Happy Earth Day/1000th IG Post

Earth Day this year coincides with what will be my 1000^th post on Instagram @around_the_bay_and_away, but surprise, it is not a food post, but from my other passion, travel.  Of course, it makes sense that it would be from my happiest place on Earth, Maui and speaking of Earth, in honor of this year’s Earth Day as well. 

Having recently finished Dalai Lama’s illustrated quick read Heart to Heart, A New Guide on Compassion, Climate Change, and Living a Meaningful Life from His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, it was a reminder that although humans can be the cause of destruction, humans can also be the solution as well. 

On my recent trip to Maui last month with the purpose to coincide with the return of the humpback whales, I saw both the good and the bad of human behavior. 

The Good

Just like me, many humpbacks return to the warm waters annually coming and going with the first arriving as early as October and the last leaving as late as April/early May.  The first time I saw these magnificent mammals was almost 20 years ago in 2004 and the next time was 13 years later in 2017 and let me tell you, going on a whale watching cruise to see the humpbacks in their natural environment, never gets old especially with the Pacific Whale Foundation. 

Although there are many operators of whale watching activities, I always choose and recommend the Pacific Whale Foundation, so much so, that they were my organization of choice for the Amazon Smile Program since Day 1.  A 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1980, all profits support research, education, and conservation programs and to “protect the ocean through science, advocacy, and to inspire environmental stewardship”.  Just when I thought I learned everything I could about these gentle giants as I shared in my 2017 blogpost - Around the Bay and Away: I Got Mugged in Mau`i, by a Humpback Whale!!, I learn something new as follows.

 

1.    When they dive down and you see their tail fluke, they most likely will be staying underwater for at least 15 minutes, so time to scan the horizon elsewhere vs. hoping for more activity from that specific whale.  Now, that is good to know as we saw a lot of tail flukes on our 2-hour cruise and with our binoculars from shore during the sunset. 

2.    Humpback calves stay with the mom on average about a year, up to two

3.    Humpbacks gestation period is 11 months so they are often pregnant the previous year when they leave Hawai`i for the migration back to Alaska to feed and then of course return the following year to give birth in the warm relatively protected Hawaiian waters

4.    When I mentioned protected, the humpback calves main predator are the orcas.  However, they do encounter them on the migration back to Alaska. 

5.    Luckily mama humpbacks are usually pretty successful in fending off the orcas so the survival rate of calves in the first year is about 80%.

 

The Bad

So, I had said relatively protected waters because although there is a lack of orcas in the Hawaiian waters, strikes by vessels and boats are still a big problem.  Although Pacific Whale Foundations guidelines of maintaining a 100-yard distance is in place and speed limits of 15 knots of less, reducing to 6 knots within 400 yards, a friend captured a video from shore the day I left, of a boat speeding and chasing a whale pod so close that it looked like they might have ran right over a whale with their vessel. 

PWF researchers have identified ship strikes and unsustainable tourism practices among the biggest threats to both whales and dolphins, both of which have just recently been the subject of harassment by disrespectful humans. 

Spinner dolphins harassed: Hawaii authorities open cases against 33 swimmers - ABC7 San Francisco (abc7news.com)

Man who calls himself "Dolphin Dave" cited for allegedly harassing humpback whales and dolphins in Hawaii - CBS News

 

What Can We Do

The first thing we can do is to always follow the key recommendations - Be Whale Aware | Pacific Whale Foundation

Secondly, support and go with operators like the Pacific Whale Foundation where their mission is to protect, advocate, and educate - https://www.pacificwhale.org/

Finally, if you do see humpbacks, dolphins or wildlife harassment or suspected violation, immediately report it to the 24-hour DLNR tip line at 1-808-643-DLNR or via the DLNRTip app. 

This disruption to their normal behavior causes unnecessary stress that will ultimately drive them away in the future by making these waters no longer hospitable. 

No Instagram post will ever be worth that. 

Made in Mau`i

Many of us if we are lucky to be able to, have made an effort these past few months to support local, support small business, support family owned businesses, and support black owned businesses.  But what about places that we have fallen in love with through our travels over the years or have become like second homes for us?  For me, that is hands down Mau`i, as I have this inexplicable connection to it where I actually get homesick for the islands when I leave.  I do not know if it is because it gave me a respite post 9/11 during my first visit or possibly some Native Hawaiian ancestry way back when as one of my classmates in my very basic Hawaiian language class discovered she was 1% Oceania when her DNA test came back to explain hers.  Whatever the reason, I am Hawaiian at Heart.   So, I felt like I got punched in the gut when I had to cancel my annual 2 weeks for this month especially since it would have been a milestone birthday and milestone anniversary.  As I was thinking about how much good I could have done with the $2500 maintenance fee for my time interval that I still have to pay for it to sit empty, I realized that just because we cannot physically be there this month, I find it even more important this year to lift them up the way Mau`i lifted me up back in 2001 and during other hard times in my life since.  One way is to buy Made In Mau`i products. 

Kumu Farms - https://kumufarms.com/

For the past 16 years, my daily breakfast for my two weeks on island was always half a strawberry papaya and half a bagel slathered with butter avocado guacamole - http://cookwithzee.blogspot.com/2014/09/tropical-breakfast.html.  I use to always get it from the Honokowai Farmer’s Market but discovered Kumu Farms when I brought my dad to the Maui Tropical Plantation about 5 years ago.  Since then, I always stop by Kumu Farms on the way in from the airport for their GMO-Free Sunrise Strawberry Papayas.  Unfortunately, the Maui Tropical Plantation has closed indefinitely this year but Kumu Farms is still currently open for farm fresh market boxes available for local pickups and thankfully those papayas to ship to the mainland.  In the past, I have ordered a few times a year as gifts for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Christmas.  This summer alone, I have been ordering for myself and most recently right after I had to officially cancel my visit.  A bottle of their papaya jam will hopefully fill the void when I do not have access to the fresh fruit. 

Ku`ia Estate Chocolates - https://mauichocolate.com/

I am always on the lookout for new businesses and experiences on Mau`i, so was ziplining over Upcountry when Skyline Hawaii was the first zipline operator in the US, the pineapple tour when the fields were still operating on the hills by Kapalua, Surfing Goat Dairy when tastings were part of their regular tour and O’o Farms lunch and farm tour when it just opened, among others. 

So, it is no surprise that I was planning on the chocolate tasting at Ku`ia Estates for my chocoholic husband’s 50<sup>th</sup> birthday this month.  Since that is no longer possible this year, the next best thing is to have a tasting at home.  All chocolates are made in Mau`i with most of their cacao beans from Brazil and Ecuador but if you want Mau`i grown beans, choose the “Grown and Made in Maui” products. 

I ordered their 70% Grown and Made in Mau`i 2020 Limited Release gift box and a variety of 50-piece bags, blood orange, lemon grass, and Mau`i coffee, as I know after we taste it, we will be wanting more.  I had just missed their release of the Mau`i mango by a week but since all net profits goes towards Mau`i charities and non-profit community organizations, I know I will be ordering more especially with Christmas around the corner.

Mau`i Wines - https://mauiwine.com/

I visited Mau`i Wines during my first visit to Mau`i in 2001 when it was still called Tedeschi Vineyards after co-founder Emil Tedeschi.  Wine tastings and tours were free and still were when I brought my dad about 5 years ago when they had plans to open up the King’s Cottage for a more intimate tasting experience.  Since I am lucky to have easy access to Napa and Sonoma Valley wines living in the Bay Area, I was drawn to what was unique to them, the pineapple wines using the Mau`i Gold Pineapples.  Since we, including my dad was a fan of the Mau`i Splash, I ordered a bottle of that as well as two bottles of the Hula O Mau`i Sparkling Wine, one for that milestone birthday and another for our milestone 20^th anniversary 2 weeks later. 

Hula Grill - https://www.tssportswear.com/hula-grill-world-famous-chili-pepper-water-usa-shipping-only-sorry

Most restaurants have been temporarily closed since March, but you can still support your favorites by ordering gift cards for future use or treat your favorite Mau`i employees to use once they reopen.  While ordering their homemade focaccia through Doordash is not feasible, ordering that Hawaiian Chili Pepper Water they served with that focaccia is.  With many of us also baking more than ever, focaccia is one of the easier ones and you will be dipping away in no time - http://cookwithzee.blogspot.com/2020/05/freshly-baked-black-truffle-butter.html. 

Maui Beef Crisps - https://www.mauicrisps.com/

I originally heard about these Beef Crisps via a Yelp review of a gas station.  You read that right, as it was created by a person who worked at the Ilima Shell gas station and was originally only sold there.  These crisps are not like jerky but more of a chip texture, so good that this is all that is left from our previous order.  It became so popular that it has become widely available around the island including Island Grocery Depot or also for shipping.  Good thing too as the Ilima Shell has permanently closed since our last visit last year.

Maui Fruit Jewels - https://www.mauifruitjewels.com/

With fresh fruit limited to bring home since it needs to be treated to pass agriculture inspection, Maui Fruit Jewel’s has been my go-to omiyage to bring back each year.  Maui Fruit Jewels delivers you the flavors of those tropical fruits in a bite sized fruit jelly made with 100% Hawaii grown fruit.  For those indecisive, there are variety boxes or small boxes of just your favorite flavors.  Of course, that means papaya for me.           

Ocean Vodka - https://oceanvodka.com/

I cannot believe it has been 6 years since I toured Ocean Vodka and I still have that original bottle as well as the new unique ones - http://cookwithzee.blogspot.com/2014/10/ocean-vodka-and-deep-island-rum_17.html

It is so smooth that you can sip on its own, in cocktails with many recipe ideas on their site or even Vodka Sauce for Penne Alla Vodka - http://cookwithzee.blogspot.com/2015/04/penne-alla-vodka-with-prosciutto-and.html.  

Pau Hana Vodka - https://paumaui.com/

This is another one that I had intended to visit this year for their tasting and tour of their distillery in Hali`imaile that makes not only vodka, but rum, whisky and gin.  Distilled with Mau`i Gold Pineapple since they are located in the middle of the fields, it was the Pau Vodka that I really wanted to try so just like Ku`ia chocolates, I purchased a bottle to taste at home to sip and to mix up some tropical cocktails.  Paired with an ocean waves CD or a virtual concert like Uncle George Kahumoku’s Sunday concert from his home to yours for just $20 - https://www.facebook.com/GeorgeKahumokuJrFanPage and you can feel like you are in Mau`i. 

Although many are protesting for reopening, I would never want to jeopardize the health and safety of what makes these places special to begin with, their people.  With a high elderly population, less advanced medical facilities and multigenerational households common on the islands, it is even more important to protect the kupuna.  By supporting their local businesses, hopefully it will still be there for me next year.  Until then, A Hui Hou!

Mau`i Eats for $40 a Day

I was inspired to cook because of the Rachael Ray Show, but I had my first introduction to the perky host with her Rachael Ray’s $40 a day travel series from back in the day.  With most people on a budget, it is no wonder she is still so relatable over a decade later.   

My happiest place on Earth, Mau`i however is not very budget friendly and food is no exception.  I already had sticker shock the first time I paid over $7 for a gallon of Safeway milk 10 years ago so imagine how I felt seeing $7.59 for a ½ gallon from the ABC store this time around.  I admit there is definitely a price tag for convenience since I did not rent a car but to understand why things are so more expensive in Hawai`i, you have to take in consideration the shipping cost of “importing” goods from the Mainland, making it so important for Mau`i to return to its roots of self sustainability. 

With the recent closure of the commercial sugar industry it is the end of an era but there is so much potential for something great.  First and foremost, it is time to reroute the water sources back to the local kalo farms, gatherers, and fishermen that have had so many of their resources jeopardized in the name of profit.  Although tourism is one of Hawai`i’s largest industry, building more hotels or production of only profitable goods only makes sense in the short run.  In the long run, by preserving those intangibles like the aloha spirit that stems from natives being able to stay in Mau`i through self sustainability is what will keep the visitors you would WANT to return again and again, those with a deep appreciation and respect for the land (a`ina) and its people. 

My stays on island are never long enough for me as I actually get homesick for the islands when I leave.  So when an opportunity arose thanks to a very generous friend whom we coincidentally had met in Mau`i 12 years ago, to return for an free week at the Whaler on Ka`anapali recently for just the price of air and food, needless to say, they did not have to ask me twice.  Going on my own this time allowed me to travel a little differently. 

1.  Carry-on only – With complimentary washer and dryer on site, I traveled with only a carry on, but with the 25 lb limit imposed by Hawaiian Airlines, it did limit my ability to fully execute money saving tip #2.  However, the $50 check in bag fee I saved, more than made up for it.   With the exception of one bagel, a sleeve of crackers and a cup of dried rice, I left all my normal cooking essentials at home. 

2.  Mau`i Bus - I did not have a car so was limited to how far I can go for perishables, hence the $7.59 half gallon of milk.  However, with the Rider app downloaded before leaving, it helped me plan my way around via the Mau`i Bus for just $4 for a day pass. 

At $2 each way, if you intend on even one round trip by bus, get the day pass as you have absolutely nothing to lose and with the nicest bus stop ever at Whaler's Village, you still feel like you're in paradise. 

Although possible to get to West Mau`i via the bus system from OGG airport, transferring multiple times over 1 ½ hours each way would have wasted too much of my precious time in paradise so I did reserve a RT airport transfer for $75 which is still cheaper overall than a one week car rental. 
 

Money Saving Tips: 

Over the years, I have discovered ways to save money with many tips becoming second nature now. 

1.      Stay in a condo – having a full kitchen saves so much money when you are not eating out breakfast, lunch, and dinner which on average would run you about $100 per person per day.  My home away from home at the Whaler on Ka`anapali. 

 

 

 

 

 

2.      Even ingredients for cooking are much more expensive there - $4 vs. $1 for BBQ sauce, $5 vs. $3 for bread, so I have learned to bring some over with me when I can to cut down on costs.  Soy sauce, ketchup, a few bottles of water, bagels, hamburger buns, dry rice just to name a few.  

3.      Pick up those driving magazines at the airport as many of them have great coupons that can save a few dollars here and there.  Even without a car this time around that did not stop me from picking up those driving mags. 

Breakfast

My daily breakfast of choice when I am on island and long before avocado toast became trendy is half a papaya and half a toasted pineapple or coconut bagel topped with a more cholesterol friendly guacamole (vs. cream cheese) made from Mau`i’s own butter avocado. 

Farmer’s Market Honokowai - I picked up all the fixings my second morning on island for 6 days worth of breakfast for $17.79. 

 

 

ABC – Remember that $7.59 for half gallon of milk. 

Unfortunately without a car, I had to pay it for the convenience since it is perishable but liters of water here were very reasonably priced at $1 a liter which is a blessing not having to lug them back on the bus = $9

 

Even with that overpriced milk, my breakfast comes in at just $4.25 per day. 

Other Groceries

Fish Market Honokowai – Unfortunately the price of the opakapaka pink snapper has gone up from $29.99/lb to a pricey $39.99/lb in just 6 months.  However, since I was already at the fish market and the 2 large filets with a mac nut crust (small discount on marinades and toppings with coupon), the $50 spent ended up lasting me 5 meals (lunch or dinner) coming out to about $10 per meal.

 

 

 

 

Foodland Farms – Trying to eat as local as possible on island, I try to buy things found here or cheaper than what I would find back on the Mainland.  Kalua pork, fully cooked and just required steaming before serving over rice was enough for 3 meals, Koko Head smoked ahi spread to go over crackers for a quick pool or beach snack, and a ½ gallon of Meadow Gold guava nectar to go with lunch or dinner = $19.20. 

Lunch

Staying in a resort area, it can be challenging to find a decent option without the high resort prices but the food court at Whaler’s Village has a couple of good choices now.  No view or much ambiance as it’s a food court but not a problem for me bringing it right next door to enjoy by the pool or on the beach.  Coincidentally hitting it up for my first and last meal this trip, I will never look at this food court the same way again. 

Joey’s Kitchen – Arriving early into West Mau`i, most restaurants in the area had yet to open for lunch so I went to Joey’s Kitchen for a mahi mahi fish sandwich to enjoy by the pool - $13

Nikki’s Pizza – Discovered this time around that the name is a bit of a misadvertisement but in a good way.  With choices from omelettes and breakfast croissant sandwiches to plate meals, wraps, and pastas, it seemed like a food court in itself. 

 

 

 

For $9, I had myself a sausage and egg croissant sandwich with potatoes that was satisfying enough for my flight out. 

 

808 Grindz Café – As you can tell, I rarely eat breakfast out, but 2 years ago, I decided to splurge on my birthday and get macadamia nut pancakes at 808 Grindz Café in Lahaina.  Not only did I get a short stack comp’d because it was my birthday but the service is friendly as if you are eating at someone’s house and the food was ono!!  I came back twice last year and had to stop by at least once for brunch this time.  The banana slammer special of two fluffy banana pancakes with the special mac nilla sauce for $1.50 more, Portuguese sausage, and 2 eggs my way (poached), AND a loco moco to go for lunch the next day set me back a whopping $23.55 including tax and tip. 

 

 

 

 

Fish Market Honokowai – Since I was picking up fresh fish from the market and I had 25 minutes between the time I got off the bus and the time it comes back around for pick up, I decided to try a fish taco in the meantime while they kept my fish in the refrigerator until I was ready to go = $4.35

 

Dinner

Being on my own this time, I did a few happy hours and only one sit down dinner the night before I left.  This allowed me the flexibility to catch the sunsets each evening. 

 

Leilani Aloha Hour – Perfect for the first day as I had been up since 2AM HST so was ready for a light dinner by mid-afternoon.  Leilani’s Aloha Hour is from 3-5PM with discounted appetizers and drinks.  Two Ni`ihau Lamb Sliders, Kalua Pork Spring Rolls, and a Mai Tai finished off with ½ a Hula Pie to eat on site and ½ to go for another night’s dessert = $38 including tax and tip for dinner

 

 

Japengo Happy Hour – I discovered Japengo’s Happy Hour from 5-6PM towards the end of my stay last September and wish I had time to come back one more time so I made sure to stop by during this stay.  Located in the Hyatt, I walked over early so I can stop by Ululani for shaved ice beforehand.  With a free add-on coupon from the driving magazine, I was able to get it over macadamia nut ice cream.  There are no rules on vacay, so eating dessert before dinner is completely acceptable.  This ensures I can be satisfied with some light bites from the happy hour menu.  An order of curry dusted calamari and pork ribs with a sparkling pina sangria came out to only $27 including tax and tip for dinner. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leilani Tasting Menu – It is a tradition of mine to have my last dinner each trip at Leilani and this time is no different.  Their chef’s tasting menu offered from 5-5:30 for $26 is a steal, with a choice of pupu, entrée, and dessert from their tasting menu options.  A starter of chilled kefir lime scented tiger prawns, parmesan crusted monchong, finished off with a tropical fruit crisp and a virgin mango colada, was $40 including tax and tip for dinner. 

 

 

 

Desserts

It is a good thing I get a lot of exercise in Mau`i via walking and swimming as I found myself having dessert every day.   

Leilani Hula Pie – 2 Hula Pies split over 4 days – one ordered during happy hour, once to-go from bar for $11.42 including tax and tip

Ululani Shaved Ice - $7 for shaved ice with coupon for a free mac nut ice cream add on

 

 

Island Cream - $4.35 for a single scoop with a $1 off coupon

Ono Gelato - $7.50 for medium cup with 2 flavors – mac nut and mango

 

Grand Total Spent on Food:  $281.16 = $40.16 a day

 

Finding a good combination of cooking and eating out without depriving myself of a good foodcation, I came in at about $40 a day for food.  It would have been a week that would hopefully make Rachael Ray proud.