october 2010 • keiki cover model

Meet Rodney Isaac Vaka, our four-year-old cover model this month.  Rodney is the son of Desiree Vaka who works in the At Your Service department at Wailea Beach Marriott Resort and father, Eliesa Vaka.  Little brother Reno is almost one year and Rodney is a proud big brother.

The family lives in Pukalani and Rodney attends Kahului Hongwanji Preschool.  He said his favorite thing about school is “playing with my friends.”

Desiree shared with us, “Rodney loves super heroes and compares everyone to his favorites.  Rodney loves to travel to Las Vegas, Utah and California.  He also loves to wrestle and play ‘boxing’ with his dad.

“My children give me a better insight on what people that travel with children might need.  When I travel with my kids, I envision our guests and what might make their trip better.”

kipahulu on horseback • maui stables

“Steadfast, unwavering,” is the Hawaiian translation of Keoni. Keoni Smith, our “alaka’i” (tour leader) gathers the visitors to Maui Stables under the shade of the wood-framed meeting area in Kipahulu. The morning breeze shakes the leaves, the sunlight and shadows shift in the surrounding jungle like mirrors in a kaleidoscope, like the ten-foot ki‘i (wooden statues) that guard the stable entrance, Keoni’s 6’ frame towers over us. With soft brown eyes, a deep voice and infectious smile, he immediately captivates our group. Extending a genuine greeting of aloha, he invites us to open our eyes, our ears and our minds and become “of this place,” and in this moment. Soon, it’s revealed to me how his name and this business are mere reflections of one another.

lahaina grill celebrates 20 years

My first trip to Lahaina Grill takes me back to 2004 on a romantic birthday trip with my then-boyfriend, now-husband Jojo. It was a highlight that became one of the many reasons why we fell in aloha with the island. Thanks to our concierge’s recommendation, that meal would be first of the many that I would celebrate at this restaurant.

Tonight in particular is a long-awaited girls’ night with friends Jamie and Jen. Dolled up in dresses and heels, we ventured into Lahaina Town on a Saturday evening strolling through the west side’s charming shops. We finally arrive at the historic Lahaina Inn right across from Martin Lawrence Galleries and find the restaurant busy as usual. It’s wise to get a reservation, though if you can wing it; it’s also fun to eat at the bar, get acquainted with the mix masters and people watch.