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.

 

 

 

Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival 50th Anniversary

Ohayou Gozaimasu!  The clouds parted just in time for the Golden Journey to celebrate 50 years of Japanese culture Saturday morning as it unfolded into a beautiful morning to kick off the 50^th anniversary of the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco Japantown. 

 

I have been attending the Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco Japantown almost every year for the past 20+ years including the 30^th and the 40^th, making it a no-brainer that I would partake in their 50^th anniversary this year.  Spanning two weekends as usual (4/8, 4/9, 4/15, 4/16) and culminating in the Grand Parade at 1PM this coming Sunday 4/16, they had added some extras to the celebration, including extended evening hours on opening day, a scavenger hunt the first weekend and an anime film festival at New People Theater on Post Street for $13 showing classics like My Neighbor Totoro. 

Instead of the bonsai exhibit during the first weekend but returning for the second weekend, it was my first time seeing the beautiful flower arrangement exhibit which really drew me in. 

 

 

 

Shishu Japanese embroidery

 

 

and Washi Ningyo paper doll exhibit the first weekend

 

 

 

 

 

 

and Shodo (calligraphy) and Karuta Card Game (Poetry, Game) planned for the second, you will want to attend both. 

A complete schedule of events and parking information can be found on Northern California’s Cherry Blossom Festival’s Website http://sfcherryblossom.org/ and as you can see is promising another action packed second weekend perpetuating and sharing the beautiful Japanese culture. 

After years of attending one of my favorite festivals, here are my top 5 tips I have learned from through the years. 

 

Tips:   

1.      Arrive before it officially starts for the day so you can get a chance to pick up a box of mochi from Benkyodo (Sat only)

 

 

 

 

or stock up on goods from Nijiya Market before it becomes packed with literally wall to wall people.  If you spend $30+ at Nijiya, you get $2.00 of your parking at the garage. 

2.      If you are here on Saturday and are driving in, park at the garage as you have to pay parking at meters anyways and you do not want to have to run back and move your car when you have reached the maximum.  It is impossible to find parking later on.

3.      Hit the takoyaki food booth first (between 11-12) as that line will get and remain long for the rest of the day and get the 13 for $10 if you have at least 2 people.

 

 

 

4.      While everyone is lining up at the lunch booths, 1-2PM is the perfect time to get your fresh imagawayaki, a Japanese dessert filled with sweet azuki red bean paste made to order.  Get 2 per person as you can always pop the second into your microwave to refresh for a treat the next day. 

5.      Do attend one of the tea ceremonies and then pick up some matcha powder before leaving Japantown so you can recreate and share this important and sacred part of their culture with others. 

 

Arigatou Gozaimasu NCCBF for 50 wonderful years!!  Here is to the next 50!

 

 

 

 

I Got Mugged in Maui, by a Humpback Whale!!

Just like one of my favorite animals on Earth, the Giant Panda, to much deserved fanfare, the humpback whales have quietly also been reclassified from endangered to vulnerable just last year thanks to hard work and conservation.  

But unlike the generally solitary panda which is nearly impossible to see in the wild, sightings of humpback whales in its natural environment is more accessible especially in the Hawaiian waters thanks to the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary created back in 1992 to protect the humpbacks’ Hawaiian habitat.  Thousands make the long trip from frigid Alaska to the warm waters of Hawai`i to mate or give birth and to teach their pups the basics before making the long journey back. 

 
The Past

I was lucky enough to have been in Maui during peak whale season (December – March) 13 years ago where I was treated to sightings right from our lanai while eating breakfast overlooking the Au Au Channel between Maui and Lana`i.  Scanning the horizon for what looks like puffs of “smoke” which is actually a water spray and then patiently training our eyes on that area to be treated to a fin slap, tail slap, or if lucky the whale breaching made us squeal like a dolphin!! 

That created a fan and follower out of me supporting organizations like Whalesong Project - http://whalesong.net/ and the Pacific Whale Foundation www.pacificwhale.org, also designated as my Amazon Smile recipient. 

 
The Present

Thirteen years later, I was given an incredible opportunity thanks to a friend to return for a closer look and what better operator to go with than the Pacific Whale Foundation – www.pacificwhale.org, a non profit with a mission to research and educate the public about whales.  Unfortunately my first attempt was a bust as there were some issues with the generator resulting in a minimum 45 minute delay so I rescheduled for two days later.  The silver lining in that cloud was I was able to see a pod right from Ka`anapali Beach that afternoon as they took turns breaching, not once (already a treat to see), not twice (that would be amazing), but 5 times (had to pinch myself to see if I was dreaming)!

Sorry to burst your bubble so early but the three is not your typical family dynamic that you imagine but is actually mama, baby, and their male escort/wannabe baby daddy for next year or as our naturalist at the PWF puts so diplomatically, her Maui boyfriend.  So yes, I did go out on that whale watching cruise two days later on April Fool’s Day and was treated to a whale of a show that was no joke.   

 

 

 

With April being the tail end of whale season, we would have considered ourselves lucky to have a sighting or two of that “tail end” and after 30+ minutes of quiet where the only thing breaching was a jumping fish, I was already mentally preparing myself for third time being a charm.  As we braved into rougher waters, learning that what attracts them to the waters of Hawai`i are the warm waters to give birth and the clear waters for mama to be able to keep her eye on her baby in case he/she already gets a case of wanderlust, we finally had our first sighting.  We carefully followed making sure to keep the minimum 100 yard legal distance as we rocked and rolled along glad that they ate their 1-2 tons of krill per day in Alaska giving them enough to live off their reserves as they fast during their journey to and from Hawai`i and while on island instead of eyeing us like tasty morsels.  The majestic sight of one breaching from the 12 to 1’o clock position shortly after did make me wonder how big they were prior to their “diet”.  Now that mama got our undivided attention, baby got to practice and show off her cute baby “tail slaps” every so often keeping us entertained for the next 15-30 minutes.  Just when we thought it just could not get better than this, as we watched a mama and a baby emerge from the 10 o’clock position, we got mugged by her Mau`i boyfriend as he glided out from under our boat to join the pod.  Although our vessel is expected to keep that 100 yard distance, the whales do not get the same memo and are free to approach us as they please.  If they choose to do so, the vessel is required to remain where they are until the whale is a safe distance, hence the term, mugging your boat.  I have never been so happy to say I have been mugged in my life. 

Unfortunately due to the rough waters they were in that day, the unpredictable timing of nature and Murphy’s Law where my camera malfunctioned that prevented me from getting the money shots, I gave up halfway through it and learned a great lesson in the process.  So many of us too often these days look at the world from behind a lens or a phone instead of truly enjoying the experience that can be unfolding right in front of our own eyes.  This was definitely a surreal experience that pictures or videos would not have done it any justice plus the flip flop of the sky, ocean, sky, ocean that would convey only motion sickness it was probably a blessing in disguise.  Besides, now you all have an excuse to experience it for yourself.  Whale season in Hawai`i starts mid-December and runs through mid-April with peak sightings during January and February so if you do not catch the tail end of this season (pun intended), it is never too early to start planning for next season. 

 

 

 
The Future

Despite the beautiful sanctuary, threats still lurk from within, with entanglements still all too common as demonstrated by an emaciated sub adult’s encounter with a PVC insulated electrical type cable just last month and vessel collisions.  It is a reminder that we cannot sit on our laurels and get too comfortable but need to be even more motivated with our conservation efforts now that we are actually seeing some progress from the hard work.  After seeing these gentle giants up close, it is as unfathomable to imagine a world without humpbacks as a world without Giant Pandas.