Buy Back the Beach

West Maui's hottest chefs, Craig Masuda, Joey Macadangdang, Jorge Perez, Peter Merriman, James McDonald, Mark Ellman, Sheldon Simeon, and Ivan Pahk, ready for action at Old Lahaina Luau. Photo credit: Peter Lovera

Maui Coastal Land Trust might sound a little – fuddyduddy – but the name is sorely misleading.  A few years ago, I was unwittingly roped into volunteering at one of their “gala’s,” and was pleasantly surprised to discover that many of the event attendees had kept with the paniolo (cowboy) theme of the night, and were dressed with boots and rhinestones to the hilt.  This year there will also be dancing and a live auction that does not sell funky antique traveling roadshow items, but rather “Adventures for the ‘Aina,” including fun packages like a heli-hike to the Pu’u Kukui Forest Reserve, canoe surf with Dave Kalama, an all inclusive-weekend at a private 11 room ranch on Moloka’i, and a week-long vacation along the Washington Coast’s long beach peninsula. The music and food will be divine as always: Tony Takitani and Deidre Tegarden will emcee, and Amy Hanaiali’i will perform with her band. While you listen, you can sample the treats created by Maui’s best celebrity chefs.  This event will be hosted at Old Lahaina Luau. Tickets are $150 each, or $1200 for a table of eight, including entertainment, tasting feast, and two cocktails. Ticket sales will benefit Maui Coastal Land Trust, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and protecting coastal, agricultural, environmental and culturally significant lands in Maui Nui. To make reservations for the April 10th “Buy Back the Beach” Benefit, call Maui Coastal Land Trust at 244-5263. www.mauicoastallandtrust.org By: Sierra Brown

Tags: dave kalama, long beach peninsula, maui coastal land trust, Molokai, pu'u kukui forest reserve, washington coast