Thank you for the wonderful honeymoon - we’ll be back!

Dear Teresa,

MaryAnn and I want let you know that we had a wonderful time on our honeymoon. This was due to all of your planning. We cannot thank you enough for all that you had done for us. Thank you for the delicious chocolate covered strawberries. We will be in contact with you to help plan our next trip to Australia/New Zealand or Hawaii.
Thank You
Armand Cilento

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Makawao, Maui - where the Paniolo lifestyle is alive and well!

Makawao, Maui - Paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) town and a renowned art community

Located on the mid-slopes of Maui’s Haleakala volcano, Makawao has one foot in its plantation past and another in its thriving arts community. This charming town was once named one of the top 25 arts destinations in the United States.

Makawao is the biggest little town in the region locally known as Upcountry Maui and is famous for its Hawaiian cowboys, or paniolo. Since the late 19th century, horseback-riding paniolo have wrangled cattle in Maui’s wide-open upland fields. The Makawao Rodeo, held yearly on the Fourth of July, is Hawaii’s largest paniolo competition and has been an Upcountry tradition for more than 50 years. The weekend events include a parade and traditional rodeo competitions such as barrel racing, calf roping and bareback bronco riding, all with a few Hawaiian twists.

For a snack, follow the locals to get a famous cream puff from T. Komoda Store. Established in 1916 by Takezo Komoda, a Japanese plantation worker, this little store and bakery does big business. Lines can be long in the morning when everything’s fresh, so come early. The bakery is closed on Wednesdays and Sundays.

You can also spend the afternoon exploring and shopping in the eclectic shops, boutiques and art galleries in town. Makawao is also home to the Hui Noeau Visual Arts Center, where visitors can take classes and explore free gallery exhibits. The combination of its paniolo heritage and its lively artistic community make Makawao a unique stop on your visit to Maui.

Exerpts from GoHawaii.com

NOTE: I’ve got my cowgirl hat & jeans, camera in hand, pointing my little car upcountry Saturday morning for a dirt kickin’ good time!

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Upcountry Maui - No Snorkel Shops & Tourist Traps

Last week I shut down my computer, turned off the office lights and joined my friend from the mainland in exploring Maui - my island home.

I am “lucky I live Hawaii” and need to take advantage of all the sights and beauty the island has to offer. I have lived here 20 years and still have not seen/done everything.

We began our adventure by heading “upcountry” - up Haleakala Crater to enjoy the beauty of the rolling hills, cows & horses as well as the small towns of Makawao and Paia.

After cruising around - (I tell people just drive up the hill and try to get lost - its an island, the road goes in a circle! ) we planned our trip to dine at the Kula Lodge Restaurant. On the weekends the Kula Lodge Garden Terrace features a wood fired oven baking some of the best pizza on the island. Be sure to sit outside in the garden where the views of the entire west side of Maui are spectacular!

Kula Lodge is a small, rustic & romantic hideaway that was built in the 1940’s as a private residence. Kula Lodge and Restaurant hugs the mountainside and blends with the astonishing ambience of Upcountry Maui.

The area on Maui known as Kula is the undiscovered Maui, like an unexpected gift that is a joy to open for the adventurous traveler willing to get off the beach and explore the island. You won’t find tourist traps or snorkel shops. Instead you will find a peaceful and relaxing area of Maui where the Protea flowers are absolutely huge, there is virtually no traffic and life moves at a slow pace.

Kula Lodge also features the Curtis Wilson Cost Art Gallery as well as Kula Marketplace which is filled with local crafts, locally grown vegetables and home made gifts. Plan on spending a few relaxing hours meandering around the destination known as Kula Lodge. The ultimate treat would be to stay overnight at Kula Lodge. Five rustic chalets are available for rent and are a great starting point to begin your journey to the sunrise at Haleakala National Park or end your roadtrip after visiting Hana or Maui’s Ulupalakua Winery.

Call the TravelGal at 800 644-6659 for more details.

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A Guide to Maui - My Island Home

Secluded from the rest of the world, the Islands of Hawaii warmly welcome everyone visiting her shores. With a climate perfect for beach going, cooled by trade winds and infused with the scent of tropical flowers like plumeria, gardenia & tuberose, Hawaii is America’s vacation paradise and where I am blessed to call home.

The Island of Maui, also known as the land of the rainbows is incredibly beautiful and diverse. There are four topographical areas of Maui:
1. There is the soft, white sandy stretches of beach and the crashing waves which everyone expects when they visit Hawaii. You will find beach parks & sections where there is no one else on the beach. Your biggest decision will be “how big of a wave do I want to play in today?” or “how much of a breeze do I need to cool off?“ “Or if I’m snorkeling or scuba diving today, which coral reef should I go explore?”

So, after a day or two at the beach, when your skin needs a rest from the accumulating sunburn, jump in your car and explore the other sides of Maui.

2. While on island you must take a drive up the slopes of Haleakala - which means ‘House of the Sun’ in Hawaiian. The terrain is all rolling hills with cows, horses, and every shade of green imaginable.
Spend a few hours in Makawao, which is an old cowboy town; if you arrive early enough, you’ll be able to enjoy a Komodo Bakery donut on a stick - worth the drive in itself. I’ve seen people line up at the door just to enjoy one of their famous cream puffs.

3. The crater of Haleakala appears to be like the surface of the moon. Haleakala Highway is one of the fastest ascending road in the world. Take a jacket and long pants - it is cold up there! See the Silver-swords in bloom, located only on the crater’s edge. There are day hikes into the crater or get up at about 2:00am to drive up in the dark and see the sun rise out of the ocean - it is a spectacular sight! Haleakala houses one of the top Observatories in the U.S.

4. The tiny town of Hana is situated on the east side of Maui in a tropical rain forest. Plan your holiday so you can spend your last few days in Hana and really relax. There are no golf courses and very few televisions or radio in Hana. However, you will find black sand beach, bamboo rainforest, guavas & banana trees, 53 one way bridges and too many waterfalls to count!

Are you ready to pack a bag, grab your sunscreen and join us?

Contact me for more island vacation ideas, lodging & activities at 800 644-6659.

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