Looking for a way to contribute to a worthy cause while indulging your sweetest senses? Then ‘Life is Sweet’, presented by Best Buddies Hawaii, is the perfect occasion. On December 18th, at the first annual event, some of the most accomplished culinary masters in Hawaii will put their skills on the table in creating tantalizing sweets. Some of the top-rated establishments represented includes Ruth’s Chris Steak House (best bread pudding on the Pacific), Capische, Tommy Bahama Restaurant, Joe’s Bar & Grill, The Four Seasons, and the Wailea Marriott Resort/Spa.

The celebration will be from 3pm to 6pm at The Shops at Wailea and attendees will enjoy an array of delectable masterpieces, while enjoying a beautiful Wailea afternoon filled with desserts, wine, music, and prizes. Proceeds from this year’s Life is Sweet event will benefit the Best Buddy Hawaii program, with many Maui County schools being direct beneficiaries. Tickets are available for $75, by contacting www.bestbuddieshawaii.org or 808.2426962.

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.

Find out what’s the ‘Best of Maui’

MauiTime released its ‘Best of Maui’ series.  While enjoying what is consistently voted as the “Best Island in the World”, visitors can enjoy the Best of Maui, as voted by residents and long-time visitors.  This year’s edition is in 3D, so any clients who are currently off-island and would like a copy, contact me and I’ll send you one in the mail. The categories range from ‘Best Meter Maid’ to ‘Best Place to Get Waxed’, so for the sake of brevity I will report those that would be most relevant:

*  Best Town to Live: Lahaina. Are you looking to enjoy world-class beaches, five star restaurants, and championship golf courses? Lahaina boasts that and much more, from a thriving nightlife to boutique shops and everything in between, this is the town to live. Real estate options range from magnificent ocean estates to entry-level condominiums.

*  Best Fine Dining:  Mama’s Fish House. Critically acclaimed, this Maui institution is well-known for its unparalleled beachfront location, an outstanding wait staff, and a menu that will please even the most discerning food aficionado. If you are looking for a vacation rental within walking distance of Mama’s Fish House, contact us.

*  Best Bar: Ambrosia Martini Lounge. Reinventing the art of mixing drinks, the staff at Ambrosia are true innovators in their field. A casual atmosphere, new-age drinks (as well as the classics), and good company abound at this new Kihei landmark.

*  Best Locals’ Beach: Baby Beach in Spreckelsville. The natural lagoon at Baby Beach provides an excellent place for kids to play and for adults to frolic peacefully on the water. After enjoying a day at the beach, head in to Paia for a mai tai and unwind the Maui way.

*  Best Local Blog: A Maui Blog. Liza Pierce has been ‘talking story since 2006’. Her blog is insightful, sincere, and genuine in promoting Maui, from a local’s perspective with Aloha. Subscribe to her feed for updated Maui information, news, and local events.

There are a hundred other categories in the Maui Time’s “Best of” so if you’d like to further discuss it or have questions about Maui, feel free to contact me.

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.