december • 2014 keiki cover models

Mahalo to the Echiverri family of Kahului for sharing their beautiful girls Kristi Kainani Kaai & Kami Kaori Mahie with us for this December cover!

Mom is Laura Echiverri, member coordinator at the Maui Hotel and Lodging Association, and dad is Lucky Echiverri, bartender at Makena Beach and Golf Resort. Kristi is 14 years old and attends Maui High School, where she enjoys cross country, basketball, and track. Kami is 11, and attends Maui Waena Intermediate in Kahului. She enjoys math, P.E., and participating in the band at school. Both girls love to dance hula for Halau Hula Kauluokala.

Mom shares, “Kristi and Kami are the joys of our lives. They are kind and thoughtful. They enjoy playing sports, dancing hula, and spending time with their friends and new niece Leia.”

pi artisan pizzeria: not your typical pizza joint

The first thing you notice when you walk into Pi Artisan Pizzeria in Lahaina is the heavenly aroma of burning kiawe wood. I don’t know about you, but it only takes one whiff of smoke from Hawaiian mesquite before my mouth starts watering.

After opening in August, Pi has taken the Lahaina dining scene by storm. In the spot formerly occupied by David Paul’s, it sits smack dab across the street from the sparkling blue Pacific Ocean, and serves as an anchor at the newly revamped shopping center that’s now The Outlets of Maui.

wailea le‘a at the shops at wailea: a celebration of joy

Le‘a is the Hawaiian word for joy, pleasure, happiness. It’s also one half of the name of The Shops at Wailea’s new monthly event, Wailea Le‘a—a lively celebration held under the stars in the center’s fountain courtyard.

Featuring live music performed by award-winning local musicians, delectable menu samplings, make-up touch ups, and a genuine good time, Wailea Le‘a also offers an opportunity to take advantage of special discounts from participating merchants available only during the event.

mama’s fish house & lahaina grill named to tripadvisor’s top 25 fine-dining restaurants in the u.s.

We want to send our congratulations out to both Mama’s and Lahaina Grill!

Mama’s Fish House was named 13th and Lahaina Grill 14th in the annual Travelers’ Choice awards issued by the travel website TripAdvisor.

The website awarded fine-dining restaurants in categories that also included the top 25 in the world, as well as separate lists for Asia, Canada, Europe and other destinations.

Mama’s Fish House ranked 10th in last year’s United States ranking, while Lahaina Grill was honored for the first time on this exclusive list.

hyundai tournament of champions returns to kapalua’s plantation course

Hyundai Tournament of Champions returns to the legendary Plantation Course, designed by Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore in Kapalua Resort from January 8 through 12, 2015.

This gathering of the best PGA golfers is a unique tournament in that its qualified field features a winner-only format. Only champions from the previous PGA TOUR season are eligible to compete. Since moving to Kapalua in 1999, the tournament’s host organizations have contributed nearly $5 million to local Maui charities. This year Zach Johnson will return to defend his title and vie for his share of the $5.7 million purse. The winner this year will head home with $1.16 million! Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at http://www.PGATOUR.com/Hyundai.