Maui, Here We Come!

by Elpidio R. Estioko

Aloha everyone! HFC is moving its printing location from Oahu-based printing press Hawaii Hochi to Maui-based Maui Press. That’s great!

We are looking forward to a good working partnership that will bring an expanded community reach and business involvement in chronicling activities and other developments in both cities.

HFC Editorial Assistant Jim Bea said:

“While the first few weeks of our printing press transition will be very challenging, our team is working hard to improve our process of writing, editing, and submitting our newspaper for printing with our new printing press. We highly value and appreciate everyone’s time, effort, and support for our community newspaper, Hawaii Filipino Chronicle. Every one of us does the vital work of representing and uplifting the Filipino community in Hawaii and beyond.”

As I See It, we are based in Oahu but will now be more cognizant of our neighboring island of Maui for coverage and more aware of what’s going on in the city.

There are excellent opportunities for both cities that they may avail of and come up with an excellent working relationship today and in the years to come for the benefit of the Hawaii community in general.

We are looking forward to patronizing Maui’s top 10 Filipino food establishments (as per Trip Advisor) such as the Balai Pata; Kusina ni Jayboy; Da Soriano Grindz; Paradise Supermart; Joey’s Kitchen Napili; CAA Market Place; Vidad’s Local Kine Grindz’ Isla Chibugan; Joey’s Kitchen; Jollibee; and T-Ann-J Catering.

Of course, we should not be missing out on visiting Binhi at Ani, the Filipino Community Center (FilCom) in Maui. There are four major multi-screen movie theaters in Maui, each showing multiple movies each day. There are two movie theaters in Kahului (central Maui), one in Lahaina (west side), and one in Kihei (south side).

Maui is known for its wonderful calm beaches famous for snorkeling and fun swimming.

The Kaanapali Beach is a stunning stretch of sand with crystal clear waters ideal for snorkeling and surfing with a backdrop of lush mountain landscapes. The northern end of the beach which is called Pu’u Keka’a or Black Rock offers cliff diving ceremonies. During winter, the beach is also an ideal spot for whale-watching in the early morning.

Napili Beach is located on Maui’s northwest coast and is popular for spotting sea turtles and its crescent-shaped cove.

Ho’okipa Beach Park is located on the island’s North Shore and is known as a windsurfing spot and visitors might even spot Hawaiian green sea turtles in the area.

For panoramic coastal views and unique volcanic black pebble coast, head to Waianapanapa State Park which is located along Hana Highway.

My fraternity brother from the University of the Philippines in Diliman Jun Gappe from Oahu and a frequent visitor of Maui attested to the fact that Wailea Beach bookended by the Four Seasons and Grand Wailea Resorts is a popular beach ideal for swimmers, snorkelers, and boogie-boarders.

Today, the Filipinos account for the second-largest ethnic group in Maui, with nearly 48,000 island residents tracing their roots to the Philippines, 5,000 of them in Lahaina, which was about 40% of the town’s population before the fire on September 10, 2023, according to AP News.

The Maui Filipino Chamber of Commerce recently held the Gintong Pamana Scholarship and Leadership Awards on June 12, 2024, at Beach Hotel where they announced their 2024 awardees.

These awards recognize outstanding members of the Maui Filipino community who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, professional excellence, and a steadfast commitment to serving the community, as well as students who have received their $1000 scholarships.

Under this year’s theme, “Maparaan at Katatagan” (Resourceful & Resilient), the awards celebrate the resilience and resourcefulness of community leaders who have overcome challenges and continue to inspire hope.

The 2024 Gintong Pamana Leadership Awardees are Eileen Caldwell, Area Director of Human Resources, Marriott Hawaii & French Polynesia; Yvette Kitagawa, Royal Lahaina Resort; Alvin “Kai” Pelayo, Community Affairs Manager, Bayer Crop Science; and Christopher Yanuaria, Personal Support Counselor, University of Hawai’i Maui College (UHMC).

Here we go. We are looking forward to a wonderful partnership with Maui.

ELPIDIO R. ESTIOKO was a veteran journalist in the Philippines and an award-winning journalist here in the US. He just published his book Unlocking the cChainof Poverty: In Pursuit of the American Dream which is now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Xlibris Publishing. For feedback and comments… please email the author at estiokoelpidio@gmail.com.