Here’s something we're looking forward to. 

The 27th Annual Kapalua Wine & Food Festival will work its Maui magic from June 26-29 this year.

The three-day festival is presided over by Master Sommelier Fred Dame—who we enjoy for his genial wit, as well as his palate.

It kicks off Friday with chef demonstrations and a grand tasting with 100 wines, exceptional pupu and a Kapalua beachfront sunset. 

It ends Sunday with the Seafood Festival, a bounty of Island seafood, prepared by star chefs, with, of course, plenty of wines.

In between, there are tastings, cooking demonstrations, dinners and a guest appearance from Chef Frank Ostini, whose Hitching Post Restaurant had a starring role in the film Sideways.

Perhaps our favorite moment.  A seminar Sunday morning called “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere,” featuring Bloody Mary recipes from the star sommeliers.  Perhaps the seminar should be called, “Hair of the Dog.”

If you love food, wine and Maui (and it’s a short list of people who don’t), you can make reservations here, or (888) 665-9160.
 

You ask.  We answer.

HAWAII Magazine reader Dorci Whittington writes:

In the early part of the ’90s, I went to see a dinner show at the Maui Tropical Plantation starring Buddy Fo. It was the most fun show I have ever been to. We went every time we were on Maui. When we came back and the show was no longer going, I only got blank stares when I asked about Buddy. I hope you can find some information. Is he still going strong and entertaining people?

At 75, Buddy Fo is still going strong.  We just talked to him on the phone.  He sounds great, and he and wife Sammi perform Monday nights at the Fairmont Orchid on the Big Island.

Fo was tickled that you remember his Hawaiian cowboy show at the Maui Tropical Plantation, Dorci. It was just one step in a legendary career.

After World War II, Fo put together the Invitations, the first Hawaii vocal group to land a national recording contract. Their Liberty Records album, RSVP, was named by HONOLULU Magazine as one of the 50 Greatest Hawaii Music Albums.  Unfortunately, it’s no longer available. Here's what they looked like, in red shirts and white pants they bought from Liberty House.

After the Maui shows, Fo retired—only to be dragged out of retirement by his friend Don Ho. Fo’s memories of playing with Don are captured in the new biography, Don Ho: My Music, My Life.

Here’s a little bit of Fo’s sophisticated sound.

 

And now, today’s moment of zen.

24 actress Elisha Cuthbert was snapped frolicking in the waters off of Maui’s Wailea resort area on Monday with her boyfriend Dion Phaneuf.

Phaneuf—whose bare-chested-ness we’ve included here, you know, for gender balance—is a defenseman for the National Hockey League's Calgary Flames. Cuthbert was taking a perhaps much-needed break following a no doubt taxing photo session for the cover of this month’s Maxim Magazine.

There were slightly saucier photos than these—if you’re curious, either let your imagination run wild or visit our friends at Google search.

But while we're on the subject of photos … Ever take a photo of a celebrity hanging out in Hawaii? How about a Hawaii shot perfect for our HawaiiMagazine.com Photo of the Week contest?

Send either to us along with a story of your photo. We’ll post the best ones on our site, and give you all the credit for it.

 
   

You ask. We answer.

Reader Joe McPherson is headed to Maui next week and had a question for us. What’s the best way to make arrangements in advance for golf tee times?

Simple. No matter which island is your destination, call the concierge of the hotel or resort you are staying at before you get there.

First, they’ll be happy to reserve tee times for you. More importantly, they’ll know the most convenient and best courses, costs and availability. They may even be able to find you special golf packages at the resort.

Also keep in mind that registered guests at nearby resorts almost always get the best rates. So if you're staying at, say, The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua, your best bet is teeing off at Kapalua Resort.

Maui’s golf courses are among Hawaii’s best. Here are just a few recommendations:

Wailea Golf Club. Guests staying at resorts in south Maui's Wailea resort area get the best rates, but all three courses are open to the public. Book tee time here, or call (800) 888-6100, ext. 8. Click here for rates.

Kapalua Resort. Kapalua's two courses are world-renowned for hosting championship golf tournaments. The Plantation Course  hosts the PGA Tour season-opening Mercedes-Benz Championship in January; the Bay Course the Kapalua LPGA Classic in October. The resort won Golf Magazine's 2008 Gold Award for best value. Book tee time here, or call (877) 527-2582. Click here for rates.

Kaanapali Golf Resort. There are two courses here—The Royal Kaanapali and the Kaanapali Kai.  The Royal Kaanapali is one of only two courses in Hawaii designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. It's also the main location for the current season of the Golf Channel's reality series Big Break. Book tee time here, or call (866) 454-4653. Click here for rates.

Makena Golf Courses. Two courses—a North and South course—designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. 808-891-4000. Book tee time here, or call (808) 891-4000. Click here for rates.

 

You ask. We answer.

A couple of readers wrote, lamenting that they couldn’t attend Jack Johnson's Kokua Festival shows in Waikiki this weekend.

This is the fifth-annual go-round of Johnson’s music festival, happening this Saturday and Sunday at the Waikiki Shell. Johnson, Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds  headline, with Mason Jennings and Hawaii acts Paula Fuga and Go Jimmy Go as support.

Tickets for the fest sold out mere hours after going on sale in February. We’re sad for our readers that, unlike previous years, this year’s concerts won’t be streamed live on the Web.

Ally Estrada of Wichita, Kansas, asked which music acts had played each Kokua Festival, and whether we thought attending next year was worth a trip to Hawaii.

Let's answer those two questions in reverse order, Ally.

We think exploring the scenic wonders, cultures, food, activities and everything else we have to offer in Hawaii is always worth a visit, period. However, as long-term residents, we may be biased.

You might also be swayed by the fact that all the cash (minus Ticketmaster fees) goes to the Kokua Hawaii Foundation—the nonprofit founded by Johnson and his wife Kim to support Hawaii-based environmental education programs.

Hope that helps, Ally.

The four words of advice you really need if you want to go to Kokua Festival 2009, tho?  BUY. TICKETS. RIGHT. AWAY. We're talking the-minute-they-go-on-sale.

We'll post the date as soon as we know.

And here’s the answer to your first question, Ally. Jack, no surprise, played every one of the fests.

Kokua Festival 2007
April 21 & 22 @ The Waikiki Shell
Eddie Vedder, Ernie Cruz Jr., Matt Costa, The Girlas

Kokua Festival 2006
April 19 @ Maui Arts & Cultural Center, April 22 @ The Waikiki Shell
Willie Nelson & The Planetary Bandits, Ben Harper, Henry Kapono, Paula Fuga & The One Love Ohana Band, Animal Liberation Orchestra

Kokua Festival 2005
April 13 @ Maui Arts & Cultural Center, April 16 @ The Waikiki Shell
Jackson Browne, John Cruz, Ozomatli, G. Love & The Special Sauce, Kawika Kahiapo & Kaukahi

Kokua Festival 2004
January 3 @ Blaisdell Arena (original location at Kualoa Ranch was rained out)
Amy Hanaialii Gilliom & Willie K, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Makana, DJ Logic

For more Kokua Festival information, click here.
 
 

The new issue of HAWAII Magazine features a story on Maui Brewing Co., a Lahaina-based artisanal brewery crafting Hawaii-inspired beers.

Its brews have won international beer awards. Owner Garrett Marrero and brewmaster Tom Kerns use Hawaii-grown ingredients, when possible—fresh island-grown pineapple, Maui-made rum, Kauai lehua blossom honey.

But since opening in 2005, Marrero has also worked to make his company one of Maui’s most Earth-friendly. He’s one seriously resourceful brewer.

All of his delivery trucks—including his and wife Melanie’s cars—run on biodiesel he makes with his Kaanapali brewpub’s used vegetable oil. The brewpub’s lighting is entirely energy-saving compact fluorescent. Marrero is installing photovoltaic solar cells that will soon generate all of the brewery’s electricity.

Beer brewed by the Maui sun? What a concept.

Leftover grain, yeast and hops from the brewing process are given free to Maui farmers for use as pig and cattle feed, or to create compost fertilizer for produce. Marrero then purchases meat and produce from the farmers for his brewpub.

Maui Brewing Co.’s retro Hawaii-inspired packaging is made of recycled cardboard. Cans for restaurants and bars are delivered sans packaging in reusable trays.

About those cans. Why does Maui Brewing Co. sell its retail beer exclusively in cans instead of bottles? First off, they’re recyclable, use less energy to chill, transport and recycle again, and are made locally. It's also a taste issue.

“If a bottle took better care of the beer, I would be bottling,” says Marrero. “The cans have a water-based liner so the beer does not contact the aluminum. Cans don’t allow light exposure and oxygen pick-up, which affects taste. It’s beer as the brewer intends.”

Keeping things “green” is as important to Marrero (that's him in the photo) as the quality and taste of his beers.

“We’re not going to have a ‘zero (carbon) footprint’ at the brewery, but we’ll be damn close,” said Marrero. “That’s just something we believe is the right way to go. At the end of the day, it’s good to know that there’s one less smog cloud we’re contributing to.”

Maui Brewing Co.’s brewpub is located at the Kahana Gateway Center near Kaanapali Resort, 4405 Honoapiilani Highway, Maui. Call 808-669-0191. Check out the Maui Brewing Co. Web site for retail locations and online store.
   

Apparently, hell hath no fury like golfers unleashed on Maui with $10,000 in cash, a BMW Z4 and  an LPGA tournament slot at stake.

At least that’s what we thought while watching a preview of Golf Channel’s reality series “Big Break,” which premieres its 10th season Tuesday at 10 p.m., eastern time (6 p.m. Hawaii time).

We also thought, “Wait, the Golf Channel has a reality show?” But that’s another story.

For those not in the know (that included us a few hours ago), each season of “Big Break” pits 12 golfers against each other for an exemption slot in a championship golf tournament. Producers fly the dozen (this season, they’re all-female) to a cool golf destination (Kaanapali, this time) with the lure of sweet prizes (grand prize this time around is a slot at the 2008 Navistar LPGA Classic).

Each episode tests their skills on the greens. A player is eliminated each week.

Think “Survivor,” with nine irons and a cushy golf resort instead of an immunity idol and some godforsaken desert island. Like “Survivor,” the drama comes from the diverse personalities and egos of those involved.

Based on the clashes of ids and egos that we saw in the “Big Break” preview, the only thing sure to come out smelling sweet by season’s end is Maui’s sunny and scenic Kaanapali Resort.

“Big Break” has filmed in Hawaii once before—in late 2005 at Oahu’s Turtle Bay Resort.

More on the Kaanapali season here.
  

Hawaii has lost not just a legendary entertainer, but a respected cultural figure. A well-known Hawaiian music family has lost its much-loved matriarch.

Winona Beamer passed away in her sleep this morning at her home on Maui, after a long illness. She was 84.

Her sons are musicians Keola and Kapono Beamer—as a duo, best known for their 1970s hit “Honolulu City Lights.”

Born Winona Kapuailohiamanonokalani Desha—but affectionately known to most simply as “Auntie Nona”—Beamer made countless lasting contributions to Hawaiian culture.

Born in Honolulu in 1923, Beamer began learning hula at age 3 from her Big Island grandmother. She would later become a respected kumu hula (hula teacher)—and a leader in restoring hula’s traditional cultural roots.

An educator for four decades at Kamehameha Schools, Beamer coined the term “Hawaiiana” in 1948 to define the Hawaiian culture courses she introduced into the school’s curriculum.

When school trustees threatened to curtail the curriculum in 1997, Beamer issued a protest letter to the state Supreme Court, condemning their actions and mismanagement. The letter sparked public debate over the actions of the powerful court-appointed trustees (who were also in charge of Kamehameha Schools’ lucrative land trust then known as Bishop Estate). The public uproar would end with the trustees’ removal and an era of monumental reform at the school.

Most folks, however, knew Auntie Nona best for her many contributions to culture and the arts.

Beamer was a composer of songs—most famously, “Pupu Hinuhinu” (Hawaiian meaning “shiny shells”), which is still sung by schoolchildren. She was also a storyteller and prolific author, with more than a dozen books, tapes and CDs to her credit.

Beamer was inducted into the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame in 1974, and presented with a lifetime achievement award by her peers at the 1992 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards—the Hawaiian music equivalent of the Grammys.

Our condolences go out to the Beamer ohana.

  

Alaska Airlines is stepping into the void left by the departure of ATA and Aloha Airlines.

It will add a daily flight between Seattle and Kahului, Maui, to its Hawaii flight schedule beginning July 17. 

From Oct. 31 through April 25, 2009, there will also be a flight from Anchorage to Maui, twice a week.

• The Seattle to Kahului flight will depart daily at 8:20 a.m. (PDT), arriving at 11:35 a.m. (HST).

• Kahului to Seattle, will depart daily at 1:05 p.m. (HST), arriving at 9:45 p.m. (PDT).

• Anchorage to Kahului, will depart Fridays/Saturdays at 2:20 p.m. (Alaska time), arriving at 6:35 p.m. (Hawaii time).

• Kahului to Anchorage, will depart Fridays/Saturdays at 8:45 p.m. (Hawaii time), arriving next day at 5 a.m. (Alaska time).

Anchorage time is two hours ahead of Hawaii time.

Alaska Airlines will offer a $249 introductory one-way fare on both routes for tickets. You have to purchase by April 24, 2008, and travel by Dec. 17, 2008.

Interested? Tickets go on sale at 9 a.m. (PDT), Thursday, on Alaska Airlines Web site, or by calling (800) 252-7522. Click here for more details.

The Seattle-based regional carrier began routes to Oahu and Kauai last year. Alaska Airlines’ new Maui routes were added in reaction to the loss of seats following the closures of Aloha Airlines at ATA Airlines last week, company officials said in a statement. 

Alaska Airlines is also studying possibilities for other Hawaii routes.
  

The Hawaii Superferry’s back.

The ferry resumed interisland service today between Oahu and Maui—departing at 6:30 a.m. from Honolulu to Kahului, and returning at 11:15 a.m. from Kahului to Honolulu. A one-way trip between islands takes about four hours.

Passenger fares one-way are $39, and $55 for passenger vehicles. Reservations may be made at the Superferry Web site or by calling (877) 443-3779.

The Alakai had been in drydock for repairs since Feb. 13, with a return to service originally set for later this month.

The ferry’s advance return comes a week after Aloha Airlines shut down abruptly, creating a reduction in interisland airline seats. However, company officials said the vessel’s return two weeks ahead of schedule was due to a slightly more predictable occurrence: Mellower spring seas between the Islands.

Rough winter seas forced the 866-seat/282-car ferry to suspend service unexpectedly for several days in January, weeks after opening for business. Already low passenger bookings dropped further.

The ferry was originally slated for an additional route between Oahu and Kauai, but protests on Kauai continue to keep the Alakai from docking there.

A second Superferry vessel, still under construction, is scheduled to begin service between Oahu and the Big Island in early 2009—one assumes after rough winter seas abate.