Dine Out to Support Blue’Aina

By Vanessa Wolf

Hula Grill. Courtesy photo

For a limited time, Hula Grill in Ka‘anapali is donating a portion of the proceeds from its nightly Chef’s Tasting Menu to Blue’Aina.

Early bird special lovers, we’re looking at you.

The three-course menu is priced at $25.95 and is offered daily from 4:45 to 5:45 p.m. in the main dining room and all evening at the Chef’s Counter.

Blue’Aina’s objective is to clean up and maintain Maui’s reefs, educate the community, and raise money for non-profits.

“In addition to our Chef’s Tasting Menu donation, we will be one of the corporate sponsors of a Blue’Aina reef clean-up on September 15, where we will supply food for the trip and our managers will help clean the reef alongside other volunteers,” said General Manager Orrin Cross.

“On that same trip, we’ll also be making a $1,000 donation to Hui O Wa’a Kaulua, a non-profit that is committed to developing and conducting model educational programs using voyaging to excite and challenge students and their communities to learn about, respect, and care for the natural and social environment.”

The Chef’s Tasting Menu includes a choice of appetizers. The choices include lobster and scallop potstickers with guava plum sauce; goat cheese and tomato salad with local tomatoes, Big Island goat cheese and roasted garlic dressing; “Localicious” salad with Waipoli greens, pohole fern, marinated hearts of palm, Maui onion and lime ginger miso dressing; kaffir lime shrimp cake with pickled green papaya and Sriracha aioli; fresh tomato soup with fresh basil and basil oil; and kiawe grilled farmer’s brochette with herb marinated seasonal vegetables, Alaea salt, and Tamimi Farms tomato ginger puree.

Maybe go with a group, as choosing just one will no doubt be challenging.

Entrees include a selection of macadamia nut-crusted fish with lemon beurre blanc; kiawe grilled C.A.B. Steak with herb butter and house-made risotto; herb grilled fresh fish with tot soi salad and li hing mui compote; organic miso tofu & local vegetables with fresh herbs, rainbow quinoa and soy-ginger vinaigrette; or shrimp ‘chow fun’ style with local ramen noodles, sugar snap peas, shiitake mushrooms and truffle kabayaki.

Dessert options include Hula Grill’s famous petite ice cream sandwich, pineapple upside down cake or tropical dreams sorbet.

Hula Grill’s beachside bistro is located in Whalers Village in Ka’anapali and offers oceanfront dining featuring Hawaiian seafood.

The open-air dining rooms are open for dinner daily from 4:45 to 9:30 p.m.

Also, the Barefoot Bar offers an all-day menu from 10:45 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and cocktails from 10:45 a.m. to 11 p.m.

We welcome your feedback. Please let us know if you hear of any new restaurants opening or reopening, total menu overhauls, or simply know of a hidden treasure you want to share. Have a restaurant you want reviewed (or re-reviewed)? Drop us a line – Vanessa(@mauinow.com)