HAU'OLI MAKAHIKI HOU! . . . Maui is once again packed with humans for the holidays and New Year's Eve parties will include the glam, $500-per-person, party-of-the-decade benefit at Mala Wailea in the Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa.
"In the restaurant part of Mala, we'll serve a sit-down meal to benefit Maui Food Bank and Maui Arts & Cultural Center," says partner Shep Gordon. "Playing that night will be the Mick Fleetwood Blues Band, Alice Cooper and some surprise guests, like last year. The $500 ticket price is so we can really raise some money."
While seats in the party area are almost gone, the lounge still has a few - but you'll only be able to hear, and not see, the musicians from this position. The good news is - there is no admission price. New menu items include all-natural Black Angus filet mignon and Keahole lobster combo, duck two ways, vegan lasagne, and crab-and-lobster taro cake served over tomato coulis.
Article Photos
The Maui News / CARLA TRACY photo
Tracy Johnson lunches at Wow-Wee Maui’s Kava Bar & Grill as owner Michael Capuano talks about his new private-label, candy-bar line.
Ka'anapali Beach Hotel will ring in 2010 in its Kanahele Room with the Magical Maui New year's Eve Party from 8:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. with kamaaina, teen and child prices. Gold Seating starts at $175.
It includes magic show with Jody and Kathleen Baran, mai tai, three-course gourmet dinner, pre-show hosted beer and wine bar, dancing, contests, party favors, balloon drop, champagne toast and early-morning breakfast buffet to get you home in one piece.
Mulligan's on the Blue in Wailea still has seats for its New Year's Eve costume party at $60 per person. On New Year's Day, an extra Willie K dinner show has been added and it will continue to run Thursdays in January, according to owner Mike O'Dwyer.
Those who wish to have a mellow and early dinner New Year's Eve should check out Buzz's Wharf in Maalaea. Seatings start at 5 p.m. and it's a prix-fixe meal with choice of appetizers and house salad, and entrees from rack of lamb to fresh island fish to boneless short rib with kalbi demi glace and prawns Tahitian. All are served with Molokai sweet potatoes and stir-fry veggies. Then you top it off with dessert for a cost of $49.95. . . Or, ring in 2010 with the gourmet New Year's Eve seafood buffet at Pulehu in West Maui at $72 per person with petit lobster tails, king crab, oysters and much more.
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BITS AND PIECES . . . Locals are raving about the lobster-combo dinner served Wednesdays and Saturdays for $25.95 in the Coconut Grill restaurant at the Maui Seaside Hotel in Kahului. You get a four-ounce lobster tail and then you choose two of the following options to go with it: crab cake, hibachi chicken, top sirloin steak, paniolo pork ribs or Polynesian prawns. A trip to the salad bar, mashed potatoes and veggies are included.
Coconut Grill also sizzles with prime rib night Mondays and Fridays for $19.95; and a seafood combo Tuesdays and Thursdays for the same price.
The owner of Wow-Wee Maui's Kava Bar & Grill has just launched private labeling for his Wow-Wee Maui's Candy Bar products. He's hired an in-house graphic artist, who will create your own private label. Cost is about $1 a bar, plus the cost of the wrapper.
"My most recent client is Da Kitchen with their recipe of mochi crunch and milk chocolate," says Michael Capuano. "Another is the largest independent record company in the United States, called 5 Alarm Music, with cinnamon, chile peppers, vanilla and dark chocolate. We do the artwork and help with the recipes. We also currently work with airlines and national surf shops."
Keep an eye out for Wow-Wee's Tiki Body Painting Live At Night Party Jan. 24 with sushi specials, DJ, black lights and plenty of human tiki art. Since there are so many humans on island, it should be a gas!
* You may reach Dining Editor Carla Tracy at 242-6342.
