Therapy animals bring joy and comfort to Maui’s elderly and disabled

Shannon Dominguez works at least 70 hours per week at Upcountry Maui’s Haku Baldwin Center.She directs a popular community program called Animal-Assisted Therapy. Several times per week, she loads up her truck with a menagerie of well-trained animals–including dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, ducks & chickens–and visits people who are elderly, infirmed or disabled. Her therapy animals bring [...]

What to do in Lahaina

My brother is currently hanging out on Maui for a week vacation. He’s on his own and I told him I would ask you for any recommendations of your favorite restaurants and activities. Would you mind sharing any not-to-be-missed places/things for him to do/see in between his moments of relaxing on the beach? He doesn’t have a car. Thanks!

Hard times in Kihei and Wailea, Maui

Roy’s restaurant in Kihei papered over its windows, removed the marquee and closed its doors for good last month. Roy’s was located in the Pi’ikea Shopping Center, not far from the resort zone that includes the Grand Wailea Resort, the Four Seasons, Wailea beach villas and Kihei condos. For those in the area who are going to miss his daily changing menu, my palette goes out to you. The upside is that bargains can be found for vacationers in South Maui, where room rates have dropped over 20% in the last two years and just about everything, from tours to food, is on sale.

Cycle 13 of Tyra Banks’ America’s Next Top Model on location in Maui, Hawaii

Tyra Banks chose Maui, Hawaii, as the “exotic” location in the second half of season (or cycle) 13 for “reality” show about becoming America’s Next Top Model. Tyra Banks shoots model contestant Erin on location near Kahului, Maui. Erin muddles through portraying someone who is “hapa” Tibetan and Egyptian, while “working it” in a hot sugar cane field in Pu’unene near the mill.

Makawao still paniolo country…for dogs

So there we are on the sidewalk during rush hour in Makawao at sunset: my malamute husky ripping and crunching a still warm chicken, feathers stuck to his muzzle like velcro darts; my shepherd scanning impatiently the scene, eyes shifting side to side; and me, wondering if anyone driving by has any idea of the carnage going on. But no one really notices. Either they are totally oblivious or it’s just normal to see a wolf-like dog nosing a pile of feathers on the side of the road. Or perhaps Makawao remains a little wild at heart, still paniolo country.