beer lovers paradise found

Getting excited for the 5th annual Maui Brewers Festival this Saturday, May 18th, 2:30pm at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center (MACC). This year's event, a benefit for the MACC to support arts and cultural program for Maui's community, features over 30 craft breweries and appetizers from over 20 of Maui's restaurants. Plus, fare from food trucks, and live music by Nuff Sedd, Lia Live! and Simply Twisted.

Here's a quick rundown of the beers topping my list this year:

• Big Island Brewhaus: Mandarin Gold (one of my favorites from last year's event), features Honokaa oranges and mac nut honey
• Coronado Brewing Co.: Hibiscus IPA, a collaboration with Maui Brewing Co. in support breast cancer research is a combination of Centennial, Chinook and Nugget hops, a refreshingly crisp beer, exhibits pronounced floral notes amidst a hint of balanced bitters
• Coronado Brewing Co.: Orange Avenue Wit is bolstered by orange zest, coriander and orange blossom honey, and expected to be refreshing, light-bodied
• Deschutes Brewery: Twilight Ale awarded 2012 World's Best Seasonal Pale Ale.
  A lighter, yet full-flavored, aromatic Ale with a solid malt foundation paired with distinctive Amarillo hops.
• Kauai Island Brewing Company: Captain Cook's IPA was created after the hoppy ales brewed in the 1700’s for the long journey from England to Hawaii, this Ale is one of our hoppiest beers ever using 15 pounds of hops for 155 gallons of beer
• Lost Coast Brewery: Indica IPA a hoppy, full-bodied ale with radical bittering from Columbus hops, then dry hopped with generous amounts of Willamette and Centennial hop flowers
• Maui Brewing Co.: Lemongrass Saison is a collaboration with Lost Abbey, a brewery located in San Marcos, California known for its Belgian-inspired beers that incorporates local Maui-grown lemongrass and White Wheat, Oats, Pilsner malt, Citra and Nelson Sauvin hops
• Maui Brewing Co.: Pau Hana Pilsner is a Bohemian-style pilsner showcasing Czech Saaz hops, known world-wide for their smooth, clean, yet spicy bitterness, and balanced with a touch of malt sweetness
• Rogue: Dad's Little Helper is deep mahogany in color with roasted malt and hop aromas and dense creamy head, entering the palate with intense hop flavor and coating the tongue with a rich maltiness
• Rogue: Original Colonies Mead boasts honey from Rogue's own honeybees, which spend their days sampling the flavors of the farm; from blackberries, raspberries and cherries; to woodruff, lavender and pumpkins; to rye, corn and Rogues 7 varities of GYO aroma hops

Get your tickets here. $50 for general admission, or $60 on event day. $95 for the VIP Rare Beer Tasting.

sushi cravings

watanabe san effortlessly creates individual sushi masterpieces of what i consider to be hands down the best sushi on maui. if you love huge cuts of the freshest seafood and sushi rice seasoned to perfection, you have to try sushi paradise is kihei. don't be deceived by the location or ambiance, each sushi is personally crafted by owner and chef watanabe, and each bite a explosion of balanced flavor perfection. but come early or after eight, or you'll be in for a long wait. here are my personal favorites...

aji nigiri :: hold the shoyu

salmon skin roll

hamachi + toro nigiri

spicy salmon roll :: super buttery avocado

rainbow roll :: some pieces have three type of sashimi layered on top

first family vacation mauna kea style

body surfing is crystal clear waters

we took our first family vacation on the island of hawaii, starting off at the mauna kea beach hotel. the fabulous rooms were recently renovated and refurbished by john hara associates, which took three rooms and transformed them into two rooms with an extraordinary bathroom complete with its own lanai. the manta restaurant is has wine bar and a breathtaking ocean view. at night the manta rays can be seen feeding in the shallow waters - an awesome sight to behold.

white on white bathroom :: the tub may have been kingston's favorite part of our stay

where sweet dreams happen

amazing golf course views

above the clouds :: views from haleakala

getting wild with branches

this beautiful natural sculpture, "on the wild side", by patrick dougherty was a 2011 artist in residence project, but still can be enjoyed on the grounds of hui no'eau.

bird's eye views: OGG-HNL

waikapu side of the west maui mountains

kahakuloa, maui

east honolulu, hanauma bay + koko head

airplane shadow over maui sugar cane fields

a mediterranean feast

thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. it's all about spending time with family and friends eating delicious food, without the commercialism of christmas. the theme for this year's thanksgiving feast - mediterranean! there was shwarma with tzatziki (or kalua turkey for the tanksgiving purists), onions, kalamata olives, shredded cabbage, tomatoes and cucumbers to stuff your pitas with. plus sides of mediterranean stuffing and mashed potatoes, tabouleh, and cranberry sauce. sorry to disappoint, but there was no pumpkin baklava, just baklava and a yummy orange spice pumpkin pie. so looking forward to leftovers!