With the holiday season quickly approaching, it’s the perfect time to introduce festive happenings on Maui, Molokai and Lanai.

You’ll also find exciting updates on each island’s extraordinary cultural events, culinary indulgences, nature adventures, premier events, awards, and whale watching opportunities. With our remarkable collection of experiences on Maui Nui, creating lifetime memories is effortless.

Activities/Events/Tours

Hula O Na Keiki Kids Hula Competition Set for November

The 28th celebration of Hula O Na Keiki is set for November 9 and 10 at Kaanapali Beach Hotel with hula students from Hawaii and around the world competing in interview, dance, chant and costume categories. Hula O Na Keiki weekend celebrates keiki (kids) hula and hula culture and features an open-to-the-public local art and craft fair, with vendor booths including PoMahina Designs, Maui Tropical Tea and more.

Ready to Count Some Whales? The Maui Whale Festival Happens in February

Join in on the 39th Maui Whale Festival, set for February 2-23, for a series of inspiring activities designed to build awareness and share human kindness for marine animals and their ocean habitat. Celebrate with engaging, fun and educational events including a Run and Walk for Whales, the World Whale Film Festival, concert cruises, community celebrations and the fest’s Great Whale Count.

Dive Down to a Marine-Life-Filled Reef with Atlantis Submarines Maui

Explore the depths of Maui’s amazing offshore marine world in a Coast Guard approved battery-powered submarine with Atlantis Submarines Maui. Guests onboard dive more than 100 feet below the ocean surface to explore a dive site frequented by stingrays, eels, parrotfish and an array of other marine species. See firsthand how The Carthaginian, a sunken 19th-century whaling ship, has partnered with Mother Nature to create a marine life-filled reef offshore of Lahaina town.

Football Sundays at Alaloa Lounge

The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua’s Alaloa Lounge is open Sunday mornings for patrons to cheer on their favourite football teams with a toast of a favourite morning beverage alongside breakfast bites from the resort’s Kai Café. Football Sunday at the lounge boasts 80-inch televisions to watch the games and panoramic ocean views.

Holiday Shopping at Hui Noeau

Hui No‘eau Visual Arts Center’s Hui’s holiday shopping event returns in November with a winter wonderland of locally crafted and handmade items for seasonal gift giving. The Hui gift shop will expand for the season to include handmade gifts by local artists and crafters, including paintings, ceramic pieces, handblown glass ornaments, locally made beauty products and more.

Hui Holidays First Night Celebration Set for November 28

Join Hui Noeau Visual Arts Center on November 28, from 5-8 p.m., for the opening of Hui Holidays at First Night alongside holiday shopping, drinks, pūpūand spirited music. Hui Noeau’s Kaluanui estate will be decorated in holiday décor and feature the centre’s annual handmade paper dress. Guests will enjoy First Night-only pop-up vendors selling their made-on-Maui products and have first access to the Hui gift shop’s handmade wreaths.

Learn About the Whales is Kaanapali Alii’s New Guest Activity

Guests of the Kaanapali Alii are invited to participate in the condo resort’s free new Hawaii humpback whale season activity, Learn About the Whales. Led by Dirk Younkerman, a marine biologist and naturalist from Gemini Sailing Charters, the activity answers guests questions about the dramatic and fascinating behaviour of humpback whales in waters offshore of the resort.

Pacific Whale Foundation Online Auction to Benefit Keiki Whalewatch

Bidding will be open from November 10-19 for items in the Pacific Whale Foundation’s online auction, with profits raised directly funding the foundation’s 2019 Keiki Whalewatch program.

Hyatt Maui Readies New Year’s Eve Countdown Drums of the Pacific Luau

Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa will be hosting two Drums of the Pacific Luau shows on New Year’s Eve. Both will feature a special menu, including traditional lū‘au menu items, as well as prime rib, fingerling potatoes and extra desserts. Reservations for the second show will include a souvenir photo, party favours, hats and tiaras, and a champagne toast countdown to 2019. The cost of the second show only is $135 – $170 for children and $182 – $223 for adults, for general, preferred or VIP seating.

Accommodations

Private, In-Residence Cooking Classes Offered at Montage Kapalua Bay

Families and couples staying in the Montage Kapalua Bay’s newly redesigned two- and three-bedroom residences can now reserve a private, island-inspired cooking class held right in their gourmet kitchen. Class instruction can include everything from the traditional and modern styles of assembling a poke dish to the mixology of tropical blends or baking the dessert of your choice.

Destination Residences Hawai‘i Acquires Classic Resorts

In October, Destination Residences Hawai‘i announced its acquisition of Classic Resorts Limited of Lahaina, HI, and its collection of five condominium resorts and portfolio of vacation homes on Maui and the Island of Hawaii. The acquisition of the properties expands Destination Residences Hawaii’s lodging footprint throughout the Islands.

Restaurants/Dining

Maui Kuia Estate Chocolate Factory to Open in Spring

When it opens its doors to the public in spring 2019, Maui Kuia Estate Chocolate’s new factory will offer a Hawaii farm-to-bar chocolate tasting experience featuring premium chocolate made from cacao grown in the Maui ahupuaa (land section) of Kuia, as well as Ecuador, Brazil and Costa Rica – all of it handcrafted in the chocolatier’s 100 percent solar-powered, 9,000-square-foot facility. Maui Kuia Estate Chocolate’s factory will also include a retail store and a bar for chocolate tastings, as well as offer housemade ice creams, pastries, chocolate drinks, desserts, a chef’s table and a second-floor, open-air pavilion. Maui Kuia is one of the first Maui businesses created to donate 100 per cent of its net profits to Maui charities and nonprofit organizations.

Experience Private Dining at Pulehu, an Italian Grill

The Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas’ signature restaurant Pulehu, an Italian Grill, now offers private dining for patrons looking to host personalized dining experiences ranging from intimate business parties and large family gatherings to a night out with friends. The restaurant can offer custom menus and dining alongside its koi pond gardens or in its private dining room. For more information or to make a reservation, email privatedining@westinkaanapali.com.

Holiday Dining Experiences Set for Montage Kapalua Bay

The Montage Kapalua Bay Resort’s Cane and Canoe restaurant will be presenting special prix fixe dinner menus for guests celebrating Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Cane and Canoe will offer a Christmas Eve à la carte menu or three-course prix fixe menu for $75 per person, and a Christmas Day dinner buffet, from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m., at $115 per person and $40 per child ages five to 12.

The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua Presents New Pop-Up Restaurant Hook + Knife

The menu of Hook + Knife, The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua’s new pop-up restaurant, is grounded in steakhouse classics and choice cuts of beef, presented alongside fresh-caught local seafood, sashimi and sushi. The restaurant is open nightly for dinner from 5-9 p.m., with an “Off-the-Hook Hour” featuring 50 per cent savings on the restaurant’s signature seafood tower and Moet Champagne by the glass.

Makana Market and Cafe Readies to Open in December

Makana, a Hawaiian word meaning “gift,” is also the name chosen for Fairmont Kea Lani resort’s new gourmet marketplace Makana Market and Café, set to open in December. The café will feature Maui- and Island of Hawaii-grown-and-roasted coffees, including nitro cold-brew coffees, espresso and pour-over drinks, as well as matcha and Lot 35 tea blends. Makana Market and Café will also feature a menu of island fare to include a selection of house-crafted pastries, sandwiches, salads, pizzas, smoothies and acai bowls, as well as a poke bar spotlighting local-caught fish.

The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas’ Mea Ono Store Introduces New Beverages and Sweets

Mea Ono, the grab-and-go store and deli at The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas Kaanapali resort, has added a selection of local-crafted loose-leaf teas, wellness-focused beverages and fresh-brewed coffees to its offerings. Also new to Mea Ono is an array of sweet eats, including housemade pastries and desserts.

Japengo’s Final 2018 Maui Tastemakers Dinner Set for December

On December 8, Japengo restaurant at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa will host its fourth and final Maui Tastemakers Dinner for 2018. The dinner will partner Japengo and Haliimaile Distilling Company, the latter an Upcountry Maui distillery founded in 2010 whose spirits include Pau Maui Vodka, Fid Street Gin, Paniolo Whiskey and Mahina Rum.

Culture, Agritourism and Voluntourism

Fairmont Kea Lani Celebrates Hawaii Queen Liliuokalani with New Statue

Fairmont Kea Lani recently dedicated a statue of beloved Hawaii monarch Queen Liliuokalani, which guests will find prominently placed in the resort’s lobby. Fairmont Kea Lani commissioned the statue of the queen in recognition and celebration of values she held dear, which included perpetuating Hawaiian culture and caring for and educating Hawaii’s children. Guests can meet the statue’s sculptor, Maui artist Dale Zarrella, on Wednesday evenings for a resort art tour.

The Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas Celebrates 15 Years of Service

On September 24, The Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas held a special event commemorating the 15th anniversary of its opening. As a mahalo (thank you) to all of its guests, the resort offered complimentary Hawaiian cultural activities and instruction, including palm-frond weaving, lau (leaf) printing and lei poo (floral headpiece) workshops. The anniversary event also featured hula lessons, live Hawaiian music by Na Koa and Ahumanu, and a food cart stocked with local favourites.

Health and Wellness/Spa

Four Seasons Lanai Offers Zen Sports Wellness Program for Guests

The Hawanawana Spa at Four Seasons Resort Lanai recently debuted a Zen Sports Wellness program pairing sports-specific massage treatments, tailored yoga and meditation classes with Lāna‘i island activities, such as golf, tennis and horseback riding. The Zen Sports Wellness program is believed to speed recovery, prevent injury and prepare the body for peak performance.

Shopping

Outlets of Maui Introduces New Guest Services Club

Outlets of Maui is inviting hospitality industry employees to win prizes, get up-to-date outlet information and access special incentives for themselves and their guests by joining its new Guest Services Club. Membership in the club is free and benefits include monthly giveaways from Outlets of Maui, store sales and limited-time offer notices, special event and entertainment schedules, transportation information and more.

National Awards and Accolades

Kaanapali Beach Hotel Named No. 1 Hotel in Hawaiʻi by Conde Nast Traveler Readers

Kaanapali Beach Hotel recently earned the No. 1 position in Condé Nast Traveler ’s 31st annual Readers’ Choice Awards’ category listing of the Top 10 Hotels in Hawaii. Kaanapali Beach Hotel is the only Maui property that received this top ranking in the hotel category for the 2018 awards.

Resort Associate Crowned Miss Maui USA 2019

Niki McCabe, a cultural centre and Kids Club attendant at The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas, recently won the title of Miss Maui USA 2019 and will go on to compete in the 2019 Miss Hawai‘i USA pageant. McCabe’s primary goal in life is to lead by example and encourage youth to volunteer within their local community. As a resort associate, she enjoys opportunities to share lessons about the Hawaiian culture with guests and interacting with visitors from around the world. Congratulations, Niki!

Wailea Courses Earn Golfweek’s Best Courses You Can Play Honors

The Wailea Gold and Emerald courses have each earned berths on Golfweek magazine’s 2018 list of Best Courses You Can Play in Hawaii. The rankings mark the 10th consecutive year that the Wailea Golf Club has been recognized on the list by Golfweek. The Wailea Golf Club has received more than 150 awards and accolades over its years of operation.

Golf

Fun for Golfers and Non-Golfers on Four Seasons Lanai’s Manele Golf Course

The signature Jack Nicklaus-designed Manele Golf Course at Four Seasons Resort Lanai is one of the world’s most striking venues for the game. And now non-golfers can enjoy the course, too, with the complimentary Mini Manele, a six-hole, par-3 course tour offering the combined activity opportunities of taking a walk, listening to music and enjoying views of Hulopoe Bay, while also hitting shots to holes as close as 30 yards and no more than 90 yards.

Sentry Tournament of Champions Readies for January Dates

With PGA Tour superstar Rory McIlroy’s commitment to play at Kapalua for the first time in his career, the Sentry Tournament of Champions is gaining momentum as its January dates draw closer. Golf fans are encouraged to participate in Aloha Friday and sample the eats at several local food trucks that will be on site for the 2019 tournament.

Wailea’s Gold and Emerald Courses Set to Commemorate 25th Anniversary

Next year will mark the 25th anniversary of the Gold and Emerald courses of Wailea Resort. And beginning this holiday season, the Wailea Golf Club will be showcasing the award-winning Robert Trent Jones II courses with a yearlong celebration, fun commemorative offers and special silver anniversary promotions.