April 30, 2011
Kea Lani's Christmas Tree
The last time I was on Maui was in December. A fantastic time to go if you’re there early enough to beat the Holiday rush. The pricing is great, the crowds are few and there is still a sense of the Holidays as many of the resorts are in the process or already have their holiday decorations up. I figure, go early to mid December and start your holidays off early so by the time you get home, you are already in that festive holiday mood!
If you’re smart, you’ll also do quite a bit of your holiday shopping while you’re in Hawaii. Think of all the original gifts you can get for the people on your list! For that special someone, create a basket of Hawaiian goodies along with one of our special gift certificates which lets them know they will be going on a Hawaiian getaway! The kids love the t-shirts from Hawaii, there are many to choose from but if you shop at the Crazy Shirts, they will either wrap or provide you with complimentary special wrapping for their shirts… their coffee dyed shirts come in a package that looks like fresh roasted coffee and the shirt smells like wonderful Kona coffee! Speaking of Kona coffee, make sure to get several of those since they also make terrific gifts and will last the recipient so every time they enjoy a great cup, they think of you! I happen to enjoy several brands including the Kona flavored coffees… mmmmm! You have a tea lover such as myself, then give them some of the great teas of Hawaii, they come flavored with some of the great fruits of Hawaii like guava and passionfruit!
There really is no bad time to go to the islands of Hawaii and I always make sure to come back with some Hawaii made items but wouldn’t it be nice to be able to do your holiday shopping while in Hawaii… you know you’re going to shop anyway!
Aloha & A hui ho,
Evalani~
Evalani on Maui~
Posted in Hawaii, Hotels, Islands, Maui, Resorts, Shopping, Uncategorized | Tagged crazy shirts, Hawaii, hawaiian teas, Hotels, kona coffee, Maui, Resorts | 2 Comments »
October 8, 2010
Just another beautiful day on Maui
Ok, so I had a very quick five day trip to Maui but it was as sweet as the
pineapple that still grows there! If you make it to Maui… or shall I say
when you make to Maui, If you want to snorkel Molokini Crater, go early,
I mean early! The earlier, the less likely you are to be snorkeling in a parking lot
of boats. We had the place to ourselves and it was just beautiful. Also, head to
turtle arches also known as turtle town to be graced by the large Hawaiian green
sea turtles You can also find eagle rays, white tip sharks, if you’re lucky and
the famous humuhumunukunukuapuaa state fish!
If you’re staying on the Lahaina or Kaanapali side or just want to take go out on
the water there, check out sailings to or around Lanai. They have great snorkel
spots and you may get lucky and spot a school of spinner dolphins! I was once snorkeling
off shore and a school swam past, I couldn’t believe how fast, playful and cognizant they
were of us in the water!
Ok all that snorkeling must make you hungry right? If you’re into healthy food and you’re
on a bit of a budget. I highly recommend Down To Earth! They have a full food bar of
vegan food that is so delicious that sometimes I wonder…. how do they make it so ono?!
Also head to Costco right from the airport to get some great fresh fruit, salad and fish
especially if you’re staying in a condo. You can even find ahi and the Hawaiian favorite,
poke which is ahi and scallions, shoyu. Pick up the chocolate & coffee gift souvenirs as
they are inexpensive compared to the shops you’ll find as you walk around. Make sure to
get some for yourself… they are pretty good!
Head to Hula Grill on Kaanapali Beach and order the
crab wontons and fish and chips…trust me when I say this, they are so good! Fish & chips made
with ono fish and a spicy sauce and the wontons you dip into a wasabi sauce. All that and a view
of the ocean at a very moderate price! Go and let me know what you had!
Posted in Activities, Condos, cooking, Hawaii, Maui, snorkeling | Tagged beaches, getaways, Hawaii, Maui, Pacific ocean, snorkeling, whaler's village | Leave a Comment »
August 1, 2010
Coconut Trees
Oh my, if you have never been to Hawaii or the French Polynesia, I doubt that you have tried this delicacy. It is creamy, sweet, smooth and this dessert can be used as an ingredient to make other wonderful desserts. What treat do I speak of…. none other than the ever popular Haupia! It begins with the very tropical and abundant coconut. All you need are some simple ingredients to make this great dessert.
Here are the basic ingredients to create Haupia:
4 cups coconut milk*
2-1/2 cups water
1-1/4 cups sugar
1 cup cornstarch
Instructions:
Combine the coconut milk with the water. Stir until smooth. Add the sugar and cornstarch. Cook over low heat until thickened and shiny. If the haupia is grainy, you need to keep cooking the mixture because the fat in the coconut milk has not yet melted.
*If you want to make our coconut milk from scratch then mix equal parts of shredded coconut and water, and simmering until foamy. Then strain the mixture through cheesecloth, and squeeze as much liquid out of the pulp as possible. Simple… or buy coconut milk from your local grocer.
Haupia Pineapple Dessert
Haupia can be used in other desserts such as Haupia or chocolate Haupia pie, Haupia pudding, Haupia & pineapple and even Haupia ice cream! Try to make this at home and then when you go to Hawaii, (contact us first), look for it and try the different desserts. This is a customary dessert at Hawaiian luaus as well as in the gourmet Hawaiian ice cream shops like Lappart’s!
Aloha & A Hui Ho,
Evalani
Posted in Activities, cooking, desserts, Dining, Haupia, Hawaii, Islands, Shopping | Leave a Comment »
December 3, 2009
I’m at the Luxury Travel Expo in Las Vegas and will connecting with some of Hawaii’s finest establishments!
Meeting with the finer properties of Hawaii at the expo as well as activities, shopping, dining and resorts with golfing!
A Hui Ho…
Posted in Activities, Condos, Dining, Flights, golf, Hawaii (the Big Island), Hotels, Islands, Kauaʻi, Maui, Oahu, Properties, Resorts | Tagged Activities, Boat charters, Dining, Hawaii, Hotels, Kauai, Lanai, Maui, Molokai, Oahu, Resorts, The big island | Leave a Comment »
October 19, 2009
Windsurfer's paradise
Raise your hand if you like food! Raise your hand if you like food with a view of the ocean!! Naturally, who wouldn’t?
When I think of all the lovely places on Maui where one can dine with the sites of the beautiful Pacific before them, it amazes me. Let pick a few of Evalani’s favorite’s!
It’s breakfast time … you can either golf before or after. If you plan to golf at the Gold or Emerald golf courses, make certain to reserve your tee time! Even if you don’t golf, go to The Seawatch Maui restaurant for breakfast in Wailea, on the South side of the island. Have a seat outside and enjoy the greens of the course and the blues of the ocean. The breakfast menu has nice diversity from lox to the best french toast I’ve had since I was just a child. The prices are very reasonable especially when you consider where you are!
It’s lunch time … lunch, just stopped into the Whaler’s Village after taking a stroll on the beach. This is in Kaanapali, on the West side of the island. Go to Hula Grill and ask to sit in the sandy outdoor area. The tables are in the sand and you can feel free to kick off your shoes and enjoy one of their specialty drinks. I always order the crab wontons, they are delicious and not too heavy. Then you must try their fish and chips. They make them with Ono fish with is flaky and thick with a spicy/sweet light sauce to dip them in. They are the best fish & chips I have ever had anywhere in the world. They have a signature dessert but it scares me because it’s so huge… a must share. Lunch there is not expensive, you have a front row seat of the ocean and they usually have a local performer at different times throughout the day.
It’s dinner time … make it an early dinner for this location and make reservations if you want to get in! Mama’s Fish House is unique in that it is made of a lot of woods.. koa. It sits in a cove of sand overlooking the ocean and the seafood is truly amazing. Get there a bit early so you can walk around, enjoy a Hawaiian beverage at their bar before your table is ready. You should be carrying your camera most of the time while on Maui but make sure to bring it to here. Ladies will want to dress up a bit… perhaps a nice new Hawaiian dress or that cocktail dress you haven’t had a chance to wear since you arrived. Men, buy a Hawaiian shirt if you don’t have one already. Reyn Spooner is a really nice brand and has a conservative and unique look; locals consider this a pretty formal Hawaiian shirt. I’d suggest what to try but Mama’s Fish House changes their menu regularly. They are a bit pricy but this is special treat to be had. It is past the airport going East by a famous area called Hookipa which is where the great windsurfers can be found.
Here’s to great dining experiences on Maui!
Posted in Activities, beaches, Dining, golf, Islands, Maui | Tagged golf, hookipa, hula grill, kaanapali, mama's fish house, restaurants, seawatch restaurant, wailea, whaler's village | 2 Comments »
August 31, 2009
Ok, it’s been a while but that’s what can happens when you’re cruising Greece with a group of clients. My mind is now on snorkeling and diving. One of my favorite spots for snorkeling and beginner diving is in a place you don’t have to pay to go to or even get on a boat to get to.
Nestled between the Wailea Renaissance and the Wailea Marriott is the lovely Ulua beach. This beach has a nice sandy area to sit on. Make sure to bring beach blankets because there are no beach chairs there. To the right, you’ll find a lava reef that is teeming with marine life! You don’t have to go far out at all to see the reef and all its residents. This is a very calm area to snorkel and dive. I suggest very early in the Morning. There are fewer people, the reef is calmer and the water is more clear.
You can dive forty or even fifty feet here and not be too far out. You’ll see dive teams there. I got certified on that beach and had snorkeled there countless times before that. If you’re not a diver or snorkeler, you’ll be happy there to. The water has a sandy bottom and again, it’s calm.
You can find all types of fish from the pencil fish to the humuhumunukunukuapuaa, (trigger fish), and even some honu, (sea turtles). There is a parking lot as you drive towards Ulua, another reason to go early, it fills up. The beach has a rest room and outdoor showers. I like to go for lunch to the Onion grill at the Renaissance. It’s by the outdoors by their pool and is casual. You must try the Maui onion rings, they are big, delicious and sweet!My Island Home Maui by Ekolu
Posted in beaches, Dining, Islands, Maui, Resorts, snorkeling | Leave a Comment »
June 27, 2009
Bishop Museum
If you find yourself on Oahu after August 7, 2009, (and I suggest you do), make sure to visit the newly renovated Bishop Museum’s Hawaiian Hall. It’s been going through a $21 million renovation for the past three years. The museum is a must for people looking to learn about the history and culture of Hawaii from the perspective its people.
With three floors to explore in, and admission at about $16.00 for adults and about $13.00 for children; the Bishop Museum is well worth the visit. I like going to the Arizona Memorial and the Museum on the same day and then having a late lunch at maybe Bubba Gumps at Ala Moana Shopping Center or Mariposa at the Neiman’s in Ala Moana. You have fun and get to reflect on everything you learned and experienced.
Posted in Activities, Bishop Museum, Dining, Islands, Oahu, Shopping | Tagged Hawaii, hawaii travel, hawaiianair, Oahu, travel, tropical island, vacation | Leave a Comment »
June 26, 2009
A Honu outside our condo on Kauai.
Ok, I haven’t spoken about Kauai… yet but it is well worth jumping up and down about. First of all, how many places in the US are as beautiful and so down to earth that when you exit the airport and try to get on the rental car shuttle bus, you are greeted by one of the more colorful locals….. Da Kauai chicken!!!! That’s right, you heard me correctly.
The chickens roam free on Kauai and are very much a part of the local atmosphere you’ll find there. They bring free entertainment, much laughter and stories to bring back home that will have your friends and family wondering…. where are the photos!
In all seriousness, Kauai have fantastic mountains and foliage. Make sure you rent a car and around. Movie buffs, get a map of where famous movies and shows have been filmed or take a tour. It’s fun imagining that big dinosaurs could be lurking behind the Na Pali Coast! One of my favorite memories was finding turtles in the waters off our balcony in Poipu. There were just hanging ten, trying to get some Breakfast from the coral…. you have to love it!
Posted in Condos, Islands, Kauaʻi, Properties | Tagged beaches, getaways, Hawaii, Hawaii hotels, hawaii travel, hawaiianair, honu, Islands, Kauai, mountains, na pali coast, Pacific ocean, poipu, rental cars, scuba diving, snorkeling, travel, tropical island, turtles, vacation | 2 Comments »
