Olowalu Snorkel

My friend Chelsea just moved to the island last week, and she hasn't had the chance to break in the snorkel gear she purchased prior to her big move--until now!

I enlisted my friend Odie to join us, and he piled us into his van and away we went!

{suiting up for snorkeling}

{in the water looking back towards the mountains}

{rocking the neon fins and a black pedicure}

{I told you: I'm a mermaid}

{under the sea}

{looks like brains}

{Odie with his spear}

{Odie didn't spear any fish--but he did collect some seashells}

{pencil urchins}

{chasing fish}

{pretty in pink}

{gorgeous day at Olowalu}

We were in the water for over an hour.  Thankfully, Odie loaned me a rash guard to wear, but even so, I got freakishly cold.  At a certain point, I couldn't take it anymore, so I beelined for the beach.  I hustled to get out of the water and frantically removed my rash guard so I could wrap myself up in my fluffy beach towel.  I looked like a mummy standing on the beach.

I also got a little sunburned.  My face is looking a little pink.  Ouch.  I'm going to go extra heavy on the sunscreen for my whale watch tomorrow afternoon!

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I'm a Mermaid!

Okay.  Not really, but I feel like one now!  After two and a half years of living on Maui, I finally caved and bought myself a snorkel mask and some badass fins!

I feel like the neon yellow will scare the sharks away.  That's a real thing, right?

I went to Wahikuli today for a quick dip and to test out my new merchandise.  It was an amazing short snorkel: I saw a turtle, a pufferfish, a white mouthed eel and a starfish!

As I said, I'm a mermaid.

All I need to do is figure out how to hold my breath like one.

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It's Raining, It's Pouring!

We woke up to rain.  Lots of it.

It was raining so hard, you can't even see the ocean!  All of Lahaina was whited out by the pouring rain.

{A snapshot of raindrops frozen in mid-fall}

And now, just a half hour after the last big bout of rain...

...we can see the ocean again!  And a cruise ship.

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Top Chef Viewing Party

Bryan and I have been parked in front of our TV every Wednesday night to make sure we catch each new episode of this season's Top Chef.  Bryan's work buddy, Sheldon Simeon, has been competing on the show, and it's been absolutely thrilling watching him cook his way into the Top 3!  Sheldon is the executive chef at Star Noodle (one of our favorite places to eat), and he also created the menu for Leoda's Kitchen and Pie Shop.  He is also an all-around nice guy: super sweet and humble.

The Hoaloha Na Eha Company, which is comprised of the restaurants Star Noodle, Aloha Mixed Plate, Leoda's and the Old Lahaina Luau, organized a viewing party for Part 1 of the Season Finale.  They held the viewing party at their Learning Center in downtown Lahaina.

They set up a projector, tables draped with linens and littered with candies and Sheldon centerpieces, and a small hot buffet line with noodles, wings and kalbi ribs.

{Sheldon centerpieces!}

Sheldon's been sporting his red knit beanie all season long on the TV show, so the company made sure to outfit us all with a beanie to watch the episode in style.

{Bryan sporting his beanie over his baseball cap--stylish}

Someone made a Top Chef red beanie hat with chocolate cupcakes.

{PS those were the BEST cupcakes I have ever had.  In my entire life.  No joke}

It was great to watch the episode with so many outspoken supporters of Sheldon and his work, so we were sad to see him eliminated from the competition.  Even so, Sheldon has really made a name for himself by broadcasting his talents, hard work and winning personality on the TV show.  

I remember when we thought it was hard to get into Star Noodle last year because it was so busy--it's a whole different ballgame this year after his newfound popularity!

After the episode, everyone gave Sheldon a standing ovation.  The company has already been elevated by his talents--even before Sheldon appeared on the show--but now, because of Sheldon appearing on Top Chef, Maui has been put on the culinary map.  There is some great food to be had out here, which I'm sure you have seen from this blog, but now everyone knows it for a fact.

Cutting the red beanie cake was bittersweet, but we were all so happy to be there celebrating Sheldon's amazing success!

{Sheldon's little ones eagerly awaiting for a cake slice}

Congratulations Chef Sheldon for a job well done!

Part 2 of the season finale airs next Wednesday.  Make sure to watch!  Chef Sheldon and past contestants return to the small screen to cook with the Top 2 in the finale.

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Wrapped!

I've been craving some greens and veggies in my life, so I went to the grocery store and picked up all the fixings for a mega wrap.

I loaded up a spinach tortilla with hummus, a smear of goat cheese, shredded carrots, spinach, thinly sliced radishes, mounds of sprouts, a little avocado, and a drizzle of balsamic vinaigrette.

I should have had Bryan take a photo of me with attempting to eat this after I had wrapped it up.  This thing was huge!  I looked a little ridiculous with this thing in my hands.

But it was delicious!  Yay for whole foods!

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See How My Garden Grows

I planted a few new seeds two weeks ago, and things are really taking off!  The arugula started sprouting within 3 days.  The new pot of Italian Basil is sprouting, and the parsley just started shooting up yesterday.  Exciting!

{arugula}

{my container garden keeps getting bigger and bigger--I wonder if we have enough porch space for more?}

I failed miserably this week to cook something new, so I may have to be extra motivated next week and do two new dishes to make up for it.

My girlfriend, Shaina, went hunting on Lanai last week, and she came home with some deer and sheep.  She hand delivered some deer shoulder and rump to the house, so I am trying to come up with a good recipe to try cooking venison for the first time.  I think that might be my big cooking project for next week.

Keep your fingers crossed!

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Band Practice

My downstairs neighbor, Will, was jamming with his band this afternoon.  I stopped by for a bit to enjoy some tunes before work.

The band (still unnamed) will be playing their second gig together at Fleetwood's this upcoming Thursday at 6:30 pm.

They played their first gig two weeks ago at Fleetwood's, and Mick Fleetwood actually jumped on stage to jam out with them on their last song.  Steven Tyler was also in attendance, and he came up after the show to congratulate and compliment the band.

Not a bad first gig for this new band!

Unfortunately, I was working this night and wasn't able to see the first show, but Bryan and I both have Thursday off, so we are excited to see our friends perform!

{can you see T-Bone lurking?}

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Ohai Trail

After my crack of dawn whale watch, breakfast and nap, Ashley rallied Bryan and me into a hike with some of her friends up north.

We piled into the truck (T-Bone too) and headed up north past the Blow Hole to a short hike along the ocean.

{suiting up}

{you've been warned}

{amazing vistas}

{looking back over the highway}

{heading down the trail}

{caught on camera! Bryan was saying "helloooo!"}

{always, always, always scanning the ocean for whales}

{wildflowers}

{happy T-Bone}

{rock columns}

{loving all the green up there on the trail}

{more wildflowers}

{Ashley enjoying the view and the stiff breeze}

{the boys found a rope left behind by local fishermen that leads down to the water}

{Bryan, Ashley and I stayed up on the ridge watching Alex and Jeremiah fishing for Opihi}

{Ashley watching the boys work through her binoculars}

{the boys brought back a small harvest of Opihi--also known as Hawaiian Limpets...sea snails for you laymen}

{these snails were not amused that they were about to be devoured--alive}

{Alex showing us how it's done--he had kindly brought an Opihi up for each one of us to try}

{Alex with the empty Opihi shell}

{the backside of the shell}

{Bryan and I declined to try the live, wriggling Opihi, but Alex managed to talk Ashley into it}

{Alex scooping out the Opihi from its shell using his Safeway Rewards card--classy}

{Trepidation}

{Chewing}

{Done!}

{Success!}

Let me sum up the Ohai hike we did today:

Great hike, great company, not so great hiking snacks...

Ew.

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