The fun continues in Maui! I have more fun stuff to share!

I will begin this post by sharing something that just made my day last week.  After having been mighty vocal about the lack of local cuisine, I finally found a restaurant that serves Hawaiian food. Don’t get me wrong, we have been to some truly amazing restaurants and have had fantastic meals. BUT all I wanted was a place where they made food with SPAM, I mean, all you hear about when Hawaiian cuisine is featured is SPAM this, SPAM that. Don’t get me wrong, I am not a fan of SPAM, but I just wanted to see some on the menu, along with Poi, Kalua Pork, or Lau Lau, or something!!!!

I was at the grocery store one day looking at various regional items in the fridge. Let me say first that I am a complete nerd when it comes to stuff like this. Let me be honest with you and tell you that one of my most favorite things to do when visiting new places is to go to the local grocery stores and check out what they have. I find it very fascinating! So I was standing there minding my own business when one of the grocery store clerks came and stood next to me while doing his inventory. He politely asked if I needed help and a light bulb went off in my head.  He looked Hawaiian and I knew he would have a good answer for me; I just felt it in my bones! Because I was blessed with a friendly personality we got talkin’ and sure enough he told me about Da Kitchen.

The following day we had some business to attend in Kahului, which is the location that he recommended going, and sure enough we made our way there for lunch.  And it was all I ever wanted.

I ordered the Kalua Pork plate, which was phenomenal!

The Sous Chef was in a mood for variety so he went for a lunch plate that came with Kalua Pork, Chicken Long rice, and Lau Lau.

Much to my excitement there is a branch of the same restaurant in Lahaina, walking distance from the yoga studio that I have been going to a couple of times a week….very dangerously close! The girls at the Lahaina branch are super sweet and the food is good, but I think the Kahului location is slightly better!

Our lovely friend Dania is one of the folks behind Slow Food Maui.  They were having a fundraiser at Whole Foods so we stopped by to have lunch.  The food was donated by the Whole Foods in Kahului and the Maui Cattle Co. and prepared by the talented folks of Maui Culinary Academy.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eu5lQOhaLfM&feature=player_embedded#!

Here is my fabulous new friend Roxanne, the founder of Kula Fields being interviewed about Slow Food.


Our next stop was the Ali’i Kula Lavender Farm.  The weather was not collaborating with us on that day and it sprinkled throughout our tour of the premises, but all of that didn’t stop this from being an absolutely wonderful experience. I simply loved it!


After our tour, where we were familiarized with the different variety of Lavenders, we had some wonderful Lavender tea and scones.

If you are lucky, you will meet the man who started all of this, Ali’i. We really enjoyed speaking with him; he is super friendly and personable.

If you are planning on visiting Maui, be sure to check out AKL as it is a fantastic place. The whole place is super peaceful and zen and don’t forget to purchase some goodies from the gift shop.

Next on our list was take a drive to Hana.  The drive was long, filled with many attractions.  This side of the island is super green and there are many beautiful waterfalls.

We also stopped at the Black Sand Beach.  It was fabulous!

Next on the agenda for The Sous Chef and I was to go Ziplining in Ka’anapali. We had a blast! Here I am Zipin’ away!

One of my favorite things to do while here is snorkeling, so I have been making sure to make my way down to the beach regularly.

I can’t get enough of these turtles!

Orangespine Unicornfish

I think this is an Orange Goatfish

Stocky Hawkfish

Don’t know what this one is, maybe a Blue Parrot Fish….

Undulated Moray swimming along.

My luck I saw two of them! This one is a Whitemouth Moray.

Picasso Triggerfish…I love these guys, they are everywhere!

Yellowtail Coris

Achilles Tang

And the sunsets are  always spectacular!

Have a great 4th!

More next week!