march • 2019 keiki cover model

We want to reach out and say Mahalo to Nathan Rey Madariaga and his ‘ohana for sharing his sweet smile with us this month!

Nathan is three years old. His mom is Amy Madariaga, front desk agent at Destination Residences Hawai‘i, and his dad is Ryan Ubias, bell/valet agent.

Nathan’s other family members working in Maui’s guest services industry are ‘Mama Armi’ who works at Grand Wailea Resort & Spa in Food & Beverage, and ‘Papa Eddie’ who works at Fairmont Kea Lani in engineering.

Mom shares, “Nathan is very funny and has a big imagination. I tell him ‘Yes, I gave you life, but really you gave me mine. Thank you for being our everything!’”

vana pa‘ia restaurant & sushi bar: the new north shore hot spot

Vana Pa‘ia Restaurant & Sushi Bar, located in the North Shore’s boutique hotel Pa‘ia Inn, is the talk of the laid-back, Bohemian surf town whose popularity is soaring these days.

Open since November, Vana is quickly making its mark as the place to see and be seen, while enjoying highly creative, sophisticated cuisine; finely crafted prohibition-inspired cocktails; and a carefully curated wine list—all presented in a secluded, courtyard-style atmosphere that confirms you’ve discovered a bona fide neighborhood gem.

Pa‘ia Inn owner Michael Baskin has assembled an impressive A-team for his new restaurant venture. The kitchen is led by Co-Executive Chefs Nick Gerstmar and Sean Ikeda; veteran Sommelier Vanessa Lampson does double duty as food and beverage director; while Mixologist Danny Dispo holds court at the turquoise-hued bar tucked cozily under a staircase.

ka‘anapali beach hotel announces new hawaiian activities

Ka‘anapali Beach Hotel is solidifying its position as Hawai‘i’s Most Hawaiian Hotel with the unveiling of an updated suite of Hawaiian cultural activities, offering guests even more engaging opportunities to have fun and learn about local history, customs and culture. By condensing their class list from 15 to 11 and lengthening class times to allow for more in-depth experiences, new visitors to the property can expand their understanding of Hawaiian culture, while the hotel’s many repeat guests will be able to further draw from the dedicated staff’s deep well of expertise.

The new activities include Ho‘olaule‘a, a style of Hawaiian music produced in an impromptu jam session; Nala, an in-depth look at various weaving techniques; and Mo‘olelo, storytelling sessions.