One employee motto at Ka'anapali Beach Hotel is, "turning Hawaiian dreams into lifelong memories."
The staff certainly tries to live up to this with its weekly Sunday champagne brunch, chock full of crowd-pleasing favorites, live Hawaiian music sometimes accompanied by hula, and outdoor seating that is casual and island style.
"Our culinary team has worked extremely hard to assure there is a good variety of food options to appeal to all guests, both our local community and visitors alike," says Kalani Nakoa, director of sales and marketing for the resort.
Article Photos
The Maui News / CARLA TRACY photo
Edgar Agbayani pours Barefoot brand bubbly outdoors on the covered lanai as live Hawaiian music plays.
"It's a balance that is not always an easy accomplishment, however, we won the award this year for the 'Best Brunch on Maui' in The Maui News, and it really speaks to their dedication and commitment."
Staff such as Executive Sous Chef Chris Napoleon step up to the plate to really make you feel welcome.
"Sunday brunch to us is a place where you can come and forget about all your worries for the day," he says. "Come and get lost in our Hawaiian hospitality and our food, let our cooks fix you up an omelet or a fresh Belgian waffle, maybe a slice of prime rib, we have a lot to offer."
Fact Box
* Sunday champagne brunch: Held every Sunday with seatings from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hawaiian trio plays. Barefoot bubbly is included. Adults are $36; children $20.
* Christmas feast: Brunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; and dinner buffet from 3 to 7 p.m. Santa will be there in his "North Pole" and Wilmont Kahaialii will play Hawaiian tunes. Champagne is extra. Cost of brunch is $38.95 adults, and $20 for keiki. Dinner feast is $45.95, adults; and $22 keiki, 6 to 12. Keiki 5 and younger eat free at all KBH feasts with paying adult. There will be special events parking set up.
* New Year's Eve: The Kupunaha Magic Show Dinner Theater will offer a night of nonstop fun with welcome cocktail, pre-show hosted beer and wine bar, three-course dinner, party games, dancing, favors, champagne toast at midnight, balloon drop and a "good morning" breakfast. Hours are from 8:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Gold Circle seating is $175; general is $155.
* For reservations:?Call 667-0124.
Every Sunday, chefs make fresh poi and roll sushi. They prepare ahi and tako poke, and platters of kiawe-smoked salmon and oysters on the half shell. They carve smoked guava-glazed ham and slow-roasted prime rib. Locals will love the kalua pork, laulau, breaded catfish with lemon-caper sauce and steamed white rice.
"Please save room for dessert," Napoleon insists, talking about pies of coconut, banana and macadamia nut, cakes of chocolate fudge and carrot, and Kaanapali bread pudding with whiskey sauce.
At Christmas brunch and dinner buffets, expect all the bells and whistles such as crab legs, kalbi ribs, fried opakapaka, baked ham, Kung pao shrimp, seafood cioppino, raw crab poke, sweet pea and bacon salad, and roasted leg of lamb. Of course, Santa will be on hand for the keiki, who also have their own knee-high buffet.
The chefs take it over the top with roasted turkey; green bean, bacon and Maui onion casserole; and shiitake mushroom and corn stuffing. Other Christmas Day highlights will be kiawe-smoked, pepper crusted prime rib; and rotisserie roasted breast of goose with poha-berry chutney.
"We rub down the prime rib with our house seasoning and freshly cracked black pepper, then we put it into our kiawe-wood burning smoke box for three to four hours. We take it out and continue to slow cook at a low temperature until proper doneness is reached. It's a long process but the outcome is well worth it."
The keiki will love the pepperoni pizza and Jell-O cups and dessert lovers may enjoy rum cake, apple strudel and much, much more.
"We want you to feel like you are eating in the home of a friend or family," Napoleon says. "We train our staff to provide not only great quality food, but exceptional service as well."
