Thanksgiving on Maui: Food, Fun and More!!

Thanksgiving Dinner Cruise – Pacific Whale Foundation 5:30-7:30 p.m. Lahaina Harbor
Celebrate Thanksgiving in unique Maui style aboard Pacific Whale Foundation’s Thanksgiving feast on the water. Enjoy a full holiday feast with all the fixings while watching the sunset on the ocean, listening to live music, and keeping watch for the first migrating humpback whales to arrive in Maui for the winter. Your Thanksgiving feast will include roasted turkey with giblet gravy, roast ham with guava jelly, plus stuffing, corn on the cob, salad, taro and wheat rolls, and delicious desserts. Three (count ‘em 3!) alcoholic beverages included per adult (beer, wine, Mai Tais, or other tropical well drinks), plus unlimited ice-cold sodas, juices, and filtered water. Drink options are premium wines, champagne, frozen cocktails and Maui microbrew beer for purchase. Adults $84.95, children ages 3-12 $49.95. Please call (808) 249-8811 ext. 1 or see this link.

Starwood Dining Options!
Westin Ono Bar and Grill – 5-9 p.m. The Westin is hosting a lavish buffet for $59/adults, $29/children 6-12 (under 5 no charge) to include all the traditional fixings plus island favorites such as smoked island catch, California rolls, ahi poke, pan roasted oyster stew and wok fried crab legs in chili garlic sauce. Choose from sesame noodle and chicken salad, crispy wontons sweet chili vinaigrette, orange macadamia salad with fennel, dried cranberries, and candied macadamia nuts. When you add the turkey, gravy, potatoes, stuffing, roast beef, pies, cakes and cheese spread, it’s more than you could ever whip up at home, no? For a lot less, yes? Reservations required so call 808-667-2525 to save your seat.

Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas’ Thanksgiving by the Pool was designed for you to
“relish life’s bliss and revelry.” The perfect opportunity to celebrate appreciation with a special buffet menu designed to “invigorate, revive, and recharge” will be offered poolside from 3-8 p.m. Buffet options similar to the Westin Ono Bar, including a vast selection of chilled pacific oysters, peel and eat shrimp, ginger mignonette, smoked island fish, ahi sashimi, California and spicy tuna sushi rolls, tropical fruits and international cheeses along with everything else you’d expect at Thanksgiving dinner. All this is a mere $42/pp, $21/kids 6-12, under 5 complimentary. For reservations, phone 808.667.3254.

The ever elegant Pulehu is featuring a pris fixe menu starting with roasted butternut squash soup with candied apples and pancetta, followed by maui grown, organic red and golden beets, upcountry field greens with candied walnuts, Maytag bleu cheese, toasted almonds, cranberry & maui onion vinaigrette. The entrée is traditional oven roasted young turkey with maui onion gravy, macadamia nut/Italian sausage stuffing, buttered beans and garlic mashed potatoes. Top it off with pumpkin crisp with Tahitian vanilla bean gelato and you’ll be ready to sit back and watch the game soul-satisfied. Cost is $45/pp. Pulehu’s regular menu will also be available if turkey’s just not your thing.

More Maui Dining Deals

A pair of great deals and one special event!


Tropica Waterfall

Tropica Restaurant & Bar on Kaanapali Beachwalk is now offering a three-course meal deal at $33 per person and only $45/pp with wine pairings! Special includes choices of appetizers, entrees and desserts. Starting Nov. 11, Tropica will be open from Wednesdays to Sundays weekly. Located oceanfront at the Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Tropica’s bar opens at 4:30 p.m. for pau hana happy hour with discounted drink specials. 3 course tasting menu:

1st

Tropica’s famous lobster chowder, Tabasco butter, chives, smoked bacon
Sonoma Cutrer Chardonnay, 2007, Russian River Ranches, Sonoma Coast, California

Or

Chilled cauliflower potage, Saffron poached prawns, parsley, white peppercorn
Charles Smith, “Eve” Chardonnay, 2007, Columbia Valley, Washington

Or

Haiku baby green salad, Hamakua grape tomato, shaved fennel, jicama, carrot, strawberry, ali’i kula lavender vinaigrette
Mac Murray Ranch Pinot Gris, 2007, Sonoma Coast, California

Or

Pohaku seared beef, Prime flatiron steak served on a hot cooking stone, ponzu, kula onion confit
Charles Smith, “The Velvet Devil” merlot, 2007, Columbia Valley, Washington

2nd

Ahi, charbroiled to medium rare, Roasted tomato cous cous, sea beans, mizuna, ali’i mushrooms, opal basil reduction
Willamette Valley Vineyards, “Whole Cluster” Pinot Noir, 2007, Willamette Valley, Oregon

Or

Herb roasted Australian lamb loin, polenta, radicchio, green beans, roasted tomato, zinfandel reduction
Chappellet mountain cuvee, 2006, napa valley, California

Or

Oriental mushroom linguini, Grilled tiger shrimp, hamakua hon shimeji mushrooms, anuhea farms asparagus, mushroom sake broth
chardonnay, 2007, Sonoma Coast, California

3rd

Green tea crème brulee, Grilled pineapple, berries, vanilla anglaise

Or

Pineapple fritters, Fresh pineapple-apple banana donuts, raspberry, coconut

Or

Ice cream, Gelato and Sorbet, Macadamia nut, vanilla, chocolate, coffee, coconut, mango or raspberry

Not available in conjunction with any other dining programs or discounts; available between 5:00-6:00 pm and 8:30-9:30pm ONLY.

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Four Seasons Wailea – Great new promotion in Lobby Lounge – 50% off all bottles of wine past 8 PM – check it out here. Team the vino with a few terrific appetizers and you’ll have a magical night of it.

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Tia Juana’s presents Donavon Frankenreiter, appearing live, Dec. 8, 9 & 10th! Donavon will perform with fellow band member/guitarist Matt Grundy, at Tia Juana’s Beach Cantina. Two acoustical dinner shows from 6-8 p.m. and 8-10 p.m. each night Dec. 8, 9, and 10.

Dinner reservations required for each show in the Main Dining Room. To reserve a table call 808/667-4080. (Lanai seating is on a first-come, first-served basis).

NO COVER CHARGE! Just buy dinner and you’ll be all set. Should be a great evening. Tia Juana’s Beach Cantina located at 2291 Ka’anapali Parkway, Lahaina, Maui, HI 96761 808/697-4080 (in the old Giovanni’s at the entrance of the Ka’anapali Resorts).

First Friday, Wailuku, November 6th, 2009

It’s that time again!

On the First Friday of every month, Wailuku throws a monster block party on Market Street between Main and Vineyard. The theme of this month’s First Friday in Wailuku is the Makahiki Celebration.

The Makahiki season was the ancient Hawaiian New Year Festival spanning four consecutive lunar months, from October or November through February or March held in honor of Lono, the Hawaiian fertility deity. You can take part in reviving the old tradition at the November 6th celebration, fit for a deity and replete with entertainment, food and vendors.

In the old days the high priest was blindfolded for the duration of the three day peace and sport fest while participants engaged in demonstrations of boxing, spear throwing, sled riding and other thrilling games and sports to the astonishment of onlookers. Best of all, work was forbidden during that period.

Wailuku’s modern day version allows everyone to gaze on with eyes wide open. Makahiki starts at 6 p.m. when the festivities kick off with live chanting and hula followed by the 1st annual Pa’i Ai (Taro Pounding) competition with prizes, live music and games like ulumaika, hukihuki (tug of war) and konanestationed in front of the Native Intelligence arts and crafts shop.
George Kahumoku

George Kahumoku

Maui OnStage will present a Hawaiian Film Festival at the Iao Theater starting at 6 p.m., including performances by Grammy Winner, George Kahumoku, who takes the stage at 7:45, and Mojomana appearing at 8:15. The theater showcase wraps up with screenings of a surf movie.

Other First Friday Wailuku entertainment includes an Aloha Slam at Gallerie Ha Ha and the always delightful Keiki Hula Show at 6:30 p.m., while Kama’aina Properties presents Mika and Friends Band plus basket weaving demonstrations.

Various street vendors will provide a hearty selection of casually presented local style food but if you’d like a sit-down dining experience, sidle into Café Marc Aurel and listen to the Electric Haiku Hillbillies twang their thang. Tom Conway pops on vocals and lead guitar, Bob Harrison digs on the electric bass, Kerry Sofaly bangs the drums & Randall Rospond pulls it all together with lead vocals and guitar.
Electric Haiku Hillibillies

Electric Haiku Hillibillies

“This unique combination of musicians will be improvising music ranging from folk, blues, country, reggae, psychedelia and rock with jazzy flavorings, most of which will be original compositions written by Randall and the occasional eclectic cover!” according to Café Marc’s website description. While there, enjoy delicious vittles, aka Tapas, Salads, Sammies or Marc’s signature the Landjäger Pie, organic spinach pizza topped with smoked, cured Landjäger sausage.
Main Street Bistro Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii

Main Street Bistro Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii

Another great option for sit-down dining and Live Jazz can be found at Main Street Bistro, on Market Street. In fact, every Friday night patrons decompress from the work week between 5-8 p.m. in this soul-soothing oasis while downing any number of truly delicious Tapas choices.

All the activities honoring Hawaiian Makahiki at the Wailuku First Friday event are sponsored by the Hawaiian Tourism Authority, Wailuku Community Association, the County of Maui, Native Intelligence, Kama‘āina Properties, Sae Design and Maui Thing.

For more information about the Wailuku First Friday Makahiki, contact Yuki Lei Sugimura at 878-1888 or email yukilei@hawaii.rr.com. For sidewalk vendor information, contact 429-6319 or 1stFridayWailuku@gmail.com.

Restaurant Week Wailea – November 8-14th

Has it been awhile since you enjoyed Veal Marsala at Longhi’s Wailea, or Casseruola Di Mare from Ferraro’s? How long since you indulged in the Joe-so-comforting Braised Beef Short Ribs over Creamy Mushroom Polena at Joe’s Wailea? Ever tried the Herb Crust Mahimahi & Stir Fry Veggies at Mala’s? Now’s your chance! And you won’t break the budget to do it.

Following the success of the promotion last May, Wailea Resort again presents “Restaurant Week Wailea” a celebration of Wailea’s finest cuisine at 15 participating restaurants starting Sunday, November 8th, through Saturday, November 14th.

New on the roster this year is Sea Watch by Bev Gannon, where the menu includes Grilled Pineapple, Red and Yellow Pear Tomato salad with curried chicken wontons and citrus chili dressing; Filet of Beef with shitake mushroom ragout and Crab Stuffed Jumbo Prawns with lemon ginger cream sauce on a wasabi potato cake; finished with Coconut Dream Cake. Welcome to the party, Chef Gannon!!!
Sea Watch Cuisine

Sea Watch Cuisine

Wailea Resort boasts a vast array of award winning chefs, both upscale and down home restaurants, and exciting dining venues. During Restaurant Week Wailea, fifteen participants are presenting sumptuous three course, pre-fixe menus for a mere $29*/$39* per person (*depending on the restaurant – beverages, tax and gratuity not included). Some restaurants have enhanced this promotion by creating wine pairings to enjoy with your meal, also at a special price.

“Based on the success of our inaugural Restaurant Week Wailea in May this year, and on the requests from numerous residents and visitors alike, we chose to bring it back this fall ”, said Bud Pikrone, General Manager, Wailea Community Association. “Our participating restaurants raised over $4,100 for the Maui Food Bank earlier this year as a result of this successful dinner promotion. We felt that bringing it back this fall would be a great opportunity, before the holidays, to raise much needed money for the Maui Food Bank” said Pikrone. Restaurants have heartily endorsed sharing the bounty with the Maui Food Bank by donating back during the promotion. Here are the fifteen restaurants to chose from and contact information. Make reservation directly with individual establishments.