While having lunch with my bee-mates last month in a kind of/sort of pub place called Franklin’s in Hyattsville, Maryland, we got to talking about a favorite restaurant meal. I have a few that have been memorable in my hometown and abroad.
It was while I was in Maui, Hawaii, in September of 2023 that gave me pause when my travel mate, Jodie, and I went to a restaurant called Nalu’s in Kihei. We were first taken there for breakfast by Akimbo alumni Betsy Bowen. It is an open-air place like many restaurants and eateries in warm or tropical locales.
Jodie and I fell in love with the feel of the place, the delicious meals and menu options, and the fact the owner was instrumental in helping many fire victims and survivors in Lahaina, Maui. Stacks of diapers and bottled water were near the bar. T-shirts of Maui Strong were flying off the shelves, with every penny earned donated back to the rescue efforts.
An eating-out “dilemma” ensued. Here we are on this beautiful island with so many great restaurant options, but our car made its way back to Nalu’s several times. Okay, we did snag a reservation at Mama’s Fish House because there were practically no visitors on the island then. In fact, we got mixed signals before we left that we should go or, more importantly, shouldn’t go.
Obviously, we went and were welcomed with open arms everywhere we went. They wanted and needed our tourism dollars more than anyone could imagine. The no-visitor “information” created deficits and impacted a deep chasm of influx throughout the island.
So, Jodie and I ate with the locals and got to know some bartenders. After a day at the beach, we’d look at each other once hungry and, in unison, say, “Nalu’s.”
Nalu’s had the best fresh fish (Ahi tuna comes to mind) and each dish we ordered that week. Besides a repast there and Mama’s Fish House, we went to one other restaurant in Paia.
I’d have to say the Ahi Tuna Bowl is one of the Lingering Inspirations of my time on Maui. My mouth is watering as I type this post!
bSoleille!
Terri
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