Who’s Who Archive

Spago Soiree 2013

Starry Night: On Saturday, June 15, Maui Nō Ka Oi hosted the Maui Film Festivals Soiree at Spago, at the Four Seasons Resort in Wailea. Invitees included luminaries Brie Larson (United States of Tara, 21 Jump Street), who received the festivals Rising Star Award, and Oscar winner Jessica Chastain (Zero Dark Thirty, The Help), who was honored with the festivals Nova Award. Chef Cameron Lewark of Spago showed his own star quality with edible showstoppers such as spicy ahi tuna cones, Thai sashimi spoons, Wolfgang Puck pizzas, and a very cool seafood ice sculpture.

Aipono Wine Dinner at Ko 2013

What better way to celebrate spring than the April 4th Aipono Wine Dinner at Ko Restaurant in the Fairmont Kea Lani? Ten days later, Ko would be named Aipono Awards 2013 Restaurant of the Year, but this night, the focus was on the farm-to-table creations by Chef Tylun Pang, paired with Storybook Cellars' complex and elegant wines. Iconic Napa Valley wine producer Dr. Jerry Seps guided us through his legendary zinfandels and organic, handcrafted estate wines.

Celebration of the Arts 2013

In March, the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, hosted one of Hawaii's most cherished cultural events, the twenty-first annual Celebration of the Arts. Curated by Cultural Advisor Clifford Naeole, the celebration gathers some of the islands most esteemed artisans, educators, cultural practitioners and entertainers for a weekend of all things Hawaiian, with educational panels, demonstrations and performances, and one incredible luau. If you missed it, put this event on your calendar for next Easter weekend.

Aipono Dinner at the Terrace

Every other month, an ‘Aipono Award-winning restaurant plays host to a wine dinner benefiting Maui Culinary Academy at UH Maui College. Held at the Terrace Restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, this particular dinner also had the distinction of being part of the Kapalua Wine & Food Festival. Academy students were mentored not only by the expert staff at the Terrace, but by celebrity chef Mourad Lahlou of Aziza Restaurant in San Francisco. Chef Lahlou surprised guests with three additional courses, for a total of eleven innovative, Moroccan-inspired plates. Kistler Vineyards provided chardonnays and pinot noirs that paired perfectly with each dish. Applying Old World Burgundian* techniques to New World vineyards, Kistler is known for its mineral, soil-driven flavor profiles.

Photography by Jose Morales

Grow Some Good 2013

Chefs from award-winning Wailea restaurants treated more than 250 guests to inspired dishes prepared with ingredients grown in school gardens.

Plein Air Artists Reception 2013

The the Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational brings to the island twenty-five artists from around Hawaii and across the mainland

Red Carpet Mystery

Maui Academy of Performing Arts staged a Hollywood-themed murder-slash-dinner at King Kamehameha Golf Club.

Hali‘imaile ‘Aipono Wine Dinner

Turley Wine Cellars' Christina Turley led an exploration of California wines at the Hali‘imaile General Store.

2012 Maui Book Trust

Book Trust Maui held its first annual Art Extravaganza at Mala Wailea, where Maui's art connoisseurs gathered for a night of food, friendship, and an extraordinary auction featuring the works of Maui's finest artists.

Noble Chef 2012

Held at the Fairmont Kea Lani, the 2012 Noble Chef would have been memorable even without a looming tsunami. The gala was filled with energy, excitement and tremendous support for the beneficiary, Maui Culinary Academy. Then came the announcement: Guests would have perhaps an hour to enjoy dinner before heading to higher ground. As academy students zipped about, serving courses and clearing plates, guests quickly ate, bid on auction items, and grabbed take-home containers of what was supposed to be a leisurely dessert buffet. Abbreviated to one-third its scheduled time, the Noble Chef still managed to raise nearly $100,000 for the Academy—and provide anecdotes guests will be recounting for a long time to come.