First off, let me say I’m not just some jerk with a lot of opinions about whether or not marijuana should be legalized, or given away as a free gift when you open a bank account, or smoked in movie theaters, or put on the flag in the place of those little stars. Well, I am saying that, but I...

When you dine at Kono’s on the Green, one word of exclamation comes to mind: wow. But not always in a good way. Let’s start with the good wow moments first. For one, the view is to die for. Situated above the stunning Elleair Golf Course, it’s nothing but lush green grass and water traps as...

Maui’s own Chef Sheldon Simeon of Star Noodle and Leoda’s Pie Shop continues to rock it on Bravo’s Top Chef, finishing in the top three on last week’s episode. It’s now down to the last five “cheftestants,” and we caught up to Sheldon to ask some foodie insider questions and reconfirm that...

**Editor’s note: This article is based on yesterday’s story about a woman who was arrested after falling through the ceiling of Kihei Police Station.** It’s always alarming when someone unexpectedly crashes through the ceiling of a police station, and we sincerely hope everything works out...

Award-winning comedian Margaret Cho is bringing her new show “Mother,” to Maui’s Castle Theater on Friday, Feb. 8. We talked to the often controversial and always funny comedian about her show, her childhood aspirations, and what she’d order for a last meal. Maui Now: So your new show is...

If you have ever lamented to a friend, “Why isn’t there a restaurant where I can plop down at the table of my choice, be greeted in a friendly manner, and receive a $3 hamburger five minutes later?” then you are not alone. If you thought that $3 full-service restaurant hamburger fantasy was...

*BEFORE READING:* Nothing about this story is true, unlike the recent story about the time capsule that was discovered under the old Wailuku Post Office (1/22/2013). Ralph and Louise Tanaka of South Kihei were shocked to discover a time capsule underneath the dilapidated shed outside their...

Dear Would-Be Olowalu to Iao Valley Hiker, It has come to our attention that you keep trying this, despite the preponderance of words like “certain death,” “impossible,” “beyond stupid,” and “Darwin Awards.” Speaking of which, we can’t help but wonder if the ancient Hawaiians started the tale...

Maui Chef Sheldon Simeon of Star Noodle in Lahaina continues to shine on Bravo’s Top Chef, not just for his culinary prowess, but for his undeniable and seemingly unflappable sweetness and charm. The season started on Nov. 7 with 24 hopeful “cheftestants” and is now down to just six chefs...

Toubab Krewe is an instrumental group known for creating music that blends together American rock, African traditions, jam sensibilities, and international folk sounds. The group’s instruments include a kora (21-string harp-lute), kamelengoni (12-string harp-lute), soku (Malian horsehair...

Executive Chef Marc McDowell took over the culinary reigns at the Makena Beach and Golf Resort in October 2010. Since that time he has instituted a large herb and vegetable garden and largely changed the face of the food being served at the former Maui Prince. We talked to him about cooking,...

Hawaii-born Kaui Hart Hemmings, author of “The Descendants,” will be on Maui this weekend as a keynote speaker at the first annual Aloha Writers Conference in Kapalua. “The Descendants” focuses on Matthew King, a wealthy Hawaiian land trust administrator. His missionary ancestors purchased...

Maui-based actress, body painter, Next Level Productions owner, and UltraViolets burlesque troupe creator Rachel DeBoer is nothing if not versatile. She performs with the UltraViolets as part of tomorrow’s TEDxMaui event, and took a little time to talk with us about who she is, how she got...

Bev Gannon’s Hali’imaile General Store is something of a legend on this island. First off, there is pretty much nothing to see or do whatsoever in Hali’imaile, so the mere fact that visitors and locals have trekked up there for decades surely counts for something. Secondarily, it has not one,...

Vanessa Wolf is fond of her front teeth, but after learning she’s unlikely to lose them, she may very well give this roller-skating thing a shot. By Vanessa Wolf This Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Kahului Boys and Girls Club, the Maui Roller Girls are recruiting for their 2013 season and no skating...

Oregon-raised, Nashville-based singer-songwriter Mat Kearney plays the MACC on Friday, January 18. Best known for his songs “Ships in the Night,” “Nothing Left to Lose,” and “Breathe In Breathe Out,” Kearney took a little time after picking his parents up at the Nashville airport to talk to...

Sometimes you’re looking for a four-course meal, nouvelle cuisine, or exotic fare. Sometimes you just want a decent sandwich. When faced with the latter, Cafe @ La Plage in South Kihei’s Dolphin Plaza is likely to fit the bill. Start with breakfast. They make excellent espressos, lattes and...

Pita Paradise in the Wailea Gateway Place is one of the few sources of a gyro on this island. They also offer a smattering of Mediterranean and Lebanese favorites at relatively reasonable prices. The Appetizer Platter ($15) provides a little bit of everything. First off, the tzatziki (which...

Stand-up comedian, political commentator, and television host Bill Maher performs next Tuesday, Jan. 1 at the MACC. We discovered a slightly more lighthearted side of the acerbic host of HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher, when we talked to him about elephants, time travel, and really bad...

Ferraro’s Bar e Risorante at the Four Seasons is the real estate agent’s dream: location, location, location. It may take a few days, but once you secure your sunset-timed table reservation, you can look forward to being seated on an open patio just 100 yards from the water. The setting is...

You may be asking yourself, “How good can a rotisserie chicken actually be?” Turns out, INCREDIBLY good…and we’ll get to that in a minute. The first of three visits to Cilantro in the Old Lahaina Center started with the Guacamole and Chips ($4.95/small, $6.95/large). Super fresh chunks of...

Fans of Star Noodle’s Chef Sheldon Simeon may very well be watching with bated breath as he competes on this season of Top Chef, filmed in Seattle. This is the 10th season of the show, and Chef Simeon has now made it through the first four episodes…and twice as many challenges. We talked to...

Have you ever raved about a new love to everyone you know? Then the day comes that you introduce them to friends and family, confident in the presumption that they will fall equally hard …and everything – inexplicably – goes so very, very wrong? Have you ever shown that same new love off to...

Chef Tylun Pang is something of a Maui institution. His book, WHAT MAUI LIKES TO EAT, celebrates not just his own cuisine, but that of many other chefs on the island. Currently the Executive Chef at the Kea Lani and often found behind the lines at Ko, we talked to Chef Pang about his craft,...

Let’s get one thing out of the way first: Leoda’s ain’t cheap. If you are accustomed to a $9 pie feeding four, six or even eight people, well, better hope those people have anorexia. But while the pies sold at Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop are pricey…with the high cost of admission comes a...

It’s Veteran’s Day Sunday! Cook up some food, sit down at the table, and force the youngsters to listen as you reminisce about the war. Fresh out of battlefield tales? Celebrate another four years with Hawaii’s own Barack Obama at the helm by cooking up some of his family’s favorites. Barack...

Big Island-born and Maui Culinary Academy-educated Chef Sheldon Simeon appears on tomorrow night’s premier episode of Top Chef Season Ten: Seattle. His profile on the Bravo website reveals “Sheldon talks the Hawaiian talk and loves to cook with local island ingredients, but is confident when...

Local musician and Ulalena cast member Anthony Natividad died unexpectedly last Sunday, October 28th, a week and a half after this interview was conducted. He was an influential and beloved member of this community and will be missed. A handmade traditional Hawaiian nose flute is placed...

If you’re headed to Wailuku for First Friday tonight and dreaming of a four-course meal on a budget, consider  a stop at Vineyard Food Company on (imagine that) Vineyard Street. This little restaurant is open for lunch Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. They also offer a four-course...

Matthew Galena came to therapeutic massage and stretching – and ultimately Thai massage – intuitively. After a significant muscle injury at age 11, doctors were largely unhelpful, suggesting that he simply “walk it off.” Galena then discovered a large walnut-like lump in his inner...