THURSDAY NIGHT FIGHTS

HAPA'S


Know what a "Night Club" is?

Just a bar that has a "cover charge" at the door.

Most are worthy of the name. Hapa's is not.

Hapa's is a "locals" club. At one time in its past is was very nice. Now it is trashy. Always having fights just out front, in the Lipoa Shopping Center parking lot (car park). Monday is a great night to go there though. That's when uncle Willie K. plays. If you are not a resident of Hawai'i or in the music business then you have probably never heard of him. He is renowned in the industry as one of the most accomplished guitarists in the world. He plays everything! Rock, Jazz, C&W, classical, Hawai'ian. Two years ago he was the opening act for the Beach Boys summer tour. All music entertainers who visit here always drop by on Mondays and sit-in for a set or two. To name a few, Prince, Journey, Eagles. Willie and his band put on one hell of a good show. The local punks don't appreciate his talent and avoid Hapa's that night.

The "Ultra Fab" Tuesday night is for alternative lifestyles. Draws a pretty decent crowd also. Locals punks avoid this night also.

"Dolla Balla" is the $3 drink night.

"Ladies night" is trouble with a capital "T". The "local" females love to get in for free and then see how much drama they can create among the males. Which then erupts in fights. As a cop I saw this many times but never on this scale.

Last night there was a major brawl in the parking lot. Somewhere between 50 & 60 people fighting. As with most drunken brawls, there was a lot of "swinging" but very little "connection." The entire Kihei District area police (6 officers and 1 sargeant) responded to the disturbance. Even a State Park Ranger from the DLNR (Department of Land and Natural Resources) rolled. I seldom see these guys on my shift. Took a photo of their "YUKON". Didn't get any shots of the fight since I was enroute to the hospital when it occurred.

==============================================
HENRY'S

This is a "grown-ups" fun bar. They usually close around 12:30am. They have a band until about 11:00pm. Owned by a kama'aina leather biker, it seldom has any trouble.

We used to have a cab company, that worked late, named ALOHA. One night the owner of that company was backing up to the curb in front of Henry's and backed straight through the wall to your left of the door. Luckily the bar had closed about 15 minutes earlier and only staff was still inside. The owner/driver then exited his mini-van, surveyed the damage, went back to his cab, reached under the front seat and extracted a half full 2-liter bottle of cheap white wine, which he then tossed into the trash.

I watched this entire incident while calling 9-1-1. Before the police arrived I retrieved the bottle and maintained custody of it until MPD was "on scene" and gave it to them. The owner/driver acted like a clown while performing (and failing) the field sobriety test. And off to jail he went.

6 months later he was parked in front of Hapa's, two doors away from Henry's, passed out over the wheel. One of my drivers reported this to me and again I called 9-1-1. The responding officer, Nick Krau, was the same one who had made the first arrest. He not only took the owner/driver's state issued drivers license but also the county issued taxi drivers permit. Aloha was never on the road again.

Good riddance! Most fares would reasonably expect their cabbie to be more sober than they are.

If you watch the TV show "COPS", you probably saw Nick Krau when Mau'i PD was the featured agency. He's a good cop and one hell of a nice guy. When I catch up with him again, I'll get his pic and post it here.
==============================================
MONEY! MONEY! MONEY!

Thursday was very busy and very profitable. What more could I ask for?
==============================================
ERIN GO BRAUGH

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all.



May the road rise up to meet your feet.
My the wind always be at your back.
And may you be in Heaven an hour before the Devil knows you've left this earth.
==============================================
SO YOU WANT TO MOVE TO MAU'I?

Just a word of advice. It ain't cheap to live here.
(as with all photos, just "left click" to get a larger image).

Milk:

Bread:

Coke:

Cheerios:

Rice Krispies:

ad nauseum.
==============================================
POOR BLOGSPOT

They are having some major sysop problems for the past few days.

I wrote this at 0800 hours on the 17th. Lets see how long it will be before I can post it.

Oh, well. Its free and you get what you pay for. Sigh.
==============================================

Later.....

Wil
=8^))
"Let's all be careful out there!"

ODD MAN OUT

THE "TRIANGLE"

The "Triangle"'s real name is Kihei Kalama Village

The five bars that are there are Life's A Beach

Kahale's

Lulu's. (up on the second floor)

Southside Tiki Lounge

Neptune's

Neptune's has been closed the past two nights. Don't know whats up with that.
==============================================
WHATS OPEN?

After the bars close, at 2:00am, It gets pretty quiet here.
The 24-hour businesses are:

Tesoro at Gateway Plaza

Safeway

Minit Stop

Tesoro at Azeka Mauka

Chevron

7-Eleven

Foodland

76 Unocal

Denny's (on the second floor)

==============================================
RAIN? WHAT RAIN?

It was overcast all night but the only rain I observed was just a few light isolated sprinkles about 4:00am. Much ado about nothing. Par for the course from the NWS (National Weather Service).

The islands of O'ahu (Honolulu) and Kaua'i are being hit pretty bad though. Major flooding, dam failures, etc. There have been some storm related deaths.

Started my shift at 7:00pm and sat there for 2 1/2 hours before my first run. Even after I reached the front of the line I was being bypassed by runs requiring a van (insert sound of grinding teeth).

Only had 10 runs the entire night.

I don't know what Thursday is going to be like, but Friday is St. Patrick's Day and every bar is going to be "hopping." Friday is also my "dispatch" night. My brain will probably be oatmeal by the time that shift is over.
==============================================

Later.....

Wil
=8^))
"Let's all be careful out there!"

I AM NOT A "HAPPY CAMPER"

FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE

QUOTE:

FLASH FLOOD WATCH

Expires 4:15 AM HST on March 16, 2006

Statement as of 3:14 PM HST on March 15, 2006

... Flash Flood Watch remains in effect through Friday afternoon...

The Flash Flood Watch continues for

* all of the main Hawaiian islands.

* Through Friday afternoon.

* An upper-level low will continue to produce heavy rain and
maintain the threat of flash flooding on all of the Hawaiian
islands this week. Prior rains have filled reservoirs and
saturated slopes in places. Take the time now to determine
whether you are located below a dam or slope that could give
way. Avoid streambeds and other areas prone to sudden
flooding.

A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions exist that could lead
to sudden flash flooding.

Take precautions now to protect life and property. Be prepared to
act quickly if a warning is issued or you observe heavy rain.

Report flooding to police or civil defense officials for relay to
the National Weather Service.

END QUOTE

==============================================
EXTENDED WEATHER FORECAST

Rest of Tonight
Cloudy. Numerous showers and isolated thunderstorms early in the evening...then scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms. Locally heavy rainfall possible early in the evening. Lows 61 to 67. Light winds. Chance of rain 70 percent.


Thursday
Cloudy with numerous showers and isolated thunderstorms. Locally heavy rainfall possible. Highs 76 to 81. North winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.


Thursday Night
Mostly cloudy with numerous showers and isolated thunderstorms. Locally heavy rainfall possible. Lows around 64. East winds around 10 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.


Friday
Mostly cloudy with frequent showers and isolated thunderstorms. Locally heavy rainfall possible. Highs 77 to 82. North winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80 percent.


Friday Night
Mostly cloudy with scattered showers. Lows 62 to 68. South winds around 10 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.
[chancerain]

Saturday
Mostly cloudy with scattered showers. Highs 78 to 83. Light winds. Chance of rain 30 percent.


Saturday Night
Mostly cloudy with scattered showers. Lows 62 to 67. Light winds. Chance of rain 50 percent.


Sunday
Mostly cloudy with scattered showers. Highs 77 to 82. Light winds. Chance of rain 40 percent.


Sunday Night
Mostly cloudy with scattered showers. Lows 62 to 68. Light winds. Chance of rain 50 percent.


Monday
Mostly cloudy with scattered showers. Highs 77 to 82. Light winds. Chance of rain 40 percent.


Monday Night
Partly cloudy with isolated showers. Lows 62 to 68. Light winds. Chance of rain 20 percent.


Tuesday
Partly cloudy with scattered showers. Highs 77 to 82. Light winds. Chance of rain 40 percent.


Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy with isolated showers. Lows 61 to 67. Light winds. Chance of rain 20 percent.


Wednesday
Mostly cloudy with scattered showers. Highs 76 to 81. North winds around 10 mph. Chance of rain 40 percent.

==============================================
GOOD NEWS / BAD NEWS

Rain means more people will take cabs rather than walking to their restaurant. Fewer "jaywalkers" too.

DUI's, who can't drive on dry pavement, will now be out careening down the roads on wet pavement.

I am going to get soaked.

==============================================

Later.....

Wil
=8^))
"Let's all be careful out there!"

MY "SOPRANOS" CAR

I call my cab the "Sopranos" car. Its trunk (boot) is big enough to hold four dead bodies.

==============================================

Later.....

Wil
=8^))
"Let's all be careful out there!"

FULL MOON OVER MAU'I

YUCKY FULL MOON

Usually the rising and setting of a full moon is breathe taking.

Not tonight!

Cloud cover obscured everything.

This is as good as it got.

==============================================
SURVEY

Everytime a passenger gets in my cab I always ask "where ya'll from?" It's a great "ice breaker".

Here are the results of tonight:

1 - New York, New York, USA

2 - USMC on leave from Iraq

3 - Palm Springs, California, USA

4 - London, United Kingdom

5 - Island of Moloka'i, Mau'i County, Hawai'i, USA

6 - Kama'aina

7 - Phoenix, Arizona, USA

8 - Wales, United Kingdom (He did tell me the city name but it must have been 30 letters long. Welsh must be as hard to understand as Hawai'ian)

9 - Kama'aina

10 - Calgary, Alberta, Canada

11 - Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

12 - Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
and Edmondton, Alberta, Canada
==============================================
NOT A PLEASANT SIGHT

Gas has gone up over the weekend

==============================================
CANCELLED FLIGHT

Air Canada cancelled their "redeye" last night (which kinda skewed the survey). All the night shift drivers but one had logged off. The last remaining driver was headed for the barn when I started getting calls from The Grand. Both PBX operators called at the same time. I needed to pick up three sets of guests from the airport and return them to The Grand. I advised the other driver that I needed his assistance and we both "high-tailed it" to OGG. We had a 2-pax, a 3-pax and a 4-pax waiting for us.

Then the phone really started ringing as the other 280 passengers also wanted a cab. Geez!

I called La Bella, the 24/7 cab company in central Mau'i, and advised them of what had happened and they sent their 2 night cabs to the airport. They also started calling in dayshift drivers early.

Eventually everyone was accommodated. And a mediocre night was rescued.
==============================================
WAITING

What you can't see is that her gentleman companion is "passed out" on the grass perimeter of the Foodland parking in front of "one-nine". Spread-eagled and supine. She is patiently waiting for a friend to pick them up, literally true for "sleepyhead".


That's Royal Cab #18 in the background.
==============================================
BTW

Kama'aina (kah-mah-eye-nah) is the term to describe residents of Hawai'i who are not of Hawai'ian blood.

If you live in Texas you can call yourself "Texan".
If you live in California you can call yourself "Californian".
But only native Hawai'ians can call themselves "Hawai'ian" in Hawai'i.
==============================================

Later.....

Wil
=8^))
"Let's all be careful out there!"

PROUD GRANDPA

This is a pic, taken today, of my 15 year old grandson, Zac, doing a back flip at Dodge Ridge, a ski resort in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California.

As his father, my son Rob, stated in the e-mail:
"Ah to be young and fearless again." I concur.

I have four grandsons aged 21, 15, 12 (almost 13) and 2 (the surprise package). I am unabashedly proud of all of them.
==============================================

Later.....

Wil
=8^))
"Let's all be careful out there!"

"TIPS" AND "SKIPS" AND "OBSERVATIONS"

Q: What's the difference between a Canadian and a canoe?

A: A canoe will definately tip.
==============================================
TIPS

I'll probably piss a lot of people off with this. Oh, well. Feces occurs.

==============================================

Canadians are famous here for being poor tippers and always complaining about the currency exchange rate. That's funny, since the exchange rate for visitors from New Zealand and Australia is usually in the same ballpark, and those folks always seem to be generous. I should note though, over the years there has been a shift in Canadian tipping habits. Those from Alberta and British Columbia are good tippers. Those from Ontario and east aren't. Those from Manitoba and Saskatchewan are a "toss up."

The French don't tip. Ever. Period.

Germans and Suise (Swiss) always tip exactly 10%.

Japanese usually tip 15-20% and then ask if that is enough.

Visitors from London never tip, but those from the rest of the UK are very thoughtful.

Same with Dublin (bad) and Ireland (good).

Kiwis and Aussies are generous.

Polynesians, both domestic and foreign, never tip.

With the exception of Mexico, people from Latin American are usually very good about tipping.

Those visitors from the "middle east" never tip and usually want to negotiate the final fare. The idea that meter rates are fixed and nonnegotiable is alien to their thought process or cultural precepts.

The only guests that I've had from Africa were from South Africa and were the same as those from the UK.

On the domestic front, locals and kama'ainas (non-native Hawai'i residents) tip in the 10-15% range, except for those folks who live in the multi-million dollar homes. Those asses usually just let you keep the coins.

==============================================
SKIPS

When I first started driving I was hit with a lot of "skips" or "fare beaters."

Usually it was teenage boys who would leap out of the cab at the stated destination and run off into their local neighborhood. Never to be seen again.

Short haul "skips" were an irritant but long haul "skips" were a major loss of income.

Today, I collect what I estimate to be the fare, plus a little more, before I do any long hauls out of town.

I have become pretty adept at spotting the local run "skippers" and just as we are arriving at the destination I hit the "door lock" button on my control panel. I've also removed the little door lock knobs on the rear doors so that they can't be "pulled up" from the interior of the vehicle. After I get paid, I release the locks. Crude but effective.

==============================================
OBSERVATIONS

Generally, most people are pretty honest. When I get a passenger in the cab who is down on their luck and are just trying to get home, they will honestly state up front that they have only so much money and would I take them as far as that amount would cover. With very rare exceptions, I will take them the entire distance and "eat" the difference. About 90% of the time I will have future contact at a later date and they pay the full fare with a generous tip and a truly heartfelt thanks for the kindness that I had shown them on the prior occassion. "IT PAYS TO BE NICE."

The worst fare beaters are the folks who live in the 10-30 million dollar homes in Wailea. They usually are slovernly drunk and when you arrive at their home, within one of the "gated" communities, they have no cash. Only plastic. No cab company on Mau'i accepts plastic. I could call the cops but this is a low priority matter for them and the response time would most likely be over a hour. Just not worth the effort. Nowadays, when I get one of those destinations, I always ask if we need to stop at a "magic money machine" to get cash for the fare.

==============================================

The best fares are people who work in the service end of the tourist industry. They know how expensive it is to live here and how hard all of us who work with tourists have to hustle to earn a buck. For these regulars I usually give them a free ride about once a month just to say thanks. I do run and record the meter, since the owner isn't quite as philanthropic as I am.

==============================================

Later.....

Wil
=8^))
"Let's all be careful out there!"

And so tomorrow arrives

Take the high ground!

Most interesting run of the night were the two ladies I took "up the hill" to Makawao (mah-kah-wow) and Pukalani (poo-kah-lah-nee) from The Grand.

Thats a looong run. 31 miles out.

Makawao and Pukalani are located about 2,000 feet (610 meters) up the slope of Mt. Haleakala, our 10,023 foot (3 km) dormant volcano.

They were both intoxicated but not offensively so. They were having their annual "girls nite out". One was extremely talkative and the other was not.

The "chatty" one followed the normal pattern for the genre.

1. Have to always touch you when speaking.

2. Start their sentences in a loud voice , rapidly tapering to an inaudible murmur. Usually punctuated at the end with either a loud "what do you think?' or a "don't you agree?". And you have no idea of what she said. My generic response is "I agree with you".

3. Asks a question, answers that question and then tells you why your answer is wrong. And you haven't said a word.

4. Near the end of the run, lady drunks begin to act a "little friskie". I deflect their intentions by telling them:
"how disappointed my wife would be with me if I were to accept your offer. And I really do love and respect my wife and would never do anything to hurt her. But, please, don't get me wrong. You have made my night. Its been a long time since such a beautiful lady as yourself has shown any interest in this old, worn out fart." It always works, and she doesn't feel insulted or snubbed.

BTW - I am NOT married. Not for the last 18 years. :)


Here's a pic of Kahului Town from Pukalani.


==============================================
Yesterday

Yesterday I said "Lets see what tomorrow brings."

Well, it brought the same number of runs but a hell of a lot more money.

And the dispatching was not as overwhelming as it can be at times.

All-in-all, a pretty good night.
==============================================

ME

This was taken this morning. Me, "Maggie" and "one-nine." Hmmm. It doesn't show my "pony-tail" which goes about halfway down my back. Forehead is getting longer too. Sigh.


Well, Its Sunday morning again. Two days off.

To bed. To sleep. Perchance to dream.
==============================================

Later.....

Wil
=8^))
"Let's all be careful out there!"

My calendar said it was Friday

But it was dead slow, Only had 13 runs. Some of the other drivers had an even rougher night. Sad. Not one interesting event the entire night.

============================================
Joel, a fellow driver, offered me the use of his photo:

What can I say? Its Mau'i.
============================================
Lets see what tomorrow brings.
============================================

Later.....

Wil
=8^))
"Let's all be careful out there!"

DRUNKS

Pretty average night but the best part was that two drivers came in early at 5:00am and I was able to get off early. :)

Sorry, nothing of interest to take a pic of.

==============================================

Around 1:00am I was dispatched down to Mulligans, 4 miles away, to take two people to the Kea Lani, a total distance of 4/10ths of a mile. The walkway down the hill from Mulligans to their parking lot is a wide (easily handles 3 abreast), gentle stairway with rails on both sides. These two guys come down, bouncing off one rail and then the next. Thank God they weren't driving!

They had a running conversation the entire distance, none of which could be called intelligible, though they seemed to understand each other. They were speaking in American, drunk American.

Got to the Kea Lani and drunk #1 hands me a twenty and says "make sure my buddy gets to the Four Seasons okay."

Sweet!

Get the second drunk to the Four Seasons, total fare = $6.20, and he looks at the meter and hands me a ten.

"The other gentleman already paid the fare, sir."

"Naw, he just paid for his ride. This is for my ride."

Kewl!

$30 on a $6.20 run. Like I've said before, "pupu runs" are usually very profitable in Wailea.

==============================================

As a cop I developed a working theory about drunks and being a cabbie has only reenforced it.

The average IQ for a human is 100. The consumption of alcohol reduces that number by 10 points per drink.

In both occupations, I always seem to have contact with them when they've reached some point below 60. "Blithering idiot" status.

==============================================

Later.....

Wil
=8^))
"Let's all be careful out there!"

TRAGIC NIGHT

We had a plane crash near the airport yesterday evening. It was a Cessna 414 air ambulance and all three persons aboard were killed. A lot of stories about it here.

And here are "on scene" stories from the Maui News.

One of the Honolulu papers posted a quicktime video from a cell phone at the scene.

I was by the area twice during the shift.

==============================================
Six Month Anniversary


These are my friends Jason and Heather. They were out celebrating their 6th month wedding anniversary last night. Congratulations!

==============================================
KALAMA PARK FOLLOW UP

To be fair, I need to state that in the daylight and early evening, Kalama park is a great place to visit. Fantastic playground for the keiki (little kids). A very challenging skateboard area. Baseball diamonds, basketball courts and a soccer (football to the rest of the world) field. Also a volleyball area, BBQs and picnic tables, both sheltered and open. There is no beach there, just a seawall. A nice place to sit and watch the sunset and try to catch a glimpse of that elusive green flash when the last of the sun drops below the horizon.

Kalama Park at sunset.


A soccer (football) practice at Kalama Park.

==============================================
KRISPY KREME


Krispy Kreme had to be evacuated due to the crash and fire last night. It is maybe 100 yards from the crash site.

When Krispy Kreme opened about two years ago, it sold 85,000 doughnuts in the first 24 hours. It was over three months before there was not a one-hour wait at both the drive-thru and walk-in. This location was the first mainland style doughnut store in the state. No Dunkin Donuts, no Winchells, nothing. And if you've ever been here, and tried to eat a local doughnut, you understand why this place is so popular.

And please, no "Cops and Doughnuts" jokes. I've heard them all before. ;)

==============================================

Later.....

Wil
=8^))
"Let's all be careful out there!"

KALAMA PARK

(aka "needle park")

As I am approaching the "triangle" last night, a really scruffy looking guy dashes out of Kalama Park across the street in front of me. Damn near hit him. As I pass him, I yell out the window "That's a good way to end up dead."

After turning into the "Triangle" and parking, my passenger door is jerked open by this dude. My first thought is trouble! He is standing there, out of breathe, panting "I got money! I got money!" While showing me his wallet choked with American "Greenbacks".

"Quick! Get me outta here!"

"No problem. Where do you want to go?"

He gave me an address at the south end of town.

"No problem. Hop in. What happened back there? A drug deal gone bad?"

"Some 'loca' punks tried to rob me!"

"Wow!, Really? Are you okay?" (True meaning of the question was "please don't bleed on my velour seats")

"Yeah, I got away from them."

Kalama Park, after dark, is bad news. Everyone who lives here knows that is where the "nightcrawlers" do their business.

When we drop tourists at the "triangle" we always tell them NOT to go for a walk in the park. No matter how romantic it may seem. We have had a couple of murders there, all drug related, over the past couple of years.

About two years ago, the members of MPD's SWAT team were having a family picnic at the park. Two scumbags came up to them and wanted to buy some drugs. The officers told them to "fuck off". Ten minutes later, these "Lex Luthors" come back with a gun and start shooting at the cops. BAD MOVE!! There was a ten minute running gun fight. The bad guys were captured a few hours later and, luckily, no one was injured.

Like most police agencies, the "nighthawks" can't be everywhere all the time. So the "nightcrawlers" just keep plying their wares.

Different faces and places but nothing ever changes. Sigh.

================================================


Everything Looks Different In The Daylight!


Sunrise begins to kiss the West Mau'i Mountains.

"Top Of The House" at the Grand Wailea.

The waterfall along the main entry driveway at the Grand Wailea.

The view from the east side walk to the restrooms.

The view from the west side walkway to the restrooms.

============================================

Moonset Over Maalaea Bay

This was taken about 0150hrs. Kinda crappy shot, but in reality it was beautiful.

==============================================

Later.....

Wil
=8^))
"Let's all be careful out there!"

Do something BRAVE today

(and then run like HELL!)




==============================================

Later.....

Wil
=8^))
"Let's all be careful out there!"

"BROKEBACK" JOKE

COWBOY FROM BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, WYOMING

A rugged cowboy from Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming, goes into the doctor's office and has some tests run.

The doctor comes back and says, "I am not going to beat around the bush, You have AIDS."

The cowboy tugs at his Stetson and sets his jaw and says, "Doc, what can I do?"

The doctor says,

"I want you to go home and eat

5 pounds of spicy sausage,

a head of cabbage,

20 un-peeled carrots drenched in hot sauce,

10 Jalapeno peppers,

40 walnuts and 40 peanuts,

1/2 box of Grapenuts cereal,

and top it off with a gallon of prune juice."

The cowboy squares his rugged shoulders and asks, "Will that cure me, Doc?"

"No, but it should leave you with a better understanding of what your ass is for."


==============================================

Later.....

Wil
=8^))
"Let's all be careful out there!"

DINING OUT

Today is my day off, so I thought that I would share some of my favorite restaurants on Mau'i.
--------------------------------------------
SARENTO'S
Sarento's on the Beach is one of the few restaurants on the island that is actually "on the beach". One of two restaurants on the island (and one of eleven in the state) that received "Triple A's '4-Diamond' Award".

Not including alcohol, it typically runs about $55 per diner. Pretty reasonable for a "5-STAR" establishment. The food is excellent and the service impeccable. You get the feeling that everyone in Sarento's is there for your pleasure.

Sarento's is my favorite.
--------------------------------------------
MAMA'S
Mama's Fish House is the best seafood restaurant in the entire world. That's not just my opinion, it has been proclaimed as such by Bon Appetite, Conde Nast and Gourmet magazines. The fish is so fresh that they indicate the name of the boat and it's captain's name that caught that fish that day for each menu entre. The only way to get your fish any fresher than at "Mama's" would be to "hitch a ride" on one of the boats and bring your own hibachi with you.

While it sits right on the beach, on the east side of the island, there isn't much of a view after dark. But if you go there in the afternoon you can watch sail-boarders and kite-surfers having fun. Mama's is located just up the road from Ho'okipa beach, the windsurfing capital of the world.
--------------------------------------------
HALI'IMAILE GENERAL STORE
Hali'imaile General Store was actually a "general store" back in the plantation era. Now it is a world class restaurant. Don't bother looking out the windows, there is nothing to see but warehouses and cane fields. But with food like this, you'll be too busy savoring the cuisine to notice.
--------------------------------------------
SANSEI
Sansei has two locations on Mau'i. One in Kihei and the other in Kahana, on the "westside" of the island. If you like sushi, there is no better place on the globe than this. They also have karaoke, after 10pm, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Have some sushi, drink some saki and have fun!
--------------------------------------------
MULLIGAN'S ON THE BLUE
ERIN GO BRAUGH. Yup, we have our own "Irish pub" here on Mau'i. Mulligan's is the 19th "puka" (hole) at the Wailea "Blue" Course. A great place for drinks and "pupu's" after a round of golf or an Irish dinner anytime. They have one hell of a "to-do" for "St. Paddy's Day" (March 17th) and "Cinco De Mayo" (May 5th).
--------------------------------------------
MAU'I TACOS
Do you like authentic mexican food? Want an inexpensive meal? Then Mau'i Tacos is the place. As a former cop from California, I loved eating at the "taco trucks". This was authentic Mexican food. Well, Mau'i Tacos is exactly the same. Located in little "hole-in-the-wall" store fronts around the island, you can't beat it for "comfort food". This is not TACO 'HELL' crap.

***W A R N I N G*** -

If you go here, be careful about the "Sergio's Revenge" salsa from the condiment bar. Not for the"faint hearted". I eat jalapeno peppers like candy with no problems. "Sergio's Revenge" was even more than I could handle. Learned the hard way to just use it very, very sparingly, not ladle it on. It only took a couple of days for my eyes to stop "watering" and I had feeling back in my tongue/mouth/lips within a month or so. ;-)

As one of Clint Eastwood's characters said, "A man has got to know his limits." I learned mine.

I see from their web site that they are expanding across the "mainland". Check it out and see if there is one near you.
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ROY'S
Roy Yamaguchi started "Roy's" in Kahana years ago and has expanded nationwide. Besides the original, we have a second location in Kihei. Whatever you do, do not forget to order their "Roy's Melting Hot Chocolate Soufflé" for dessert when you order your entre. You'll regret it if you don't.
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OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE
Yes, I know that "Outback" is just another national "chain" restaurant, but it is a fun and inexpensive place to go. Around here it is hard to find places that serve shrimp or lobster at a reasonable price. They feature Foster's Beer from Australia (a product that makes most Australians grimace and Americans seem to love). Our local Outback even features "Australian Rules" football from a satellite fed TV. This sport makes rugby seem tame.

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Later.....

Wil
=8^))
"Let's all be careful out there!"

QUEEN MARY 2

Had a visitor last week that I forgot to mention.

The Queen Mary 2 made a brief stop over at Lahaina. She is on her maiden Pacific voyage.

The pics are from the Mau'i News.

Here is a link to the article.
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The Queen Mary 2 anchors off Lahaina on Thursday on a one-day port call to the Valley Isle as part of its maiden Pacific voyage. The Cunard liner is the largest, fastest, tallest and widest passenger ship in the world.

The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo
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With West Maui in the background, one of the Queen Mary 2’s five pools includes a dramatic vista. The ship also boasts eight whirlpools.

The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo
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The ship’s main dining room, the Britannia Restaurant, is three decks high and spans the full width of the ship.

The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo
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COMMODORE RONALD WARWICK
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The Queen Mary 2’s library provides wireless Internet service among its amenities

The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo
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Later.....

Wil
=8^))
"Let's all be careful out there!"