'ulalena

that the stage show 'ulalena is brand new to me just shows you how long it has been since my last visit to maui. the theatrical spectacle has been described as a mash up of cirque du soleil (one of the executive producers brought mystère to the world) meets the mythology and history of hawaii and her people.

say no more. if 'ulalena is half as magical as mystère it will be well worth the price of admission. take a peek at a few reviews (here and here) for the professional perspective of those who are not easily awed by acrobatics and colorful stage tricks.

details:

• where: maui theatre
• when: tue - sat @ 6:30p
• tix: $49.50 - $69.50

a printmaker's perspective

i'e kuku

i just wanted to share the work of maui artist abigail romanchak who has a website filled with eye candy very deserving of a peek if you happen to adore the graphic style of prints. abigail dabbles in a variety of mediums (linocut, screenprint, etchings, collagraph) and last year had a thought provoking exhibit called mahele which explored the impact development has had on her island home. 

her artist's statement is just as eloquent as the images she has created:

"I see my prints as a way to empower and assert a Hawaiian sense of identity and to perpetuate Hawaiian culture through art. I believe that native cultures are jeopardized once they stop speaking to people in the present day. As an artist, I seek to perpetuate traditional culture not through traditional means, but contemporary ones, so that it may endure for generations to come."

ho'okupu

pu'olu II

abigail received an mfa in printmaking at uh and is one of the many talented hui press artist/instructors at the hui no'eau visual arts center in makawao where you are welcome to explore the world of printmaking in the visual arts program open to the public.

feast at lele

if a luau is on your list of things to do but you prefer a more intimate setting sans the crush of crowds, buffet lines, and the possibility of being dragged on stage to amuse the other guests, you may want to book a reservation for the feast at lele which is a touted as a more gourmet option from the folks behind the old lahaina luau.

admission gets you in the door to enjoy an evening of entertainment showcasing music and dance from the islands of polynesia including hawaii, aotearoa (aka new zealand), tahiti and samoa; a 5 course meal created by maui chef james mcdonald (of i'o and pacific'o fame) featuring traditional dishes from all the islands; flowing cocktails; and, if mother nature cooperates, a technicolor sunset maui style.

the show has received rave reviews however foodies seem to disagree on the execution of the menu so click over to chowhound & tripadvisor and judge for yourself.

eco whale watching

with whale season in full swing, consider booking a trip with the non-profit pacific whale foundation which just happens to operate an award winning eco-friendly tour company on maui. marine naturalists are on board to educate guests on ocean life and hydrophones are used to listen to the mystical whale sounds emanating beneath the water.

one way they are minimizing their impact on the earth is by taking guests out on biodiesel powered sea vessels to explore the pacific and choosing biodegradable tableware & 100% post-consumer recycled paper products. 85% of their income is reinvested into the foundation's research work and ocean outreach program which includes the kid friendly discovery center.

the foundation's whale day festival takes place next weekend (sat, feb 17th) with a parade, whale race (inspired by the great hawaiian rubber duckie race), crafters, food booths & a music stage that has booked island artists amy hanaiali'i gilliom, barefoot natives, john cruz, george kahumoku, jr. & raitea helm to perform.

take a peek at tripadvisor for reviews.

maui culinary academy

 

in anticipation of the "top chef" finale tonight (sam was my man and since he was knocked out last week all i have to say is go ilan!), today's post is all about the culinary scene in the islands which we all know is foodie nirvana. the maui culinary academy is just one of hawaii's top notch cooking schools and straight out of their test kitchen is a gourmet product line developed by the students.

the line ranges from raspberry wine jelly (made from tedeschi vineyards' raspberry remnants that would have otherwise been scrapped) to mango sugar & thai basil sea salt. you can find the line around the islands (i've spotted it at na mea hawaii at ward warehouse) or click over to tedeschi's website to shop online.

class act

also, an off the beaten path lunch idea is the school's pa'ina food court where you can taste what the students have been cooking in class that day. there are six choices including farm to table's locally grown menu, sushi at raw fish camp, and freshly baked pastries at the patisserie. for those who prefer to indulge in a fine dining experience, the class act serves a four course prix fixe lunch menu every wed & fri for $25 (reservations required).

anyhoo, back to "top chef" . . . the finale was filmed on the big island and last week's episode featured the contestants putting their spin on the traditional luau for chef alan wong's birthday bash. if you want to whip up sam's ono sounding haupia, click over to bravo's website which has just posted the recipes online.