20 HAWAIIAN HUMPBACK WHALE RECOVERY
Pop the champagne! Thanks to the international ban on commercial whaling and other protections, the population of humpback whales that winter in the Hawaiian Islands
grew from 4,000 to 10,000. The charismatic cetaceans migrated right off of the Endangered Species List in 2016. To appreciate that milestone, duck your head under water. Hold your breath and listen to these mysterious giants of the deep sing to one another. Whoa. Or eavesdrop on their live conversation at WhaleSong.net.
21 T. KOMODA STORE & BAKERY
Our favorite Makawao mom-and-pop shop celebrated its 100th birthday in 2016, and are we glad they’re still around! Don’t leave Maui without a box full of Komoda’s stick donuts and cream puffs, sealed with their telltale yellow tape. 3674 Baldwin Avenue, Makawao. 808-572-7261
22 PUKALANI SUPERETTE
The ‘ahi poke at this little Upcountry market will take you back to a time when flavors were simple, when this iconic dish was seasoned with just salt and seaweed. Taste it again. There’s no hiding the fish under a blanket of chili peppers, sriracha, shoyu, or mayonnaise. Meet the poke that started it all. Simple. Good. Fresh. Local style.
23 VISITOR INDUSTRY CHARITY WALK
Each year, folks by the thousands show up in team T-shirts to take part in the statewide Visitor Industry Charity Walk, raising funds for Hawai‘i’s nonprofits and folks in need. It’s a party on foot, complete with refreshments and entertainment. For the past ten years, Maui has consistently raised more than any other island—including O‘ahu, which has three times the enrolled walkers and five times the population. In 2019, the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association again broke records, step by step raising $1,300,000. Congratulations to Maui County—home to the biggest hearts in Hawai‘i!
24 MAKENA STATE PARK
Dolphins often cruise by Maui’s biggest beach, where skimboarders catch air, and hummocks of soft sand muffle the sound of slapping waves. Community groups routinely fight to keep this golden treasure wild. We’re so grateful.
25 KA LIMA O MAUI
Like the rest of the clients Ka Lima O Maui serves, this landscaping crew will soon operate out of new digs. In August, the agency broke ground on a long-awaited home of its own: the Martin Center for Self-Reliance and Opportunity, which will be located above the Cameron Center in Wailuku. Founded in 1955, Ka Lima is Maui’s oldest nonprofit agency, providing training, job placement, and, most importantly, paychecks and self-esteem for
adults with disabilities. Congratulations, Ka Lima!
