Tag Archives | Christmas

Hawaiian Santa on Maui

By on December 24, 2011 in Beach, Events, Family Fun, Photos

 

 

 

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Silent Night Hawaiian Style

By on December 22, 2011 in Aloha Friday, Arts and Culture, Photos

I am writing a Maui Christmas post right now. While researching for some event information, I stumbled upon this beautiful Silent Night Hawaiian Style video on Youtube and I knew I must share it here. The chant in the beginning of the video gave me “chicken skin” (local style of calling “goose bumps”).  Melody Dawn’s voice is beautiful as well as the photos in the slide. Enjoy!

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White Sand Christmas, A Merry Maui Christmas

By on December 17, 2011 in Family Fun, Holidays on Maui, What to do

I received an e-mail from our blog reader who wanted to share about their Christmas vacation on Maui, and I thought it was very nice of him to offer that. I told him to send me the post via e-mail and if it is consistent with the theme of this blog, we’ll publish it. I love it when A Maui Blog readers interact and participate and this is one example. Living on Maui, we sometimes take for granted how wonderful it is to celebrate Christmas here on a warm weather. This post reminds me to be appreciative of this blessing. This is Tyler’s story from their previous Christmas vacation on Maui. They can’t come this year due to a new baby born to their family, but it is fun reminiscing their past Christmas here on Maui and he looks forward to coming here again with his new son.

White Sand Christmas

If you are like me and live in Utah or any other cold area then you know how harsh winter can be, with the freezing rain, whiteout blizzards and sub-zero temperatures. This makes for a slow and dangerous commute. You also know that there is nothing more magical than a white Christmas. Waking up on Christmas morning and seeing everything covered in a blanket of sparking white snow almost makes the rest of the winter worth it. However, it seems that the past few Christmas mornings we have woken up to freezing temperatures, and hazy polluted skies with no snow. So I decided that there had to be a better way to celebrate a white Christmas.

Unfortunately there is more to Christmas than just snow. Traditions, music, holiday lights and of course spending time with family are all important around the holidays. So I found myself in a dilemma, I wanted to go somewhere warm but I couldn’t leave all the other things that make Christmas magical behind. Then I realized the solution was easy, take it all with me. So we packed up the whole family, including Grandparents, and headed to Hawaii.

 We arrived in Maui just in time to witness one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen. Then the Christmas magic began, instantly every palm tree and rooftop around us light up with holiday lights. I thought I was going to miss our Christmas tree, but quickly learned that a palm tree decorated with lights is so much better. As for the Christmas music, Hawaii has its own music and it is awesome. The next morning we woke up to a white sand beach. It was even more magical and exciting than a white snow Christmas. The rest of that day was spend playing on the white sand beach, spending time with family and soaking up the sun.

You are probably wondering about the Christmas traditions. Well, we found our new family Christmas tradition. What could be better, we had everything we needed to make Christmas magical plus the warmth, beauty and hospitality of the Hawaiian Islands and people. The only thing worse than leaving the Island and going back to hazy polluted skies and sub-zero temperatures is waiting a full year before returning to Maui to celebrate another beautiful white sand Christmas.

Tyler is a writer and marketer for uscharterservice.com. He is an avid snowboarder (but prefers surfing while in Hawaii). He loves traveling and spending time with his family. He can’t wait to spend his first white sand Christmas with his new son.

Are you a friend of A Maui Blog and would also like to share your Maui Vacation Story with us? That would be wonderful!  Contact me and we’ll work it out :)

Photo Credit:  The Maui Sunset photo  is taken by  Lena Castles of A David Story. And the Palm with Christmas Lights photo is from my FB friend Mark Tate.

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Time for Ulupalakua Sunday Drive. Enjoy Ulupalakua Sparkles 2011

By on December 3, 2011 in Arts and Culture, Community, Events, Family Fun

Maui’s Winery and Ulupalakua Ranch Store invite the public to come on up to Upcountry Maui for “Ulupalakua Sparkles” on Sunday, December 4, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (I am posting this Saturday night, so that’s tomorrow.  You might be reading this on Sunday, that mean it’s today for you :) )

This festive event rings in the holidays in true Hawaiian style: with entertainment by award-winning musicians; mouth-watering food; free wine tasting; and a chance to shop for only-on-Maui gifts for the whole ‘ohana. The ranch store and winery will offer the biggest specials of the year on all branded merchandise, wines and locally made items.

Giving Grammy-winning sparkle to the day will be slack key guitar master Jeff Peterson, performing together with Nathan Aweau. The two will premier their brand new album “Mamo,” not yet released in the U.S. but available for the first time at this special event! The CD features Hawaiian music with jazz interpretations, ranging from hula classics to original songs. One of Hawai‘i’s most versatile and talented musicians, Peterson is the son of an Ulupalakua Ranch paniolo, with music that reflects his passion for his heritage. Formerly a member of Hawaiian supergroup HAPA, Aweau has been named three times as Na Hōkū Hanohano “Male Vocalist of the Year.” Peterson and Aweau will perform on the winery grounds from noon to 1 p.m. and 2 to 4 p.m.

More Maui talent will shine with respected Kumu Hula Uluwehi Guerrero and Gale Wisehart leading Maui’s Community Choir, Na Leo Lani O Maui, in concert from 1 to 2 p.m. Guerrero’s Halau Hula Kauluokala will add the language of dance to this gift of Hawaiian culture.

And it wouldn’t be the holidays without Christmas carols by the keiki! Seventh- and eighth-graders from the Samuel E. Kalama Intermediate SchoolUkulele Band of Makawao will perform holiday favorites at 11 a.m., with a special appearance by the sixth-grade semester band. The young musicians are led by director Benny Uyetake, another talented local favorite who will perform at the Ulupalakua Ranch Store from noon to 3 p.m. He will also be singing “Mary Did You Know” with Teri Garrison  on this event.

Shoppers at “Ulupalakua Sparkles” will find plenty of uniquely Maui gift ideas: like the 2009 Plantation Red Maui County Syrah, a limited estate wine made from Syrah grapes handpicked from the slopes of Haleakala, offered for a final tasting on this day. To enhance the shopping spirit, both the winery and ranch store will offer 25 percent off all logo wear and made-on-Maui items!

And what could gift could say “Maui” more than a sweet Maui Gold Pineapple, shipped straight from the field home to friends and family? Hali‘imaile Pineapple Company will provide samples, sales and information about their juicy product (which just happens to be the source of Maui’s Winery pineapple wines!).

Maui Cattle Company will also be on hand, serving up the Ranch’s famous Ulupalakua Steak Chili and Chow Fun. Formed in 2002 by a group of local ranchers, the company prides itself on all-natural, premium Angus beef that is raised on Maui and full of flavor.

The good grinds continue inside Ulupalakua Ranch Store Deli & Grill, with burger specials (try the Ulupalakua Elk Burger); sandwich specials (grilled marinated veggie and roasted sliced beef); plate lunches (beef brisket and sweet-and-sour pork made with Maui Gold Pineapple); salads and more, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Other treats include delicious offerings from graduates of the Ka Ipu Kukui Fellows Program, a leadership program at University of Hawai‘i Maui College. Proceeds benefit the program.

With amazing food, fun, shopping and music, Dec. 4 is sure to be a day that sparkles!

“We look forward to sharing the Ulupalakua holiday spirit with everyone at this very special event!” says Paula Hegele, president of Maui’s Winery.

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