december • 2016 keiki cover model

Mahalo to Ziam Kaho’oeholopapaikamanaohoaka “Ho‘okele” Williams and his family for sharing his precious smile with us this month!

Grandma is Lisalani Baybayan, a Regency Club concierge at Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa for the past 32 years! Mom is Brittney Baybayan, and dad is Kea Williams.

The family lives in Lahaina, and Ho‘okele loves to play baseball, ride his dirt bike, go to the beach, and help his dad work on trucks and cars.

Mom shares, “Each night before bed we read a book or two together, then my son can dream the adventures that wait for him! It is our favorite time to snuggle up and read. One of our favorite quotes by Dr. Seuss is, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you’ll go!”

spend the day on the island of lana’i: how to get there, what to do!

The Dalai Lhama said “Once a year go someplace you’ve never been before”… We have discovered that perfect place to send our Maui visitors.

Our readers have told us that your guests have been asking, “What is going on over on the island of Lanai”? We now have some answers for you!

Four Seasons Resort Lanai and their new Island Adventure Center team have launched some outstanding activities catering to day visitors from Maui. And to make it easy to get there, the team at Expeditions ferry has unveiled a brand new vessel EXPEDITIONS 6. Built in Washington State at Mavrik Marine, the 70’ catamaran was designed for smooth and stable passage to and from Lahaina and Manele Harbor on Lanai. The new boat will be in service this month and will carry 149 passengers. Expeditions operates five round trips everyday across the Auau Channel which makes getting to Lanai for a day of adventure and fun very easy.

Lanai’s new activity choices include riding horseback through wooded upland trails, exploring heritage sites on a UTV tour with knowledgeable local guides and discovering untouched Hawai‘i on this pristine and private island. The newest addition in November of this year is the Lanai Archery and Shooting Range where guests can head upcountry to “take aim” at clay shooting and archery.

pga tournament of champions at kapalua

KAPALUA, MAUI, HI – JANUARY 10: A course scenic view of the ninth hole during the final round of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions at Plantation Course at Kapalua on January 10, 2016 in Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii. (Photo by Stan Badz/PGA TOUR)

In January, the winners from the 2016 calendar year on the PGA TOUR will once again gather at The Plantation Course at Kapalua for the Tournament of Champions. Among the field of the best players in the world is Jordan Spieth, who will defend his first Tournament of Champions title and 2016 Player of the Year as well as U.S. Open Champion, Dustin Johnson, who won at Kapalua in 2013.

Spieth won the 2016 edition of the event by an eye-opening eight shots at 30-under par, one shy of the tournament scoring record. His victory came over 2015 champion Patrick Reed, who went on to have a strong season that included a win at THE NORTHERN TRUST, the first event of the FedExCup Playoffs, an appearance on the U.S. Olympic Team and a starring role on the victorious U.S. Ryder Cup Team. In addition to his victory at the Tournament of Champions, Spieth added another title at the DEAN & DELUCA Invitational in his home state of Texas later in the year.

docnowhawaii.com: the perfect answer for your guests’ medical needs

For your guests with minor medical problems there is a great new Urgent Care service on Maui. It is called DOCNOW, and the doctors there can diagnose and treat patients with a videovisit right over a computer, tablet, or smartphone from the comfort of their hotel room. Prescriptions are called or emailed to the local pharmacy and ready for pick up just like that, fast and easy.

This new business is run by the well-known Maui doctor Norm Estin MD and his team at the Doctors On Call Urgent Care centers on West Maui. Serving the entire island, 7 days a week,  and they accept most insurance plans. Without insurance a videovisit is only $49.

celebrate the season of aloha at grand wailea resort

A treelighting ceremony, Santa arriving by canoe, and a gingerbread village built by na keiki from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Maui are all reasons to celebrate the holidays. The month of December 2016 is themed ‘Tis the Season of Aloha at Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort. Many of the December month-long activities and programs benefit Boys & Girls Clubs of Maui.

On Sunday, December 4, more than eight miles of white lights are strung along the monkeypod trees lining the driveway to Grand Wailea for the Treelighting Ceremony. At center stage is a live Christmas tree reaching 25 feet and waiting to be lit by children from Boys & Girls Clubs. They will also feature a special holiday performance by Hawaii’s all-time leading female vocalist Amy Hanaiali‘i. Guests can buy a $1 ornament at the gingerbread village to hang on the lobby tree with Grand Wailea matching the $1 donation to Boys & Girls Clubs of Maui.

let it snow! snow falls on maui at queen ka‘ahumanu center

It’s snowing on Maui! Residents and visitors will be treated to a “White Christmas” this holiday season as Queen Ka‘ahumanu Center transforms into a giant snow globe. “Let it Snow!” is a snowfall experience occurring on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from December 1 through 24 as part of its “Let’s Celebrate the Holidays Together” yuletide program.

“Nothing is more unexpected and special than snow falling on Maui,” said Toni Rojas, director of marketing for Queen Ka‘ahumanu Center. “Our goal is to help families and friends create heart-warming memories and traditions they will cherish and talk about with great happiness for generations to come.”