september • 2014 keiki cover model

Aloha and Mahalo to the Suzuki family of Wailuku!

Our keiki cover girl this month is eight-year-old Shaynah-Ann Kananiokalokelanilii Bonifacio Suzuki, a third grader at Wailuku Elementary.

Mom is Savanah Suzuki who works in Spa Guest Services at Awili Spa at Andaz Maui, and dad is Shane Suzuki of Maui Memorial Medical Center Security Services.

Shaynah loves art and has enjoyed playing softball since she was five years old.

Mom shares, “My daughter inspires me because she has such a big heart. She lost her brother to cancer in 2011 and she is always concerned about other people’s feelings. She truly does have a big heart.”

matteo’s osteria wailea welcomes great food & old italian style to the south side

In Italian, “osteria” literally means an eating establishment where the owners personally host their guests for a meal. “In old Italy, people would tie up their horses and come inside an osteria for a comforting, rustic repast with friends and family,” says Gianna Mistura, co-owner with her husband, Chef Matteo, of Matteo’s Osteria in the Wailea Town Center. With this concept in mind, the Misturas opened Matteo’s Osteria last December, which they’ve dubbed “Maui’s First Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar.”

Stepping inside Matteo’s Osteria evokes the feeling you’ve been transported to the Italian Riviera: golden-hued walls and rich wood flooring are reminiscent of the aura of the Mediterranean. This is no coincidence. Matteo was born and raised there in a culinary family where his mother was a self-taught chef, and his father a sommelier. Matteo says he began learning to cook in his mother’s kitchen when he was only five years old. He enrolled in culinary school at the age of 14, and graduated at 18.

cruisin’ to the oldies: pacific whale foundation’s new dance party at sea

Depending upon your age, the term “oldies” can be applied to a multitude of musical eras. If you’re a Baby Boomer such as myself, however, it’s without question that “oldies” means music from two specific decades: the 1950s and ‘60s. In July, Pacific Whale Foundation debuted a new sunset cruise featuring special guest Darren Lee, star of the Elvis tribute show Burn’n Love in Lahaina, and oldies DJ Michael G.

Susan and I hopped aboard the cruise’s maiden voyage to check out this dance party at sea. Crew member Ben greets the eager assemblage waiting outside PWF’s Ocean Store at the Ma‘alaea Harbor Shops, and leads us down the stairs and out to the harbor, where we board “Ocean Voyager,” a 650-foot, high-tech, catamaran. At exactly 6pm, Captain Doug fires up the engines and off we go. DJ Michael G introduces Darren Lee, who calls out, “Are You Ready to Rock?” and the crowd goes wild.

Captain Doug gives a safety briefing, and the evening really gets going when Michael G blasts Frankie Ford’s “Sea Cruise” through the boat’s loudspeakers. “Whoo-ee, whoo-ee baby, won’t you let me take you on a sea cruise?” Ben, accompanied by Trent and Colleen, bust out the champagne, while Mikey ably tends bar. It never ceases to amaze me how crew members can remain sure-footed on an undulating boat while balancing multiple beverage glasses!

rock & brews in paia launches new concierge/guest services reward program & fun contest

Rock & Brews Paia has a sweet new contest and rewards program for you launching this month! “California Dreamin’” is a chance to win a trip for two to Los Angeles. To get started, simply download the OFFICIAL BAVARIAN PRETZEL VOUCHER from their website: (rockandbrews.com/pretzelvoucher); complete with your name/location and send your guests to Rock & Brews with the voucher for a Bavarian Pretzel; For each one that is redeemed through December 31, 2014 you will be entered in the drawing for a Trip to L.A.!

Rock & Brews also has a very generous offer of $25 off your meal for Concierge, Bell Staff and Activity Agents on Maui. Use the coupon in their ad this issue or your concierge card on inside back cover to redeem. $25 discount offer is valid through December 31, 2014, one discount per table per visit please. Excludes alcohol, tax and gratuity, show valid ID with the card.

A big Mahalo to Rock & Brews for these fun offers! We can’t wait to see who wins the trip! Call 579-9001 for more info about Rock & Brews Paia and these great new promotions.

 

pailolo challenge canoe race: visitors can experience world-class hawaiian outrigger canoe racing saturday, september 13

The Pailolo Challenge is an exciting 26-mile downwind outrigger canoe race from D.T. Fleming Beach, Kapalua on Maui to Kaunakakai Pier on Molokai. Scheduled for September 13, 2014, it is a prime training run for crews preparing for the world championship of outrigger canoe racing — the men’s and women’s Ka‘iwi channel races scheduled within the following few weeks.

“The Pailolo Challenge is now in its eighth year and is one of the fastest growing events in the outrigger canoe paddling community,” shares Hawaiian Canoe Club President Dave Ward. “The race increases the national and international awareness of Maui and Moloka‘i as prime paddling destinations. Hawaiian Canoe Club is honored to host teams from Hawai‘i, the mainland U.S., and around the world (Australia, Canada, China, Singapore, Panama).”