april • 2015 keiki cover model

Aloha and Mahalo to the Straka family! Camryn Cruz Straka is our beautiful cover keiki girl for April.

Camryn is nine years old, and attends King Kamehameha School in Lahaina, where she is currently in third grade.

Mom is Sherry Straka, concierge at the Westin Ka‘anapali Ocean Resort & Villas, and dad is Todd Straka, manager at Miso Phat Sushi Restaurant in Kahana.

Camryn loves her dance classes, which she started at an early age. She also loves to surf, and just got her first surf board for Christmas. After school she enjoys doing crafts, making jewelry, and shell collecting on the beach. At home her favorite friend is “Elvis” the cat.

Mom shares, “Camryn has a great sense of humor. She is just like her dad. Every time he watches a black and white movie she says, ‘Oh great I have to watch another classic!’  We are very proud of the young girl that she has become, and we both love her so much. She is our everything!”

three’s bar and grill: wailea-style cuisine at kihei prices

It’s especially gratifying when young entrepreneurs do well. Such is the case with the three talented chefs behind Three’s Bar & Grill in Kihei’s Kalama Village: Jaron Blosser, Cody Christopher, and Travis Morrin.

I first dined at Three’s in January of 2011, when they’d been open for just under a year. Since then, the talented trio has celebrated their fifth anniversary, and their enterprise has expanded to include a food truck, located daily at Kihei Market Place, plus three out of the four Maui First Friday events and Saturday’s Swap Meet at UH Maui College; Three’s Bottling & Spice Co., offering delectable creations such as Mango Habanero Hot Sauce and Pineapple & Chipotle Chutney; and a partnership with Pacific Whale Foundation as the official caterer for PWF’s sunset dinner cruise offered nightly from Lahaina. And if that isn’t enough, they still operate their original catering business, which is how they got their start in 2009. Shoots…I’m exhausted just writing about how busy these guys are!

uncorked wine tasting series at montage kapalua bay

Who doesn’t enjoy sipping wine while being gently caressed by a late afternoon breeze and watching the sun slowly sink lower into the sky? When you combine a blissful interlude such as this with the opportunity to learn fascinating facts about the wine you’re imbibing, it’s highly likely you’re attending Uncorked at the Montage Kapalua Bay, a weekly tasting event hosted by Sommelier Vanessa Lampson on Sundays at 5pm.

Begun last November, Uncorked takes place in Cane & Canoe restaurant’s comfortable and stylish lounge. The brainchild of Vanessa and Montage Food & Beverage Manager James Proctor, Uncorked features three unusual varietals hand selected by Vanessa, along with a trio of “small bites” designed to pair exquisitely with each wine by Cane & Canoe’s expert culinary team, led by talented Executive Chef Riko Bartolome.

news from sangrita grill + cantina in ka`anapali

Don’t miss out on all of the fun now happening at Sangrita Grill + Cantina in Ka‘anapali!

Margarita Mondays •

Every Monday get your margarita on with “Margarita Mondays.” The talented bartenders at Sangrita will be creating their house margaritas for just $7 all day long.

Taco Tuesdays •

“Taco Tuesday” is up next with two tacos for $8 served all day. Your choice of tacos stuffed with delicious Short Rib, Steak, Chorizo or Rotisserie Chicken.

star noodle’s 4th annual empty bowl project: april 17, 2015

The 4th Annual Empty Bowl Project will be held on April 17, 2015, from 5:30-8:30pm at Star Noodle (286 Kupuohi Street in the Lahaina Business Park). Star Noodle and the Maui Organization for the Ceramic Arts (MOCA) have come together once again to bring you inspired cuisine, outstanding art, and great entertainment for a very worthy cause- the Maui Food Bank.

Ceramic artists and various schools from around Maui have collaborated to create hand crafted ceramic bowls to be sold for a $25 donation at the event. The bowl you purchase is a keepsake to remind you of all the “empty bowls” in the world. All proceeds collected from the bowl purchase will be donated to the Maui Food Bank and Hale Mahaolu with further proceeds benefitting other Maui organizations. Your donation also includes a visit to the Empty Bowl Project “Noodle Bar.” At the Noodle Bar, you will be able to create your own personal signature ramen with a variety of garnishings to soothe your soul. In addition to the Noodle Bar station, scripts will be available for purchase to experience an array of local flavors and ingredients, street fair style!