AROUND THE TOWN . . . Rumors are swirling that one hard-working Maui chef will appear on Food Network’s “Throwdown! With Bobby Flay” in coming months. Chef de Cuisine Alvin Savella of The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua’s signature The Banyan Tree is keeping his lips sealed, but word has it that ...

SUMMER HEATS UP . . . It’s good to see Seattle take the lead to ban ocean-clogging plastic straws and utensils at restaurants and bars. While Hawaii legislation is planets apart, many island hotels, restaurants and event planners are not, including the people behind such cultural food ...

FOURTH OF JULY FUN . . . As usual, Maui will be kicking up its heels Wednesday through July 7 for the federal Independence Day holiday. Lahainatown Action Committee is inching closer to its goal of $50,000 to ignite the night skies over the historic West Maui town at 8 p.m. Wednesday with ...

LAID-BACK AFTERNOON . . . The 27th annual Ki Ho‘alu Festival will delight from 1 to 7 p.m. Sunday in the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s A&B Amphitheater and Yokouchi Pavilion in Kahului. Featuring some of Hawaii’s best slack-key guitar players, this free event is sponsored by The ...

ON THE HORIZON . . . Popped into Maui’s newest vegan/vegetarian eatery with lots of gluten-free options the other day. Tomatoes came from Kula Dave, radishes from Okoa Farms and taro leaf from Keanae at Moku Roots in the old Italian Delights at Lahaina Gateway Plaza. “We do jackfruit ...

SUMMER BLAZES IN . . . Want to grab a quick bite and take it to your favorite surf spot? Now through June 15, you may get 10 percent off the sizzling large steak and shrimp plates, the garlic shrimp plates and the New York steak plates at Blazin’ Steaks set in the same shopping complex as ...