TIE: Moana Bakery & Cafe, Maui Brewing Co. Check, check. One, two. I love ties. It means more winners! And, in the case of this category, more opportunities to express, well, whatever it is you’re intent on expressing (I chuckled at one vote for “anyplace you can cut the sound off, if need be”). Whether […]
Best of Maui Arts and Entertainment 2010
MauiTime Best of Maui 2010: Best Karaoke on Maui: Sansei Seafood Restaurant and Sushi Bar
Sansei Seafood Restaurant and Sushi Bar A few months ago, I popped my karaoke cherry at the south side Sansei—and won a $50 gift certificate to boot. My prize barely covered the liquid courage it took to earn it, but it was swell nonetheless. Maybe that’s one reason MauiTime readers voted Sansei the best place […]
MauiTime Best of Maui 2010: Best Local Club DJ on Maui: DJ Blast
DJ Blast When hip-hop began it’s rise back in the ‘80s, DJ Blast was just getting deep into the scene, mixing video on VHS for Banana Moon. Today, visual elements are still “a very important aspect” for DJ Blast, who with his crew projects montages onto an 8-foot screen amidst swirling dance hall lights. His […]
MauiTime Best of Maui 2010: Best Local Blog on Maui: A Maui Blog
A Maui Blog Visit Liza Pierce’s blog (tagline: “talking story since 2006”) and you’ll find meandering, easygoing musings on the people, places and things that make Maui, Maui. To quote from Pierce’s own mission statement, the goal is “to promote Maui’s beautiful island, unique culture and aloha spirit.” In a place where blogging, social networking […]
MauiTime Best of Maui 2010: Best Local Twitter Feed on Maui: @mauitime
MauiTime (@mauitime) Aw, shucks. Basically whatever we write here will come across as either: a) false humility; or b) shameless self-congratulation. So we’ll just take this opportunity to thank our hundreds of followers, and to promise that we’ll keep striving to refine and improve the content we put out, whether through microblogging, social networking, Web […]
MauiTime Best of Maui 2010: Best Local Radio DJ on Maui: Alaka’i Paleka
Alaka’i Paleka Morning Goddess KPOA 93.5 She’s done it again. MauiTime’s readership bows down to the Morning Goddess. Her voice taps the syrup of every wise auntie who’s ever lived, and with her M-F, 6-10am show scoring the soundtrack to our commutes, she (true to her name’s meaning) “guides” us through our AM rituals. I […]
MauiTime Best of Maui 2010: Best Fundraiser That Involves Copious Beer Drinking on Maui: Maui Brewers Festival
Maui Brewers Festival The Maui Brewers Festival, held in May, just celebrated its second year bringing amazing ales to Maui. Great brews from all over the world joined ono grinds and live entertainment to make for one incredible day. Bonus: the event is a fundraiser for the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, so while you’re […]
MauiTime Best of Maui 2010: Best Record Store on Maui: Requests, Wailuku
Requests, Wailuku For many of us, it is a shrine. The only legitimate record store on Maui, Requests has stood the test of time. It’s an eclectic Maui institution, with merchandise packed from floor to ceiling and curios (like the original Toda Store clock, Spock giving the Vulcan salute and neon Gwar posters, all affectionately […]
MauiTime Best of Maui 2010: Best Local Radio Station on Maui: Native 92.5
Native 92.5 It was a tight race, but ultimately, “Maui’s Island Music Station,” Native 92.5 FM, prevailed as MauiTime readers’ top pick. Sure, playlists matter most, but it’s the personalities behind them that make them shine. From KawikaVeeka’s “Mahalo Morning Show” to Wailea firefighter Pito Javier to soothing-as-the-sea voiced Chisa-Lee Dizon to the antics of […]
MauiTime Best of Maui 2010: Best Band Web Site/ Myspace Page on Maui: mobiusprojectband.com
mobiusprojectband.com What makes The Mobius Project’s Web site the best? An updated WordPress blog roll, a Twitter feed that makes them easy to follow, a slew of video updates to such YouTube gems as live show reel and interviews with band members (that float on the screen instead of being redirected), a Flickr feed with […]
MauiTime Best of Maui 2010: Best Akaku Program on Maui: Channel 53 Council Hearings
Channel 53 Council Hearings When you hear “entertainment,” it’s possible an hours-long discussion of local government isn’t the first thing that pops into your mind. But if you’ve ever caught a Maui County Council meeting—either in person or on Akaku Channel 53—you know they’re more entertaining than they have any right to be. It starts […]
MauiTime Best of Maui 2010: Best Local Visual Artist on Maui: Ron Pitts
Ron Pitts Lounge in Kihei. The ex-Navy and tugboat engineer and iconoclast from Boston has some of his best artwork adorning the walls there, as well as Ambrosia, the swanky little nightclub just across the parking lot. He impressed me early on with his tugboat-themed cartoons, and soon after I asked him to illustrate Eh […]
MauiTime Best of Maui 2010: Best Place to Dance on Maui:
South Shore Tiki Lounge How do they get your “body movin’”? Well, Best Club DJ, DJ Blast, and Best Female Musician, Erin Smith, both frequent the Tiki Lounge—so that’s a swell start. The lights and special effects are cool but won’t trigger epilepsy. Too, dancing is cardio-intensive, so you can carbo-load with their Best Local […]
MauiTime Best of Maui 2010: Best Place to Laugh Your Ass Off on Maui: Tin Can Comedy
Tin Can Comedy at Mulligan’s on the Blue If you haven’t been to a night of Tin Can Comedy, go. If you haven, go back. Nothing like it on Maui; it’s amateur, it’s raw and you never know what is going to happen next. Shaggy Jenkins emcees every this every-Tuesday-at-9pm event, and there’s a winner […]
MauiTime Best of Maui 2010: Best Venue Ceiling on Maui: Iao Theater, Wailuku
Iao Theater, Wailuku Like withered, crimson chrysanthemums, the coffers at the Iao Theater speak to the cachet of this historic venue. It’s tear-worthy to think these blooming architectural adornments were nearly lost to time, as the crumbling former vaudeville house fell into disrepair. Thanks to the community’s action in the ‘80s, by Maui Community Theater, […]
MauiTime Best of Maui 2010: Best Female Musician on Maui: Erin Smith
Erin Smith Guitar wielding and high-heeling, Smith is a top-shelf concoction whose recipe for success includes equal parts chops and go-getter guts. As the femme fatal front-woman of The Throwdowns, she’s charted (and started) her ascent to stardom, alongside “the boys,” Kimo Clark (bass), Ian Hollingsworth (drums) and Ola Shaw (guitar). With their debut Don’t […]