Maui Real Estate - Lisa B. Miller R(S)

Next week is Thanksgiving and if you are a visitor or resident on Maui, and need to know where to go to enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving meal, here are the restaurants that are featuring special holiday meals with links to menus and/or websites:

SOUTH MAUI

The Waterfront Restaurant (Maalaea):
Doors open at 4pm. Adults: $45, Children (12 and younger) $21

Seascape Ma'alaea Restaurant (Maalaea):
$14.95 per person. Call (808) 270-7068 for reservations.

Five Palms Beach Grill (Kihei):
Dinner from 3 to 9pm. Adults $36.95 or $29.95, Children (10 and younger) $16.95

Spago Maui (Wailea):
Dinner from 2:30pm to 4:30pm. Residents with HI ID $24, Non-residents $48.

Grand Wailea Dining Room (Wailea)
Buffet from 2 to 9pm. Adults $75, Children (5 to 12) $37

Stella Blues Cafe (Kihei):
Dinner from 1 to 9 pm. Adults $24, Children $12

DUO Steak and Seafood (Four Seasons Resort, Wailea):
Buffet from 3 to 8pm. Adults $87, Children (6 to 12) $39

Mulligans on the Blue (Wailea)
Buffet from 4 to 8pm. $25 per person

Ruth's Chris Steak House (Wailea):
Prix fix menu starts at 4pm. Adults $45, Children (12 and younger) $19


CENTRAL MAUI:

Cafe O'Lei (Dunes at Maui Lani, Kahului):
Buffet from 11am to 5pm. Adults $36, Children (4 to 12) $18. Reservations call (808) 877-0073

King Kamehameha Golf Club (Waikapu):
Buffet seating at 10am and again at 12:30. Adults (includes tax and tip) $39, Children (6 to 12) $19.50. Reservations call (808) 243-1024

Coconut Grill (Maui Seaside Hotel, Kahului):
Buffets seating at 10am, 1pm, 4pm and 7pm. Adults $34.95, Children (5 to 12) $15.95. Reservations call (808) 871-8881

Cary & Eddie's Hideaway (Kahului):
Buffet from 4pm to closing. Adults $21.99, Children (younger than 10) $10.99. Reservations call (808) 873-6555

UPCOUNTRY:

Makawao Steak House (Makawao):
Doors open at 4pm. Adults $24.95, Children (10 and younger) $10.95. Reservations call (808) 572-8711

WEST MAUI:

Pacific Whale Foundation (Lahaina Harbor):
Dinner cruise departs at 5:30pm. Check website for prices.

The Terrace (Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua)
Buffet from 3 to 7pm. Adults $75, Children (5 to 12) $27.50. Call (808) 665-7089 for reservations.

Plantation House (Kapalua):
Adults $29.50, Children (12 and younger) $17.50. Call (808) 669-6299

Gerard's (Plantation Inn, Lahaina)
Dinner starts at 5:30pm. Adults $32.50, Children (12 and younger) half price. Residents receive 20% discount.

Pacific'o (Lahaina)
Dinner starts at 5pm. Cost is $38 per person. Call (808) 661-8422 for reservations.

Tiki Terrace , Courtyard, and Kanahele Room (Ka'anapali Beach Hotel, Ka'anapali)
Dinner from 3 to 7pm. Adults $ 45.95, Children (6 to 12) $22. Call (808) 667-0124 for reservations.

Maui Grill (Napili Shores, Napili)
Lunch from 10 am to 2pm, dinner from 4:30 to 9:30pm. Cost is $24.95 per person. Call (808) 442-3700 for reservations.

'Umalu (Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa, Ka'anapali)
Buffet from 4 to 8pm. Adults $45. Call (808) 667-4727

Cascades (Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa, Ka'anapali)
Pre-fixe dinner $46 per person. Call (808) 667-4727

Black Rock Steak & Seafood (Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa)
Buffet from 4 to 9pm. Adults $39, Children (5 to 12) $19. Call (808) 661-0031 for reservations.

Merriman's (Kapalua)
Dinner from 4 to 9pm. Call (808) 669-6400 for reservations.

Happy Eating!

After such hearing such wonderful praises from other parents about Valley Isle Gymnastics in Kahului on Maui, I decided to sign up my 2 and a half year-old daughter for a toddler class.

And I'm very glad I did! Although I was very interested in enrolling her in an activity over the summer, I wasn't sure if she was ready for a structured class, nor emotionally ready to engage in an activity with other children (I just pictured her standing off to the side as she just watched rather than participate). So therefore, I wasn't ready to pay for a class that she wouldn't appreciate or enjoy.

As I've noticed her developing more and more and becoming more engaging with other children, I felt it was time to sign her up for a gymnastics class.

She is enrolled in a weekly 45 minute Discovery Class with other 2 and 3 year-olds. The class, which also requires parent participation, focuses on basic gymnastic skills. They get get to play on the large trampoline, low bars, various mats, and balance beams.

The best thing about the class is her coach, Coach Rusty, since he is VERY patient and engaging with the children. Each class has a focus and starts out with a 5 to 10 minute warm-up routine with stretching, music, and games. After that the children are encouraged to roam and play with the various equipment with the coach's assistance of demonstrating certain techniques and movements. The structure of the class is great for my daughter because of her limited attention span, like most 2 year-olds, and allows her to discover skills on her own, but with the help of an instructor.

It's only been her second class and she LOVES it! She looks forward to it each week and isn't quite ready to leave when the class is over. I highly recommend the class to other parents of 2 and 3 year-olds.

Valley Isle Gymnastics also offers classes for other age groups ranging from 2 months to 18 years old, so definitely check it out!

Every time I visit Mana Kai, a gorgeous condominium resort located in South Maui, I instantly feel like I'm on vacation.

The glorious ocean views, warm sun, and the white sandy beach just outside the building make me want to drop everything and just relax one of their beach chairs on the lawn and forget about what I have to do for the rest of the day.

If I were on vacation, I would definitely want to stay here. Located in Kihei, just north of Wailea on South Kihei Road, Mana Kai is situated on one of Maui's premier beaches.

The one and two bedroom condo units include a fully equipped kitchen and private lanai, and allow short-term vacation rentals. This complex is perfect for someone who loves to vacation in South Maui, but would enjoy the benefit of leasing their unit to vacationers when not on the island.

Mana Kai Resort has recently been renovated and features a beautiful pool, activities desk, beauty shop, open-air dining that offers an EXCELLENT Happy Hour at Five Palms Grill, general store and gift shop, and Maui Yoga Path yoga center.

For more information about Mana Kai, or information on available condominium units for purchase, please contact me!

Piilani Villages II and III is one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Kihei, which located in South Maui. The nearby location to stores, restaurants, beautiful beaches, and schools cannot be beat. Families, couples, and retirees also enjoy the peace and quiet of the area.

The neighborhood is a popular spot for trick-or-treaters on Halloween, and this recent Halloween was no exception. Many neighbors get in the spirit with lawn decorations, making the evening a fun and festive event!

Homes in the neighborhood range from 2 bedroom/2 bath to 4 bedroom/3.5 bath floor-plans. If you are interested in homes for sale in the neighborhood, click here.

These are the homes that have sold with the past 6 month, 5/3/09 through 11/3/09:

It was just announced that beginning November 1st, first-time home buyers on Maui can receive assistance with a down payment and/or closing costs through a new program, First-Time Home Buyer's Grant, through the County's Department of Housing and Human Concerns.

Evergreen Home Loans, located at 173 Hoohana St., Suite 104, Kahului, has been contracted to help administer this program.

Grant applications will be available at the Evergreen Home Loans location on November 1st, however, applicants are not required to obtain a first mortgage from Evergreen Home Loans in order to apply for the grant.

A maximum of $15,000 per grant is allowed per applicant. In order to qualify, you must meet the following requirements:

• Must be a Maui resident
• Must be 18 years old, or older
• Must be a U.S. citizen or resident alien
• Must not have more than 50% interest in property suitable for residential development
• Must be a first-time home buyer

Applicants must also not exceed the following household income limits:

• $105,560 for Maui County residents
  
• $90,888 for Hana residents
• $91,938 for Lanai residents
• $70,238 for Molokai residents

In addition, applicants are not required to repay the grant unless the grantee:

• refinances the first mortgage loan
• no longer uses the property as a principal residence
• sells the property

For more information, call Evergreen Home Loans at 808-873-3480