Aloha and Happy Holiday season to the Ulep ‘ohana, and our sincere thanks for sharing your keikis’ smiles with us this month.
Melina Mahinalani Ulep is six years old, and is in kindergarten; Triton Keao‘okalani Fujiyama Ulep is three years old, and attends preschool in Wailuku.
Mom is Tara Ulep, pre-arrival concierge for all three Westin properties on Maui, and dad is Melbert Ulep, station technician with Hawaiian Telcom.
Tara shared, “My favorite family memory is our annual Christmas vacation to O’ahu. Melina and Triton always look forward to visiting family and looking at all of the Christmas lights. Christmas is a big thing in our family! My children inspire me every day at work. I love that I can provide unique experiences for them. I love that my position as a concierge provides my family the opportunity for travel and trying new things all the time.”
This month, The Merwin Conservancy becomes permanent custodian of the 19-acre property situated in Maui’s jungle-like Pe‘ahi Stream valley near Ha‘iku owned by two-time U.S. Poet Laureate William Stanley (“W.S.”) Merwin and his wife Paula. When he died in March of this year, William left a legacy of boundless imagination, insight, and literary genius. He wrote more than 30 books of poetry and prose, and won two Pulitzer Prizes and the National Book Award, in addition to serving as Poet Laureate not once, but twice.
The holiday cheer begins at Pu‘ukoli‘i Station in Ka‘anapali when you board the festively decorated train. Savor the magic of the season while elves get you settled in for the 4-mile, round-trip journey, with a brief stop to pick up a very special guest (hint: his best friend is Rudolph!).
The Maui Concierge 