 ACT 116 Pulelehua Pineapple Hill Estates   $5,190,000 4 4.50 4081 0.47 7 334124 ACT 305 Plantation Est. Plantation Estates   $12,500,000 5 8.00 8610 2.01 7 Price changes: MLS # Status Address Neighborhood Unit Original Price L Price Bds Bths Liv-SF Lnd-Acr Days On Market 328962 ACT 500 Bay Dr. Kapalua Bay Villas I 29G4 $1,275,000 $995,000 1 1.00 1006 16.45 293 332933 ACT 100 Ridge Rd. Kapalua Ridge 1511 $1,400,000 $1,350,000 1 2.00 1162 21.80 86 325733... 10/29/2008

The Kona winds are blowing again.  For those of us living in Kaanapali, this means two things: some of the most spectacular sunsets you've ever seen, and music.  The sounds of Kaanapali Nights drifted up from the Royal Lahaina Hotel on the evening breeze.  Eric Gilliom, of the Barefoot Natives, and Barry Flannagan, of Hapa, have joined to play a series of beachside concerts.  Join them on November 1st and 29th, for an outstanding evening of slack key guitar and hula.  For tickets, contact the Royal Lahaina at 808-661-9119. I took these photos from my lanai--enjoy! 10/26/2008