The Maui Insider

Fall Fun on Maui

As usual, the Magic Isles are offering something for everyone this season. Exciting races are on the calendar for dedicated athletes and sports fans alike. There are wonderful hula, art and song contests showcasing the talents of Island keiki (children). And for those who love to cook (or eat), we're including a true taste of Maui in this issue with a recipe for Ginger Duck Wontons with Pineapple Lilikoi Dipping Sauce. Read on.

Ready...set...

Runners and triathletes of every stripe will find the competition they're looking for on Maui. From a fun one-mile race down Front Street in Lahaina to the 26.2 miles of the venerable Maui Marathon, it's all right here.

With great weather year-round and a host of outdoor activities to enjoy, it's no wonder that Maui and sports go together so beautifully.

September 18 (Sat)

Maui Tacos 5K Fun Run/Walk

Whalers Village, Kaanapali Resort, Maui

A big weekend of running kicks off in the spirit of fun with the 10th annual Maui Tacos 5K. Run or walk, whichever you please—this is an event for everyone to enjoy. It starts at 8:00am and finishes at Whalers Village in the Kaanapali Resort. www.MauiMarathon.com

September 18 (Sat)

The Run Forrest Run Front Street Mile Race

Front Street, Lahaina, Maui

The second of two fun runs scheduled for this day, following the Maui Tacos 5K, takes place on Front Street in Lahaina. The Run Forrest Run is shorter, at just one mile, but contestants take it at a sprint. It's quite a sight to see. Starting at 3:00pm in front of "Bubba Gumps." www.MauiMarathon.com

September 19 (Sun)

Maui Marathon

Kahului to Kaanapali Resort, Maui

Called "The Best Run in Paradise" by Runner's World magazine, the Maui Marathon offers an exceptionally scenic oceanview course and typically beautiful Maui weather. The 40th running of this much-anticipated annual event begins at 5:30am in Kahului at the Queen Kaahumanu Center. www.MauiMarathon.com

September 18 - 19

The Maui Marathon Warrior Challenge

Are you looking for a real challenge? Then the inaugural Maui Marathon Warrior Challenge is for you. Take on the Maui Tacos 5K and the Run Forrest Run Front Street Mile Race on Saturday, then run the Maui Marathon or Half Marathon on Sunday. If you complete all three events, you'll be named a "Kukini Warrior," named in honor of elite messengers who once served Hawaiian royalty. www.MauiMarathonHawaii.com

October 23 (Sat)

XTERRA 5K & 10K Trail Run

Makena Beach & Golf Resort, Maui

This is your chance to experience the famed XTERRA course the day before the big XTERRA World Championship triathlon. The event starts at 8:00am and follows a course winding through Maui's diverse environment of forests, cacti and spectacular oceanfront scenery. www.xterraplanet.com/maui/makena.html

October 24 (Sun)

XTERRA World Championship

Makena Beach & Golf Resort, Maui

The world comes to Maui for this thrilling, high-stakes off-road triathlon. A star-studded field of competitors, drawn from more than 20 countries, takes on a 1.5K ocean swim, 32K mountain bike course and 12K trail run. The winners take home hefty cash prizes and bragging rights as World Championship conquerors. www.xterraplanet.com/maui/

Watch the hula stars of tomorrow in "Hula O Na Keiki"

The uniquely Hawaiian art of hula is alive and well in the Magic Isles, and the 20th annual Hula O Na Keiki competition provides a fascinating glimpse into a new generation of performers.

Contestants, who range from 5 to 17 years in age, are required to undergo an interview in front of a panel of judges. Then they take the stage and show their skills.

Solo

The young dancers must demonstrate their solo mastery in kahiko (traditional) and auana (modern) hula and chant to uphold the honor of their halau (hula school).

Pairs

The competition also features dancers paired up in the Palua (couple) Division. The ability to share the spotlight and complement another dancer's style is also a big part of the art of hula, and it's all on display here.

Hula O Na Keiki
November 12-14
Kaanapali Beach Hotel, Maui
hawaiiculture.com/Main/Hula_O_Na_Keiki/
Hula_O_Na_Keiki.aspx

Music and art are featured at "Na Mele O Maui"

One of Maui's most beloved and longest-running institutions is the Na Mele O Maui student song competition. Choirs from kindergarten through 12th grade compete in singing traditional Hawaiian songs, helping to carry on the vocal traditions of the Islands. It is a remarkable spectacle, and well worth attending for anyone who loves music.

There is also a High School Art Competition held in conjunction with the Na Mele O Maui. Artistic works follow the same theme as that of the song competition, and may be two- or three-dimensional works. Winning entries are displayed in the Maui Arts and Cultural Center, where the song competition also takes place.

Na Mele O Maui
December 3rd
9am - 2pm
Maui Arts and Cultural Center
kaanapaliresort.com/WhatToDo/NaMeleOMaui/

Harvest beauty on Maui's flower farm tours

From the southern slope of Haleakala, where the woodsy essence of protea perfume the air, to the ginger-scented eastern slope jungles, Maui is one brilliant bouquet.

Visiting Maui's flower farms is a delightful way for your family to explore Maui's hidden pockets of beauty, walking through flower tunnels and under flower canopies. Flower farm tours also allow you to meet Maui locals and see how their gardens grow.

Fragrant Orchids of Maui
Haiku, Maui

On this tour of the 2.5-acre farm and 5500 sq. ft. greenhouse, owner Karen Klemme shares her orchid growing secrets with visitors. You leave feeling you can nurture a blue-ribbon winner at the county fair. www.fragrantorchids.com

Hana Tropicals
Hana, Maui

Hana Tropicals is a 400-acre flower farm in Hana, Maui, offering three fun-filled flower farm tours: an escorted garden tour, an adventurous 4x4 Jeep ride and a weekend immersion tour. www.hanatropicals.com

Hana Maui Botanical Garden
Hana, Maui

On this self-guided tour, visitors follow a trail map along the 27-acre property. View not only thriving mature flower and fruit plants, but also towering native trees such as kukui, ulu and hala. www.ecoclub.com/hanamaui

Nahiku Tropicals
Hana, Maui

Planted in 1986, Nahiku Tropicals is a boutique flower farm where visitors can stroll among meticulously manicured gardens overflowing with a wide variety of one-of-a-kind flowers and trees. www.nahikutropicals.com

Aloha Maui Insider,

Is there anywhere I can purchase coffee grown in Maui Nui?
Mahalo, Charley

Aloha Charley,
There are two places to taste and purchase coffee grown on Maui Nui. On Maui you can visit MauiGrown Coffee. They grow the Kaanapali Estate Coffee in the West Maui Mountains near the historic town of Lahaina. Visit the MauiGrown Coffee Company Store and sample their coffee at 277 Lahainaluna Road next to the famous Lahaina Smokestack. They are open Monday through Saturday 6:30 am to 5:00 pm and closed Sundays. For more information or to purchase coffee visit www.mauigrowncoffee.com

For delicious coffee grown in Molokai, visit the Coffees of Hawaii Store and Café, located at 1630 Farrington Avenue in Kualapuu, their phone number is 808-567-9490, their hours are Monday-Friday 7am to 5pm, Saturday 8am to 8pm, and Sunday 8am to 5pm. Go to www.coffeesofhawaii.com for more information and to purchase coffee.

Mahalo,
The Maui Insider

Dear Maui Insider,

We like receiving the Insider via e-mail and reading it on a regular basis. Where can we go online to get updates on an as needed basis?
Best Regards, Betsy

Aloha Betsy,
We are happy you enjoy reading the Quarterly Insider. You can get the latest news and updates online by going to our Facebook, Twitter and VisitMaui Blog sites: www.facebook.com/visitmaui, www.twitter.com/mauivisit and www.visitmauiblog.com.

Best Regards,
The Maui Insider

Hello Maui Insider,

We are coming to visit Maui with our family this summer and we want to know the best luau. Can you advise us?
Sincerely, The Smith Family

Aloha to the Smith Family,
On Maui, a luau will be entertaining for the entire family. However, the best luau is probably the one closest to where you are staying. If the luau is within walking distance or close by taxi then the adults in the group can more easily enjoy the adult beverages provided. It's also a good idea to book the luau of your choice in advance so you can attend on the evening that best suits your schedule. Luau generally operates on a daily basis in the summertime. To find Maui luau links go to www.VisitMaui.com and enter luau in the search box.

Best Regards,
The Maui Insider

Featured recipe from Gannon's, A Pacific View Restaurant

Gannon's is a new full service open-air restaurant with panoramic volcano-to-ocean views spanning from Haleakala Crater to the offshore islands of Kahooholawe and Molokini. The U-shaped Red Bar serves a full menu and is frequented by golfers at day and locals by night. If you aren't able to visit Maui right now, you can still enjoy the Ginger Duck Wonton recipe below at home. For more information, visit www.gannonsrestaurant.com

Ginger Duck Wontons with Pineapple Lilikoi Dipping Sauce

Executive Chef Beverly "Bev" Gannon generously supplied the yummy Ginger Duck Wonton recipe below. We want to share a few notes about the ingredients. You will be able to find sambal (Southeast Asian paste of ground fresh chilis), hoisin sauce (sweet sauce based on sugar and soybeans) and wonton wrappers in the Asian section of your local grocery store. If you cannot find lilikoi puree, please feel free to substitute pureed fresh mango or omit it entirely.

To prepare the dipping sauce, in a small bowl, combine all the ingredients and mix well. Set aside.

To prepare the filling, in a saucepan, heat the olive and sesame oils over medium heat. Add the onion, carrot, ginger and garlic and sauté for four minutes, until the vegetables are limp. Add the hoisin sauce, sesame seeds, salt, and pepper. Remove from the heat.

Place the duck in a bowl, add the cooked vegetable mixture, and mix well. Adjust the seasoning. Let cool.

To assemble the wontons, in a small bowl, stir together the cornstarch and water. Lay out 6 to 8 wonton skins, positioning each of them with a point facing you. Put about 1 tablespoon of the filling in the center of each skin. Brush the edges of the skin with the cornstarch mixture. Fold the bottom edge up to the top edge, covering the filling, and pressing the edges together to seal. You'll have a triangle. Fold the two lower sides of the triangle together and press to seal. Repeat this procedure until you've used all the filling. Cover and chill for a few hours before frying.

In a heavy saucepan, pour in the peanut oil to a depth of about 1 inch and heat to 375°. Add the wontons, a few at a time, and fry, turning with tongs to fry evenly for about a minute until golden brown. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to paper towels to drain. Serve hot with the dipping sauce.

"My first trip to Hawaii came at the age of 48. Maybe everyone feels this way, but I found that Maui immediately felt like home to me. Never in my life had I felt so well physically, emotionally and spiritually. Hawaii was so much different than I had imagined it. It was natural and simple. I loved it. After the birth of my second child I developed fibromyalgia, which is a condition that causes widespread muscle pain. In Maui, my pain level was better than it ever has been. My fiance and I enjoy the "real" Maui. We probably wouldn't choose a super fancy resort even if we could afford it. We prefer to be part of the people and culture rather than separated from them. We like spending as much time outdoors as possible, snorkeling and hiking."

KD
San Jose, CA

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Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii 96793
Phone: 800 525 MAUI(6284) · Fax: 800 244-1337
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