Island Sandals

During our walk around town on Wednesday, Bryan and I stopped in at the Island Sandals store in the Wharf.  I have always walked past it, always been curious, but had never stopped in until now.

I'm so glad we made the trip!

The store is owned and run by craftsman Michael Mahnensmith.  He was a delight to meet and so wonderful to talk to.

His custom and handmade leather sandals are based on a design used 3,000 years ago by the desert warriors of King Solomon in Ethiopia.



The sandals feature one single strap that creates a harness around, under and over your foot that securely keeps you in place every step you take.  Michael says that this was the same design that warriors and runners in Ancient Ethiopia wore, and he says that you can run in your as well.

I tried on a sandal in his shop, and I'm deeply in love.  The price for a handmade pair of Michael's sandals cost $165 for ladies and $185 for gentlemen.

My jaw dropped a little at the price, but you have to keep in mind that they are custom made for your two feet, and they are handmade by Michael.  I loved talking to Michael about his craft and his store.  He was a gracious host and showed us many of his tools, his materials and told us the history of his work and designs.

I'm thinking about splurging and treating myself to a pair!  Unfortunately, it would take a while to get them into my hands.  He told me that he can get me my sandals in six to eight weeks.  I think it would be worth the wait!  Until then, I may be going back to the shop and picking his brain.  If you are in Lahaina, please go check him out!  His shop is open every day except Sundays from about 10 am to 4 pm.

If you want to learn more, check out his website.

Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.4

Read More

Around Town

Besides having a wonderful dinner out last night, Bryan and I had fun all day.  We visited my friends at Take Home Maui and had massive deli sandwiches and a fresh fruit smoothie for lunch.  Bryan had never been to the deli before (what a shame).  I'm sure he'll be a frequent visitor to make up for lost time, especially since the deli is a block from his home.

a Ti plant across from Take Home Maui

After lunch, we walked along Front Street where we stopped in at the Island Sandals shop in the Wharf (more on that in a separate post).  

We then ventured down to the harbor and then cruised back up Front Street and got a drink at Coolers.

On my way home from Coolers, I saw this hibiscus plant blooming.  Not a bad walk around town!

Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.4

Read More

The Beatys: Reunited in Maui (Day 1)

Mom, Dad and Hana arrived in Maui this afternoon.  While I was waiting for them to pick up the rental and drive to my side of the island from the airport, I watched this guy shimmy up my neighbor's palm tree to cut down coconuts.

One of those coconuts came smashing down onto some patio furniture my landlord had set up outside my studio.  Oops.  At least the danger of one of those coconuts coming loose and bonking me on the head as I go to and from my house has been eradicated.

I set up Hana, Mom and Dad in their home away from home: Chez Soler, the 2 bedroom, 2 storied condo in Puamana, a gated community located on the end of Front Street.  It's the same place that I first stayed when I arrived on island over a year and a half ago.

After doing a Safeway grocery run with Dad, we got ready at our own abodes for dinner at the restaurant I work at.

The hosts reserved our table on the deck overlooking the ocean.  The sun began to set as we dined.

Mom and Dad.

I'm loving Dad's Aloha Shirt (which is what they call "Hawaiian" shirts out here)!

Hana. 

The photo didn't really capture how super cute her new haircut is.  She has a tiger stripe dye job!

Hana enjoying the last few bites of the Hula Pie dessert 

The Hula Pie is a wedge of vanilla macadamia nut ice cream with an Oreo cookie crust, cold fudge topping, a whipped cream skirt, with a drizzle of chocolate syrup and a dash of chopped macadamia nuts.

Hana capturing the sunset on Mom's iPhone so we can send a picture to Grandma (Hi, Grandma! We miss you!!)

The Beatys' first sunset was an epic one.  

Even the waiters and managers were taking pictures.  You know it's a top of the line sunset when people who are working hard on the floor stop to capture the sky on camera.

The sky looks like it is on fire over the island of Lanai

After stuffing ourselves with fresh fish (Opakapaka, Nairagi and Yellowfin Tuna), wine and dessert, I took the family strolling down Front Street.  We walked off dinner and did some window shopping.  And I finally snagged my touristy photo with this wooden mariner in front of the Crazy Shirts shop:

Mom, Hana and Me 

PS: this is the first photo of me rocking my 1154 Lill handbag from Ryan, Katie and Maddie.  This bag is awesome.  It's reversal, which amps its awesomeness factor.  I got to design the bag on the 1154 website by choosing the shape of the bag as well as the fabrics. 

Although this is the first photo of it on my arm, I use it often.  It's a fun color with a great print and it holds EVERYTHING.  I love big bags.

I'm also showing off the gold "pua" (means flower in Hawaiian) drop earrings from Russ and Ryanne.  Both bag and earrings were gifts for my 25th birthday this past June.

It's so exciting to have the rest of the family here in Maui with me.  Besides the adventures that we have already booked (Old Lahaina Luau and a snorkeling day trip on the Trilogy catamaran) we have nothing set in stone.  We are planning on playing it all by ear.  I definitely want to squeeze in some serious beach time and lay out on the sand on spots I haven't been, but I hope to hitch a ride in the Beaty rental car to Haleakala.  I still have never been!

Of course, plenty of photos and stories to come.

Read More

Today in Pictures

The Heavenly Hana Rocky Road Hula Pie dessert at Kimo's:

Ran into my friend Bailey on his Stand Up Paddle Board at the beach in front of 505:

The super common Zebra Dove checking us out at the beach:

Read More

Hokoji Lahaina Shingon Mission

The Lahaina Shingon Mission is the oldest Shingon mission in all of Hawaii.  Founded in 1902 by three Japanese ministers, the original temple was converted from a small 10 foot square house.

This larger temple pictured below was built in the 1920s.

The temple is on the same street as Bryan's house, and every so often the temple drapes this colorful banner over the entrance.

Read More

Dinner at I'o

My friend invited me to dinner at I'o last week.  She works at I'o's sister restaurant, Pacific'o, which is right next door.  I've dined at both restaurants in the past and have loved the food served in each establishment.

I hadn't been to I'o since dining there with Paul last summer.  He had been working at Pacific'o as an intern from the Culinary Institute, and he was the best person to eat out with because he would order multiple appetizers and multiple entrees and multiple desserts so he could best sample a menu.

On this most recent visit to I'o we ordered conservatively.

We started off with the Refresh, a vodka cocktail with muddle mint and strawberries.

My dining companion is a vegetarian, so I got these Crab Cakes all to myself.  This appetizer featured goat cheese with roasted bell peppers on top of a miso aioli with a green papaya slaw.  

We also ordered the Waipoli Road salad.  The salad featured amazing, crisp greens and vegetables from the restaurant's own farm in upcountry Maui.

I'o's speciality is serving small plates tapas style, so you can try several of their specialties.  We got the O'o Farm Beets, Green Bean Gremolata and the Heirloom Carrot risotto.

The risotto is carrot juice infused with baby heirloom carrots and mint oil.

The Green Bean Gremolata was an amazing savory dish with sauteed Kula beans tossed with Italian parsley, garlic, bread crumbs and lemon zest.

The O'o Farm Beets that we ordered featured roasted heirloom beets in a farm pesto with feta cheese, macadamia nuts and raisins.  I loved the puff pastry "bowl" the beets were served in.

For dessert we shared the chocolate macadamia torte.  It was served with a dollop of lilokoi whipped cream, fresh strawberries and a strawberry sauce.

As you can see, it didn't take us long to finish it.

We ate our dinner outdoors, but the interior of I'o is lovely.

Read More

Beach and Bug Adventures

Bryan and I both had last Friday off, so we spent the late afternoon at Airport Beach.  It was another gorgeous day in Paradise, with crystal clear skies that offered up marvelous views of majestic Molokai.

We weren't the only ones at the beach:

The crowd pictured above is not a typical sight.  Bryan and I were lucky to find a parking spot at the beach parking lot.  

We think the big monster waves at this typically very mellow beach brought out all the sun bathers and boogie boarders.

Bryan in the waves.

Kenny (Bryan's roommate) and Bryan about to dive through an oncoming wave.

Bryan trying to catch a wave in.

The waves were daunting.  We watched quite a few people get bowled over as they tentatively tried to get into the ocean.

It's do or die, people.  With waves of this size, there is no hesitation.  You need to hustle through the shore break and prepare to launch yourself through the waves.

It may seem hard to leave the beach and get into the water with waves blasting onto the beach, but I think the more difficult task is getting back out when you're done playing in the water.

Beach Morning Glory: a salt-tolerant creeping vine.  They grow in huge clusters and create a dense mat along the top of a sand dune.

Last night Bryan and I went to the newly opened Spanky's Riptide bar at 505 Front Street.  We met up with our friends, Amanda and Chris, but they weren't the only ones we ran into there.  When we walked through the bar it seemed that all the Lahaina locals were at Spanky's.

It didn't take us long to find out why: it was Taco Tuesday.

While we enjoyed our $1 tacos and cheap beers, I spotted this 2 inch long Praying Mantis hanging out on a plant by our table.

This praying mantis wasn't the only wildlife we spotted at the bar.  Spanky's mascot is a chocolate lab named Spanky.  Spanky hung out under our table most of the night hoping that one of us would drop a beef taco into his mouth.  We were all too greedy to share.

Read More

Spooky Passenger

I spotted this spooky passenger in a parked van on my way home.

Lahaina is awesome.

Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.3

Read More

Lahaina--above and below the water

My neighbors across the street have the most beautiful flowers

It's getting crazy busy in Lahaina.  There is a new cruise ship in harbor every. single. day.  The narrow, uneven sidewalks on both sides of Front Street are crawling with every kind of tourist.

This new plaque commemorating Lahaina's Front Street just popped up a few weeks ago.

I'm curious to know what kind of criteria must be met in order to deem a street a "great street."  Note to self: research further the American Planning Association and Great Places in America...

Bryan and I had the day off, so we sunned ourselves on 505 Beach.  I'm still super thrilled about my underwater camera, so I swam around and scared the hell out of all the little reef fish I encountered in order to get some good pictures.

Some more of my favorites...small female Boxfish.  

A Raccoon Butterflyfish

This male Spotted Boxfish (pictured above) was particularly frightened of me.  I express no shame when I openly admit that I chased him around and around a clump of coral to get a picture of his electric blue awesomeness.  

I don't even feel bad chasing the Boxfish around.  He exhibited zero evasive maneuvers.  He continued to swim the same direction around the coral and at no time tried ducking underneath it and hiding in the shadows.  Maybe the Boxfish doesn't need to hide from predators.  It's poisonous.  Perhaps it knows it is untouchable.

Bryan and I parked our beach towels in front of the shopping center at 505, a cluster of stores and restaurants located at 505 Front Street.

I like swimming out and then heading down the shoreline past Lahaina Shores Beach Resort.  The beach at 505 is pretty skimpy with no shade, but it's great for people watching.  A handful of surfing schools, including the well known Goofy Foot Surf School, launch newbie surfers from this spot.  

Bryan and I got a kick out of watching a French family go through their first surf lesson together.  All lessons start on the sand as instructors teach their students how to paddle, pop up and ride a wave.  Every so often the instructor would pause his lesson to allow one of his French guests to interpret to the rest of the family what they would be doing once they hit the water.

The French family looked like an enthusiastic bunch, and none seem deterred by the language barrier.  I'm sure they had fun.

Lahaina Shores Beach Resort

Read More