Wailea Welcomes the Maui Film Festival

From June 15 to June 19, the Maui Film Festival will captivate audiences in Wailea and at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. Movie stars from all the world flock to Hawaii’s answer to Sundance, in the past this has included Helen Hunt, Greg Kinnear, Pierce Brosnan, Clint Eastwood, Dennis Quaid, and much more. There are several establishments that are conducting specials, such as Bev Gannon’s “Dinner & Movie” (click here to learn more), which pairs five-star cuisine with cinema under the stars in a very convenient setting.

Tickets can be purchase as single-film tickets -prices varying from $10 for films at the MACC to $22 for movies shown at the Wailea Gold & Emerald Golf Courses- or as festival passes – varying from $40 to $595, depending on the level of benefits. In addition, tickets for special events are also available: $120 for Opening Night Twilight Reception, $70 for Starry Night Moondance, $125 for Taste of Chocolate, $120 for Taste of Wailea, and $60 for Cosmic Closing Night. For more information on purchasing tickets, visit the Box Office.

Although we specialize in Wailea real estate, we would love to hear your experience of the Maui Film Festival and hope to see you there.

One of my favorite events of the year will be hosted this Saturday, February 19, in Kihei. Whale Day is one of the key events in the Pacific Whale Foundation’s Whale Festival. As a fundraiser for Marine Education Programs benefiting Maui schoolchildren, it is day of fun that ultimately betters the Maui community. The day begins with Parade of Whales at 9am , starting at Alanui Keali’i Drive going northbound on South Kihei Rd and ends at the Kihei Library, next to the Firestation.

There is a plethora of things to see and do, sure to please every member of the family. Food booths from some local favorites will be available, as well as delicious desserts from Banyan Tree Deli, Cold Stone, Da Local Banana, Paradise Tropical Ice, and more. The keiki carnival will feature inflatable rides, shave ice, cotton candy, and the crowd-pleasing ‘Whale Competition Pod’ game. In addition, there will be PWF exhibits, Silent Auctions, the Whale Regatta, and Eco Valley. Last, but certainly not least, is the music entertainment, showcasing some of Maui’s best, including Anuhea, John Cruz, Marty Dread, The Throwdowns, Gail Swanson, George Kahumoku Jr., and Cecilio & Kapono.

Bring appetite and your love for fun, this event will not disappoint.

On Sunday August 15, the Maui Arts and Cultural Center (MACC) will be the perfect setting for an evening with ‘The Temptations’ and ‘The Four Tops’.  Imagine listening to some of the greatest and most influential Motown musicians while enjoying the cool Maui breeze under the stars. Although it’s not from my generation, this music has certainly withstood the test of time. The Temptations have inspired generations with such hits as ‘My Girl’, ‘Papa was a Rolling Stone’, ‘Just My Imagination’, and much more. And who can forget such classics from The Four Tops such as ‘I cant help myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)’, ‘Aint No Woman Like the One I Got’, and ‘Baby, I Need Your Loving’.

For those who have not experienced a musical performance under the stars at the MACC, it is the kind of out-of-this-world experience that can change the way you view music.  For ticket information, visit the MACC website. And if you’d like to chat about this event, Maui, or the Aloha way of life, feel free to post comments.

With the Maui Film Festival commencing in Wailea on June 16, we thought we would  bring attention to what this event actually brings to the community in terms of overall value.  For many people, Maui is a tropical haven to vacation in and retire someday in the very distant future.  But there is a plethora of reasons why living in Maui is the perfect choice.

For example, with more and more activities and entertainers coming here, such as the Maui Film Festival, it really opens the doors to experience world-class talent in a small-town setting.  In the coming week, we will see an influx of some of the most celebrated film stars, directors, and producers coming to enjoy our small island.  In addition, educational opportunities are becoming increasingly attainable.  For those who think that by raising a family in Maui you would compromise the quality of education children can receive, remember that some of the best high schools in the Pacific are here (i.e. Seabury Hall in Makawao).  Furthermore, most people think of Maui as a service-oriented community, relying exclusively on tourism for job creation and development.  However, technical industries are quickly growing on Maui, with employment in renewable energy on the rise and the High Tech Maui sector heavily recruiting and promoting for projected growth.

Sure, the Maui Film Festival brings stars to our island and is the ideal setting to enjoy cinema under the stars, but it also clearly illustrates a bigger point:  Maui is more than just beaches and fruity drinks, it is the perfect place to call home.

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According to tourism officials, March was a significant improvement for the Hawaiian islands over a year ago, with Maui taking the most dramatic headway.  Visitor arrivals grew up to 181,182 (a remarkable 14.2 percent improvement over March 2009) and expenditures increased to $257.7 million (an incredible 25.2 percent growth).  Credit can be partly assigned to more new  flights to Maui being added, in particular from Canada and parts of California.  This will have a lasting effect from this point forward (unless such flights are later discarded by carriers) and can be the beginning of a trend, where most of the tourism growth will be allocated to the Valley Isle.  However, to keep in context, one must remember that last year was the height of the economic crisis and tourism was anemic, at best.  Does this mark the beginning of long-term economic recovery?  Quite possibly.  The Maui real estate statistics for the month of April will be out in few days, with the possible sign that we have scraped the bottom of the market and are on the path for long-term growth and endurance.  Taking into account for declining unemployment rates, improved consumer confidence (based on job creation and national trends), tourism increases, and all the indicators are there for a stabilization (and possible growth) of the Maui economy.  Stay tuned, we could be in for a collective sight of relief.