Bring Hawaii Home: Books for Toddlers

Even before we decided to move to Maui we knew it would be a big part of our lives. My husband had lived on the island for over a decade and his mother still did. When we found out we were pregnant we decided to do a Hawaiian themed nursery, part of that was putting together a children's library. We collected lots of books for our daughter that involved Hawaii and Hawaiian culture. Today I'm going to recommend the 5 that she still enjoys regularly 4yrs on.

The first book she really took a shine to was Keiki Counting 1-2-3 even when she was really small she responded to the simple rhymes. This book is an excellent introduction to Hawaiian vocabulary.

The next book she loved (to the point she over enthusiastically destroyed it and we had to tape it back together) was Absolutely Awesome Island Animals . This is an adorable book seemingly written by a baby on Maui's North shore. It has bright big pictures of Hawaii's unique animals with their names in English and Hawaiian along with an easy phonetic pronunciation for those long Hawaiian words. Our favorite is the Nananana Makaki'i or Happy Face Spider. 

 

The next book she loved was Down at the Beach this is a really cute book all about the activities one might see and enjoy on Hawaii's many beaches. It can be read normally, but my daughter preferres it when we sing the words to the tune of The Wheels on the Bus. 

As she got a little older we decided to add in some more Hawaiian vocabulary and she latched on to Mo'o's Colors. This book is full of bright vibrant colors and follows the adventures of a Mo'o (thats the Hawaiian word for Gecko) around the island. It teaches the colors in booth Hawaiian and English as well as some other small Hawaiian words for the things found around us everyday here in the islands. 

 

The last book I'm going to recommend is by far her absolute favorite. We went a long time where it had to be read every night and we still come back to it frequently. The book is Goodnight Hawaiian Moon . It is well written with really beautiful artwork and comes with a lovely CD that contains a Hawaiian language version of the classic Brahms Lullaby. 

 

Thats it for this week, I hope everyone enjoyed their holidays and that the new year is treating you right, Until next time Aloha from Maui.

Maui Made Gifts for the Holiday Season

Its that time of year again when we are all rushing about trying to find the perfect gift. Here on Maui we are blessed with some amazing local business that create some awesome products. If you'd like to gift someone a piece of paradise this season here are my top recommendations:

Ocean Vodka 

 

Ocean Vodka is an incredible spirit distilled on Maui from Organic cane sugar and deep sea mineral water. It works by itself or in mixed drinks and their new sea float inspired bottle is really beautiful. 

Adobo Loco 

 

Adobo Loco is a really cool little family run hot sauce company that sources from local farmers on the island. All of their sauces are delicious and we always keep a bottle of their Pineapple Habanero sauce in the fridge.

Maui Babe 

 

Maui Babe sun products are made using local Hawaiian ingredients and work really well. I have to say that as a very fair girl who does not tan easily their Browning Lotion works quick and well. The fact that its not a stain or dye but just stimulates natural tanning factors in the skin is a big bonus.

Maui Gold Pineapple 

 

Nothing says Hawaii like Pineapple, and Maui Gold is the sweetest pineapple I've ever tasted. You can taste these super sweet fruits for yourself by ordering from their website if you can't find them locally. Maui Gold uses Fedex 2 day air to get your pineapple to you as quick as possible and all prices include shipping. 

Island Essence Bath and Spa 

  

Island Essence spa products are a luxurious line of products made with local ingredients such as sea kelp, kukui nut oil, and noni extract. I am particularly in love with their body butters, especially in the Passionfruit Lime scent. It is sweet, light, and really unique. 

Maui Brewing Co 

 

Maui Brewing Co is our award winning local micro brewery here on the island. Their creations all use local ingredients giving them a truly unique taste. You can find their products near you using their handy Beer Finder

Maui Girl & Co

 

Maui Girl & Co is an amazing swimwear company based on Maui's North shore in Paia. They have some incredible designs and have been featured several times in Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Edition. 

Maui Soap Company 

 

Maui Soap Company makes a lovely line of handmade vegan bath products using Coconut oil. The scents are very true to life and really bring the scents of island home. 

Pandeia Sundial Watches 

 

Now I don't own one these myself because they are a bit pricey, but they are so so awesome. Each piece is handcrafted and numbered. The pieces incorporate a compass and sundial with instructions engraved on the back. I really hope these catch on and think they would make a truly unique gift for any watch lover. 

Surfer Girl Jewelry 

 

Surfer Girl Jewelry is based right in my little town of Kihei and makes some really beautiful pieces. Each piece is handcrafted and really captures the spirit of the islands. 

So I hope if you are looking to give a bit of paradise this season my list has helped. I love giving out of the box gifts that people aren't expecting, especially things from far away places. Until next time Aloha from Maui. 

My Obsession: Scented Candles and Wax Melts

I love scented candles and wax melts, like really love them. Much to my husbands frustration I tend to buy them in large quantities whenever I find them on sale. Living on a remote tropical island makes finding them locally a challenge so thank goodness for the internet. Today I'm going to share with you some scents to bring a tropical atmosphere to your home, and then later in the blog I'll share the scents I'm currently obsessing over.

Leeward Lagoon 

 This is described as a serene and tropical mixture of water lily, flowering tonka and pink grapefruit with a splash of coconut water, to me it is bright light and watery and makes me think of the beach early on a warm morning. 

Hibiscus Java 

 

This one is described as an intricate blend of the blooming white florals of jasmine and orange blossom mixed with rich espresso beans. It was warm, comforting and reminds me of drinking my coffee on my balcony when the plumaria tree is in bloom. 

Bali Island Spice 

 

This one is full of soft island fruits, papya, guava, banana with an undercurrent of pineapple, coconut, and a hint of cinnamon. Its a warm and heady scent. 

Wild Island Fruit 

 

This one is like a bowl of tropical fruit salad, full of pineapple, kiwi, dragon fruit, and mango. 

Coconut Bay 

 

This one is truly tropical mix of green island palm and coconut milk. Think Pina Colada at your favorite beach bar. 

Pink Sands 

This one is mix of bright citrus, spicy vanilla, and tropical florals. It makes me think of a walk down the beach at sunset. 

That brings us to the conclusion of our tropical scents today, now on to my current obsessions. The first four are from an amazing little shop based in Minneapolis Minnesota called Frostbeard Studio. Their scents come in both wax tart and candle forms.

Sassenach 

A mixture of lavender, basil, thyme, and herbs. It was inspired by the Outlander series and makes me think of a sun drenched herb garden, fresh, green, spicy and calming. 

Bookstore 

 

This one is described as the scent of a bookstore with timber, driftwood, coffee and leather. It is right on the money. It is fresh, clean, both cool and warm at the same time with a hint of coffee in the air and reminiscent of getting lost among the shelves and discovering new favorites. 

Sherlock's Study 

 

This one is a mix of sweet pipe tobacco, cherry wood, and fresh rain. It was warm, heady, enveloping, with a hint of intrigue. Like the man himself this leaves you dazed and wanting more. 

Oxford Library 

 

This one is oakmoss, amber, sandalwood, a hint of tobacco and leather. It is fresh, cool, full of knowledge. Like browsing rows in an underused section on a cool afternoon, it is truly the scent of a large library. 

This last scent I'm obsessing over is by Colonial Candle. I received a scent sample of it months before it was released and knew I had to have it. It was well worth the wait. 

Tobacco and Honey 

 

This is described as a mixture of tobacco leaf, amber, white patchouli, carnation, and honey. It is deep, dark, sweet  and intoxicating. It makes me think of dark raw honey and a warm fire. 

Well that's it for this post. You can be sure that many people on my gift list this year will be receiving some of these. Hope you enjoyed, until next time. Aloha from Maui. 

Tropical Holiday Recipes: Desserts

Here is the final installment in this series of tropical recipes for the holiday season: Desserts. This is everything other then the pies and cheesecakes and tarts covered in the first installment. Please enjoy

1)Kona Coffee Creme Brulee 

 

2) Aloha Cake 

 

3) Haupia 

 

This is my go to recipe for this this traditional Hawaiian coconut pudding, always a hit. 

4)Pumpkin Wontons with Pumpkin Coconut Caramel 

 

This recipe calls for leftover pumpkin cheesecake but is also good with pumpkin pie. 

5) Coconut Pumpkin Spice Cake 

6) Hawaiian Pineapple Stuffing 

 

This is a sweet take on a holiday stuffing. 

7) Pumpkin Coconut Bread Pudding 

 

8) Caramelized Banana Upside Down Cake 

 

9) Tropical Bread Pudding 

 

10) Coconut Rum Trifle 

You have to scroll half way down the page for this recipe but it's worth it. 

Well that's it for this series of posts, I hope you enjoyed them. Check back next week for a new post. To everyone in the US I hope you are having a wonderful Thanksgiving. Aloha from Maui. 

Tropical Holiday Recipes: Appetizers, Drinks, and Sides

On this weeks edition of Tropical Holiday Recipes I'll be giving you a collection of my favorite appetizer, drink, and side recipes. I love green beans so there are several recipes for them, also if you look back to my early posts on the blog you'll find an additional recipe for sweet potatoes fried with cinnamon and coconut milk. Now on to the recipes:

1) Hoisin Green Bean Salad 

 

This recipe calls for agave but if you don't have that on hand honey will work fine

2) Sriracha and Wasabi Deviled Eggs 

 

3) Creamy Coconut Eggnog 

 

4) Coconut Almond Green Beans 

 

This is a super quick and simple recipe with just 4 ingredients and 2 steps. 

5) Guava Lime Coolers 

 

6) Pumpkin Butter 

 

This is great on lots of things but is particularly good on the famous Kings Hawaiian Rolls. 

7) Ohana Green Beans 

 

This is a Disney recipe from their Polynesian resort and popular with kids. 

8) Pumpkin Sangria 

 

9) Pumpkin Spice Plantain Chips 

If you don't have the palm sugar the recipe calls for organic or light brown sugar is fine. 

10) Tropical Sweet Potato Bake 

 

Well there they are to inspire you. As I said if you check out this earlier entry Adventures in Island life you'll find my personal favorite sweet potato recipe where they are fried with cinnamon and coconut milk. Sweet Potatoes with a tropical twist.  Next week will be the last in the series and contain a collection of tropical dessert recipes, until then Aloha from Maui. 

Tropical Holiday Recipes: Cranberries and Stuffing

This week in my Tropical Holiday Recipes series brings what I feel are the two most important side dishes of any holiday meal. I adore cranberry sauce and stuffing ridiculously and try to find any excuse to make them year round. I have compiled 10 recipes for each to help in your tropical holiday plans, so without further ado:

CRANBERRIES

1)Mai Tai Cranberries 

 

This will keep for up to a month in the refrigerator. 

2)Lemongrass Cranberry Sauce 

 

3)Cranberry Tangerine and Crystallized Ginger Relish 

 

This one freezes great. 

4)Cranberry Mango Sauce 

 

5)Cranberry Guava Relish 

 

This is an unusual recipe from Iron Chef Bobby Flay with both sweet and savory elements.

6)Ginger Mint Cranberry Sauce with Red Wine 

 

7)Cranberry Passion Fruit Sauce 

 

If you don't have access to fresh passion fruit, frozen is fine. In a pinch you can even use passion fruit nectar though the consistency may be more fluid. 

8)Starfruit Cranberry Sauce 

 

To make this one even more tropical replace the walnuts or pecans with macadamia nuts. 

9)Cranberry Orange and Ginger Chutney 

 

10)Tropical Pineapple Cranberry Sauce 

 

Any tropical juice blend will work in this recipe. 

Now on to the next part of the blog. I know a lot of people still like to stuff their turkeys, but I'm a bit paranoid of food born illness so I always make mine separate. These recipes can be adapted either way, the choice is yours.

STUFFING

1)Cranberry Macadamia Nut Stuffing 

 

2)Hawaiian Sweet Bread and Sausage Stuffing 

 

3)Kalua Pork Stuffing 

 

This is probably the most local recipe. Check the frozen section of specialty grocery stores to find Kalua pork on the mainland. Or make it yourself in a slow cooker using this link: Kalua Pork

4)Hawaiian Portuguese Sausage Stuffing 

 

5)Chinese Rice Stuffing 

 

Rice stuffing is a great gluten free alternative for the holiday

6)Shiitake Lup Cheong Stuffing 

 

7)Hawaiian Savory Stuffing 

 

8)Pineapple Stuffing 

 

9)Tropical Stuffing 

 

10)Island Stuffing 

 

Well that's all for this week, be sure to check back next week when I feature other tropical side dishes as well as tropical holiday drinks. Until then Aloha from Maui.