By Vanessa Wolf

Hula Grill. Courtesy photo

Support Na Ali‘i of King Kamehameha III Elementary School by dining at Hula Grill Ka’anapali as part of its Legacy of Aloha program.

For a limited time, the oceanfront restaurant will donate a portion of the proceeds from its nightly Chef’s Tasting Menu to the Lahaina school to support its programs.

The three-course menu is priced at $25.95 and is available to you extreme early birds from 4:45 to 5:45 p.m. daily.

“Open since 1913, King Kamehameha III Elementary is a significant and historic educational institution in West Maui,” said Orrin Cross, general manager of Hula Grill Ka’anapali. “This month’s Chef’s Tasting Menu is a great opportunity for our guests to contribute to the school’s efforts to uphold its commitment to the children in our community.”

The three-course dinner includes a choice of appetizers including lobster and scallop potstickers with a guava plum sauce, kaffir lime shrimp cake with pickled green papaya and Sriracha aioli; and goat cheese and tomato salad with local tomatoes, Big Island goat cheese, and roasted garlic dressing.

Nothing listed really piquing your interest?

That’s OK because the pupu offerings continue on to include fresh tomato soup with fresh basil and basil oil; localicious salad with Waipoli greens, tomatoes, pohole fern, marinated hearts of palm, Maui onion and lime ginger miso dressing; and kiawe grilled farmer’s brochette with herb-marinated seasonal vegetables, Alaea salt, Tamimi Farms tomato ginger puree.

Once you find your starter of choice, the decision-making continues with the entrees.

Enjoy macadamia nut-crusted fish prepared baked with a lemon beurre blanc sauce; organic miso tofu & local vegetables with fresh herbs, rainbow quinoa and soy-ginger vinaigrette; kiawe grilled C.A.B. steak with herb butter and house-made risotto; herb-grilled fresh fish with tat soi salad and li hing mui compote; and 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 with two macadamia nut brownies and vanilla ice cream; pineapple upside down cake with a caramel rum sauce; or Tropical Dreams sorbet.

Hula Grill’s beachside bistro is located in Whalers Village in Ka‘anapali.

The open-air dining rooms are open for dinner daily from 4:45 to 9:30 p.m. and the adjacent Barefoot Bar offers an all-day menu from 10:45 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and cocktails from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

For reservations, call (808) 667-6636.