Regular Guy Reviewer

Who doesn’t like an “End of Summer Sail” – let’s ride?! That was the aquatic invitation tendered by Teralani Sailing Adventures to all active Aqualani Beach & Ocean Recreation employees as the 2022 calendar turned to October. Comp offer – pick a scheduled date and prepare to climb aboard the Teralani 5 for the ever-popular and tourist-favorite Sunset Dinner Cruise. Perk of the job – definitely. A chance to meet-and-greet with Aqualani team members from other Kaanapali Beach properties –…

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Nothing quite like an 8:15 AM barroom brawl on the briny between blubbery bulls to bring out Mother Nature’s best. On the final Tuesday in March, thanks to Teralani Sailing Adventures, I had the privilege to board the Teralani 5 for the Early Bird Whale Watch. Dang, it was early. We beach boarded the super-clean catamaran at 7:30 AM and, yes, our feet got wet and nobody flinched. It was balmy and slightly overcast on famed Kaanapali Beach but for…

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Bravo – that was six nautical hours extremely well spent. On fabled 2/22/22, instead of playing Wordle or making strudel, I hitched a ride with Teralani Sailing Adventures for its twice-weekly Lanai Snorkel Adventure that putters over to the Pineapple Island. The luxury catamaran was at capacity (49) and the crew was lean and mask-free. Snorkeling was the centerpiece of this sweet ride, but holy smokes, there was way way way more stunning sights and scenery ahead to soak in….

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“Thanks, Phil.” Two simple words. One memorable meaning. On Sunday, January 9, 2022 I was volunteering for the fourth consecutive day at the Sentry Tournament of Champions (STOC) at Kapalua. It was early morning and dew was still shining on every pristine blade of grass. My assignment was to stand at the entrance to the practice putting green and monitor players and caddies and personal coaches flowing in and out. Easy gig. Around 8:15 AM up strolled future Hall-of-Famer Phil…

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Happy New Year, Alex Urban and Amanda Wolf. Hope you had a chance to celebrate and maybe catch a few bowl games. But now it’s the first week of January and the PGA Golf universe is on your lanai and expects a whale of a show. Good luck. No mulligans. Hit’em straight and replace your divots. Scorecard Notes:  the 2022 Sentry Tournament of Champions (STOC) is taking place on January 5-9 at the Plantation Course in Kapalua, Maui. The island…

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Our room AC is dripping and making strange noises. Which is the best sunset dinner cruise to take? The valet didn’t bring our car around for 20 minutes. Who’s running this show? In many ways at the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa, Mark Manderscheid is running the show and sports a fuller-than-full dance card. Mark is the hotel’s Guest Services Manager and with that gig comes a daily dose of doing right and dealing with minor issues before they escalate…

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SCUBA = Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus PADI = Professional Association of Diving Instructors SCUBA diving. To me it looks like underwater ballet. Float like a jellyfish, swim like a blue marlin. Never done it, looks exhilarating. Gear up from mask to wet suit to fins. Tank up with a supply of compressed, purified air and take the plunge. Hold on. Not so fast. Newbies need to find their comfort zone when breathing air out of a compressor tank. Take it…

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Talk about a cushy job! As Beach + Pool Manager (BPM) at the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa, Philip Akeo goes to work five days a week in his polo shirt, tennis shoes, and cheeky grin. Another day at the office (hale) means Black Rock magic, snorkel-gear frenzies, and swimsuits à la mode. Along the way this BPM has earned his MBA (Master of Beach Administration) and become a valued role model for the young staffers he hires and the…

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Holy Honu (green sea turtles) – so far the summer of 2021 at the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa in Kaanapali has been teeming with tourists and guest numbers that exactly no one saw coming. No kidding.  Who opened the barn door? Industry experts were predicting a “gradual return” of visitors to the Valley Isle as the pandemic initially waned but instead got a Gold Medal rush of voracious vacationers with dollars to drop and depths to snorkel. It’s reasonable…

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Full disclosure – the content you’re about to read took place pre-pandemic. No masks. No social distancing. No Dr. Fauci. The good ole days. It was bumpy. It was curvy. It was 204 miles of beaches and waterfalls and rain forests and all the wide-eyed natural wonders Maui’s windward side could showcase in high-def living color. On the first Wednesday of March 2020 my BFF Harry and I boarded a Road to Hana Tour courtesy of Valley Isle Excursions. We…

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