If you’re reading this, there is still time to get an ocean front condo on the island of Kauai for 40% off its regular rate. It’s not Maui, but Kauai is the oldest island in the Hawaiian chain-rugged mountains and beautiful beaches.

You can book for any arrival date through 2010, but confirmation has to be done by November 30, 2009.

Contact us at our toll free 877 850-7852 or email referrals@condosmaui.com.

Hope to hear from you soon.

At about Thanksgiving through March, Maui’s beaches are filled with visitors and locals laying under the warm sun soaking up the rays.

We can always detect who the visitors are by their red calves and shoulders. If you are new to the island sun, don’t let that happen to you.

Sunblock is not enough.

Prevent sunburn by using a white t-shirt for the first few days at the beach, and stay out only for about 10 minutes at a time. Schedule your beach time when the sun is not high in the sky-between 10:00-12:00 p.m. and after 2:00 p.m.

If you do get sunburn, rub aloe over the burnt areas or pat vinegar on it. That’s what we did in the old days before sunblock.

But as I mentioned, sunblock is not enough if you decide to stay out longer than your skin can handle. Use a hat, sit under a shade or bring an umbrella.

It rained last night. I had to remember what it was since it doesn’t happen very often.

Every branch, leaf and blade is clean outside.

I flew into Maui yesterday morning and recognized the “fall” season coming on. The colors of the island are muted and soft.

November is my favorite month of the year.

It’s always nice to try something new, especially if it involves a view of the beautiful Pacific.

There’s not too many restaurants on the beach in Kihei, but here are some that are worth your while.

The Mana Kai Maui’s Five Palms is a nice place to start the day. The restaurant is situated on the edge of the water, where you can watch Kahoolawe change colors as the sun rises higher. The clear blue water calls you to explore its underwater mysteries.

Moose’s, across the street from Kamaole Beach Park II has tables next to the windows where you can watch the sunset and sip on your Mai Tai. However, wear sunscreen because the sun will overpower you as it goes down.

Lulu’s also has a slither of ocean view from its second floor dining area, but you need to get a high table in order to see it.

There’s more ocean view restaurants in the Lahaina, Kaanapali and Napili areas of the West Side, so schedule that for another day.

Besides laying on the wonderful sunny beaches of Maui, visitors can also enjoy concerts and plays presented by local community theaters.

The Maui Academy of Performing Arts, Maui OnStage, Seabury Hall and Baldwin Theater Guild are among the local talents of the island. Let’s not also forget the many hula halau that present ancient and modern hula.

To find these activities, pick up the Thursday edition of The Maui News. There is a whole section dedicated to entertainment for the week. The Maui News is also online.

You know, the whales.

Back in 2002, I spent the summer in Juneau, Alaska for my postgraduate program at Bread Loaf School of English. (The University of Alaska Campus is one of their summer locations.) The school hosted a whale watch one sunny evening, where I learned that those whales are the same ones that make the trip down to Hawaii in the winter.

Each whale is identified by its tail. Can you imagine? We saw so many whales that day. There was a pod that gathered in a circle, and blossomed out of the water with the grace of ballerinas. That’s the way they get their food, the guide told us.

So every time I spot a whale off the coast of Kihei, I wonder if that’s one of the whales I saw in Alaska.

I guess the annual Halloween Party will be in Paia from now on. Nice, if you prefer Paia to Lahaina.

I’m from the old town of Paia when it was the small business center for plantation families.  Sidewalks were lined with grocery stores, one dry goods, one clothing store, service stations, a bank, an accountant, and a lawyer. I can’t tell you how beautifully quaint it was because I’m comparing that with what Paia is now. Times change.

When you visit Paia and overload yourself with gift shops, try to imagine what it was like 50 years ago. Good grief-that’s a long time ago.

For a brief historical view of Paia, visit the Sugar Museum in Puunene, across the street from the sugar mill.

It’s been years since I’ve attended the Lahaina Halloween Parade. Since the highway to the west end of Maui is only two lanes, getting there is a whole other event.

Although it’s really not that bad if you don’t mind sitting and traveling at snail’s pace. The view of the ocean is beautiful with the sun setting, and everyone one knows why they’re in this line of cars. Unless you’ve just landed on the island.

If you’re on the pali by 4:00 p.m., you’ll have plenty of time to get there before 7:30 p.m. The writhing snake of headlights along the coastline is very pretty looking at it from Kihei.

Some guests rent condos two or three days before Halloween just to be there in time.

This year, the free event is from 4:00 to 11:00 p.m. Each year, it gets a little less manic. I can’t make up my mind whether that’s a good thing or not.

So get into your costumes-or not, but have a safe and Happy Halloween manana!

I don’t know why poke (po-keh) came into mind, but there is a difference between fresh and days old poke.

In the old days (1970s and later), the original recipe called for marinating the raw pieces of freshly caught tuna with Hawaiian salt overnight. We rinsed the salt off the fish the next morning, and then added these ingredients: coarsely chopped kukui nuts, lipoa seaweed, garlic, chili peppers, green onions, pepper, soy sauce and more salt. It had a pretty deep taste of the ocean and spices.

Poke is not prepared that way now. The fish is marinated just before it goes into the display case-without the kukui nut, seaweed, garlic or overnight marination. It makes for a lighter palette.

Whether you like a really spicy or bland poke, the main objective (I think) is to buy poke that is really fresh. If not, the dish gives you really bad breath or bad indigestion.

I look for clear chunks of fish-not cloudy or mucky. By cloudy or mucky, I mean that the fish should not look coated or opaque. It should not have the consistency of thick potato salad, if you get my drift. If it does, wait for another day or go to another store.

If you’re unsure about the poke, ask for a taste test. If you don’t like it, return it. Better safe than sorry.

Anything you wear during the summer months is appropriate for a year round wardrobe on Maui. It’s very casual in the beachside town of Kihei, dressier in the resort areas like Wailea and Kaanapali area.

The weather is cooler in the evening during the Christmas holidays. January and February have lower temperature readings of about 50-60 degrees in the morning. If you remember, look up at the top of Haleakala for snow.

Travel light since most of our Maui Vacation Condos have washer/dryers in the units. That way, you’ll have room in your suitcase for the all the stuff you buy while you’re here.

For a list of the condos with washer/dryers in the unit, visit our website at http://condosmaui.com or call me toll free 877 850-7852.