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

The Maui News tallied 10,000 votes from its readers for the annual Best of Maui Contest and here are the results:

Best Restaurant Overall (Tie): Hali'maile General Store (900 Hali'imaile Rd, Makawao) and Mama's Fish House (799 Poho Place, Kuau)

Best Sea Activity: Trilogy Excursions (808-874-5649)

Best Wine List: Son'z Maui at Swan Court (Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa)

Best New Restaurant: The Melting Pot (Lahaina Gateway, Lahaina)

Best Air Activity: Blue Hawaiian Helicopters (808-871-8844)

Best Ethnic Restaurant: A Saigon Café (1792 Main Street, Wailuku)

Best Brunch: Ka'anapali Beach Hotel (Ka'anapali Beach Hotel, Ka'anapali)

Best Hamburger: Cheeseburger in Paradise (811 Front Street, Lahaina)

Best Restaurant Service: Nick's Fishmarket (Fairmont Kealani, Wailea)

Best Chef: Todd Carlos of The SeaWatch Restaurant (100 Wailea Golf Club Dr, Wailea)

Best Value Restaurant: Mike's Hong Kong Bistro (1900 Main Street, Wailuku)

Best Breakfast: Gazebo Restaurant (5315 L. Honoapiilani Rd, Napili Shores Resort)

Best Bakery: Komoda Store and Bakery (3674 Baldwin Ave, Makawao)

Best Happy Hour: Moose McGillicuddy's (2511 S. Kihei Rd, Kihei and 844 Front St, Lahaina)

Best Health Food: Mana Foods (49 Baldwin Ave, Paia)

Best Ambiance: Longboards Ka'anapali (outdoors and oceanfront at Mariott's Maui Ocean Club, Ka'anapali)

Best Sports Bar: Sports Page Bar & Grill (2411 S. Kihei Rd, Kihei)

Best Dessert: Roy's Kahana & Kihei (4405 Honoapillani Hwy, Kahana and 303 Piikea Ave, Kihei)

Best Noodles: Sam Sato's (1750 Wili Pa Loop, Wailuku)

Best Buffet: Hakone at Maui Prince Hotel (5400 Makena Alanui Dr., Makena)

Best Nightclub: Ocean's Beach Bar & Grill (1819 S. Kihei Rd, Kihei)

Best Sushi Bar: Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar (1881 S. Kihei Rd, Kihei and 600 Office Rd., Kapalua)

Best Golf Course: The Dunes at Maui Lani (1333 Maui Lani Parkway, Kahului)

Best Kid Friendly Restaurant: Ruby's Diner (Queen Kaahumanu Center, Kahului)

Best Cultural Programs: Maui Arts & Cultural Center (One Cameron Way, Kahului)

Best Caterer: Celebrations Catering by Beverly Gannon (Hali'maile General Store, Makawao)

Best Pizza: Matteo's Pizzeria (100 Wailea Ike Dr., Wailea)

Best Seafood: Maalea Waterfront Restaurant (50 Hauoli St., Maalea)

Best Resort Restaurant: Ferrero's Bar e Ristorante at Four Seasons Resort Maui (3900 Wailea Alanui Dr., Wailea)

Best Stage Experience: ‘Ulalena (Maui Theatre, Old Lahaina Center)

Best Land Activity: Maui Ocean Center (192 Ma'alaea Rd., Maalea)

Best Club/Bar/Live Entertainment: Mulligan's on the Blue (100 Kaukahi St., Wailea)

Best Business Lunch: Café O'Lei (Kahului location: 1333 Maui Lani Parkway, Kihei location: Rainbow Mall, S. Kihei Rd, Wailuku location: Market St.)

Best Steak: Ruth's Chris Steak House (Lahaina Center on Front Street and Shops at Wailea)

Best Luau: Old Lahaina Luau (1251 Front St., Lahaina)

Best Coffee House: Maui Coffee Roasters (444 Hana Highway, Kahului)

Best Plate Lunch: Da Kitchen (425 Koloa St., Kahului and 2439 S. Kihei Rd, Kihei)

Best Pupu: Mala Wailea (Wailea Beach Marriot Resort and Spa, 3700 Wailea Alanui Dr., Wailea)

Best Singles Scene: Casanova Italian Restaurant and Deli (1188 Makawao Ave., Makawao)

Best Cocktails Spot: Lulu's Restaurant (1941 S. Kihei Rd., Kihei)

If interested in buying or selling a home on Maui, please contact Lisa B. Miller at (808) 214-8633 or Lisa@DreamMauiHomes.com. I would be happy assist you!

One of the great things about living on Maui is having year-round warm weather, which is not only ideal for soaking in the sun on the beach in the middle of January, but the constant warmth allows you to have a year-round garden filled with fruits, vegetables, and herbs. I live in Kihei, in South Maui, where the weather is very warm and dry, which are perfect conditions for growing tomatoes, peppers, herbs, and tropical fruit. In my backyard are several bananas trees and, as a matter of fact, I was just outside today harvesting the latest bunch of about 50 bananas! Even after passing them out to neighbors and co-workers, and as much as I love bananas, we have more than we know what to do with. As I write this, there are bananas stacked on my counter top that are ripening by the minute! I bought freezer bags today and plan on making lots of banana ice, banana smoothies, and banana bread for the next 3 months - until the next bunch ripens.

I'm also growing Brandywine heirloom tomatoes. It's my first attempt at growing tomatoes and I have devoured a couple of them so far. There IS nothing like the taste of a homegrown tomato! I just hope my plants are very productive because I don't think I can buy store bought ones anymore. My cherry tomatoes are also doing very well. They are especially great in this frittata recipe I found thanks to Martha Stewart.

Fresh herbs are also a wonderful addition to any garden. I have basil (to compliment my tomatoes) sage, Italian parsley, and peppermint. I tried growing cilantro a couple of times, but the poor plants kept dying on me. Cilantro is one of my favorite herbs, so it has been disappointing, especially since I'm also growing jalapenos, and have been looking forward to making salsa with mostly homegrown ingredients. Oh well, at least Safeway is not too far away.

I hope to be adding avocado and dwarf citrus trees to our yard soon, and who knows what else! It's nice to know there isn't a looming frost to kill my garden or any deer or rabbits to steal my crop. It's ultimately nice to know that I can enjoy the fruits of my labors year-round on Maui!

For information on Maui real estate, please contact Lisa B. Miller at (808) 214-8633 or Lisa@DreamMauiHomes.com. I would be happy to assist you!

There has been a lot of excitement over the opening of Zippy's restaurant in Kahului here on Maui. The Oahu-based restaurant chain opened the doors of its first Maui location on Monday, 8/18, and has been busy feeding eager and loyal diners who have anticipated the opening for many years.

I was there today to pick up some Napples turnovers and the parking lot was packed! I had to park on a grassy area near the restaurant and after standing in line for about 10 minutes, I finally had my cherry and apple turnovers in hand! The service was great and I can't wait to go back and try their other offerings.

Considered to be Hawaii's "restaurant of choice", the menu features items such as hamburgers, teriyaki plates, saimin, and even breakfast items. The eatery is best known for its chili (a vegetarian version is also offered), Zip Pac bentos, and Napples turnovers. Open 24 hours, the dine-in restaurant also features a take-out counter with seating and a Napolean's bakery and is located along Hookele Street and Mokulele Highway. Prices are also very reasonable!

Check out the website www.zippys.com for more information.

If you are interested in buying or selling a home on Maui, please contact me for more information at Lisa@DreamMauiHomes.com or call me at 808-214-8633. I would be happy to assist you!

If you are here on Maui during the long 4^th of July weekend, check out these great holiday events!

Lahaina will offering a fireworks show at 8pm. You can watch these from Front Street, or enjoy a cruise for the best views. At the Wharf Cinema Center, music and family entertainment will be offered from 3 pm to 7 pm. Enjoy free music by the Maui Community Band, Sheryl Renee, Michael Hill, Colin John and Claude Hopper on the Lahaina Public Library from 6pm to 8pm.

The celebration continues on the Saturday, July 5^th, in Makawao, with the 43^rd annual Paniolo parade starting at 9 am. Get there earlier and watch the stick-horse race at 8:45 am! The route runs along Baldwin Avenue to Makawao Avenue to the Eddie Tam Memorial Center. Park your car at the Eddie Tam Memorial Center or Oskie Rice Arena and take a free shuttle into the town. The shuttle service starts at 7 am and returns to the parking lot until noon. At 1pm, the Makawao Rodeo will begin at Oskie Rice Arena on Olinda Road. Enjoy watching barrel racing, calf roping, and bronco riding. Live music, country-western dancing, food booths will also be offered. The rodeo also takes place on Sunday and admission is $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and students, $3 for children ages 6-12, children under 5 are free.

Hope you all have safe and happy 4^th of July weekend!

Interested in buying or selling your home on Maui? Contact me to help you at Lisa@DreamMauiHomes.com or call me at (808) 214-8633.

It's here again, the annual Maui Film Festival at Wailea happening June 11 through 15. This is a great way to see a wonderful variety of films in an extraordinary setting, under the stars. One of the more remarkable venues, Celestial Cinema in Wailea, is an outdoor theatre situated on a beautiful golf course overlooking the ocean. It's a great setting to bring blankets and pillows and snuggle up under the stars with friends and family while watching a film on a gigantic screen with superior sound.

Every year the festival honors celebrities with special awards, and this year it is honoring Pierce Brosnan, Virginia Madsen, Dennis Quaid, and Felicity Huffman. Tickets to the events honoring these celebrities are on sale.

For a complete schedule of movie screenings and events, check out the website, www.mauifilmfestival.com.