Posts Tagged ‘Maui News’

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News: Ka'anapali Resorts Give Back

Saturday, December 27th, 2008

As the Maui News put it, it is A Season of Giving. In an article with the same name, it featured a story on Wednesday that showcased how members of the Ka’anapali Beach Resort Association collected and donated more than 30,000 pounds of food for the Maui Food Bank. It is being called an all-time high for the holiday food drive. A spokesperson for the Food Bank said that these donations collected will go to help more than 20,000 people this holiday season.

With news reports of food banks all across the nation reporting a one-two punch of decreased donations and an increase in food requests, this display of the holiday spirit in action could not come at a better time.

The article lists the following organizations from the KBRA as participants in this food drive, with the Westin Maui Resort and Spa leading the way with the total donations from it’s employees.

  • Whaler on Kaanapali Beach
  • Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas
  • The Ka’anapali Beach Hotel
  • Kaanapali Alii
  • Beach Activities of Maui
  • Maui Marriott Ocean Club
  • The Royal Lahaina Resort
  • Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa
  • Kaanapali Golf Courses
  • Maui Kaanapali Villas
  • Whalers Village
  • TS Restaurants
  • Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa
  • The Fairway Shops

I encourage you to read the entire article for all the details, including some of the gracious and selfless things that individuals from these organizations did to help improve the lives of those in need. Truly heartwarming.

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News: Mixed Emotions on Lahaina bypass

Saturday, December 13th, 2008

About two weeks ago, I shared an article that highlighted upcoming work that was about to begin on the long awaited Lahaina Bypass. That article listed the date for the public meeting that was being held on Dec. 10th to discuss the plans and solicit feedback from the community. The Maui News yesterday posted a follow up article covering reactions from local residents attending that meeting.

The article does a very good job of sharing quotes and concerns from many different residents, and as the title states, with somewhat mixed emotions about what is involved in this project. While you’re obviously never going to be able to please everyone at the same time, I think there’s a good approach being taken here to let people address the Transportation board and have their concerns heard before any work is done. 
According to the article, work is still expected to begin this month, and the project is estimated to be completed in two years.

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News: Lahaina Bypass Work Expected to Begin

Saturday, November 29th, 2008

Passing on an article from the Maui News regarding an announcement made by the state Transportation Director on Friday:

For those of us that have visited Maui and stayed in either the Ka’anapali or Kapalua areas know that there is really only one road to drive along Maui’s west coast, and that’s Hwy 30 (otherwise known as Honoapiilani Highway). And that’s fine if you’re new to the area, since you can’t really get lost. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a beautiful view, too, right up next to the ocean, tall rock walls on your right. Yet, a good part of the drive is limited to only a single lane in each direction, and if you happen to be heading north on Hwy 30 say around 4pm, you know where I’m going with this.
As soon as you hit near where Lahaina starts to the south, you find yourself sitting in traffic like you would be in downton Honolulu or even close to what you left behind back home (we’re from Chicago, so we know it all too well here). On a good day, it might start to thin out as you approach the Lahaina Cannery Mall, at which point, it’s two lanes again. 
Well, this proposed bypass, which has been talked about for decades now, would help alleviate some of  that gridlock with an alternative route for those not needing to stop near Lahaina to get to their destination.  You might think it would be something that could be signed off on and started rather quickly, but that’s not how it works.  Much of the Hawaiian culture is based upon respect for the land and the environment around them. It’s engrained in their traditions and their everyday lives, even in this modern age. So they don’t just go plowing down trees and nature preserves to make way for more automobile traffic on a whim.
Much like the debates last year over the Hawaii Superferry, a key step towards any new  development or modernization in Hawaii involves an environmental assessment. I won’t get too much into that, but as the name indicates, it is a review that measures the impact of any proposed development or modernization to the land and areas that would be affected. The article also mentions a concept that I found interesting, in referring to the construction contract for the Lahaina Bypass as being a “design-build” contract.  It’s intention is that even though an environment assessment is done before hand, any new discovers or findings uncovered in the middle of the project can be re-evaluated and the bypass route altered to accomodate and preserve the land as deemed fit.
In addition to the news article, you can also read more about the first phase of this project at the Hawaii Department of Transportation’s website under the section listed for the Lahaina Bypass.
Mahalo.

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Seeing HAPA in concert a second time, pinch me

Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008

Last year, when we found out that HAPA was going to be playing the Castle Theater at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center the same week we were going to be in Maui, we were ecstatic. It was truly a magical night, not to mention the fact it was only 3 days after spending my birthday in Maui.

So imagine my joy this afternoon at lunch when I’m checking Maui News on my mobile phone and find out that HAPA will be back at the Castle Theater for a show on February 27th, the last Friday of our next vacation. Way cool.

This will be our third trip in a row where we’re lucky enough to see live performances by well known Hawaiian artists. In September of 2007, we were in Maui for the Taste of Lahaina (just realized I need a link for that and never uploaded those photos), where we saw Beach 5, Brother Noland, and Sean and Robi. Anytime you can make live, local music a part of your vacation just adds to the memories of it all.

Have any stories of concerts you’ve been to on Maui or in Hawaii? We’d love to hear them.

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Halloween in Lahaina Crackdown?

Sunday, July 6th, 2008

Read this in the Maui News today from a story they reported yesterday about annual festivities on Front Street for the upcoming Halloween holiday this year.

LahainaTown denied a Halloween permit

We have seen and read about past years where the parties and parades down Front Street for Halloween have had almost a Mardi Gras type atmosphere, with plenty of people and fun all dressed up in their costumes marching down Front Street in Lahaina. It was (and still is) something we’re planning on checking out in the upcoming years.

Even though LahainaTown was not given the permit they have had in past years (starting back in the 1980s), it looks like there still will be plenty of people showing up for this annual event.

Let us know if you have any Halloween in Lahaina stories that you’d like to share.

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