I may have jinxed myself last week when I declared my computer problems over and a return to my regular scheduled blogging routine. Shortly thereafter, I started to experience power issues with my brand new laptop. Those issues spiraled to the point where my computer was powering down on its own on a regular basis. Thankfully, I was able to return the old “new” laptop and buy a new one. The new lap top is running well so far. While I am not a horribly superstitious person, I must admit that I was typing with one hand and knocking on the nearest piece of wood during that last sentence.
The lack of a quality computer has me a little behind on Maui News and events. I thought I would mention a couple of those items in this post. Over the last couple of years, we have been spent a good bit of time covering the battle between property owners and the county over bed and breakfasts and transient vacation rentals. In a nut shell, the county had been operating with a broken and antiquated bed and breakfast ordinance for over ten years. Over that time period, non-permitted rentals sprouted all over the island due to demand for accommodations outside the resort areas. Many of these rentals were closed by the county in 2007. Over a year and a half of deliberations produced a new ordinance that offered a broader definition of bed and breakfasts and a more streamlined process. That bill was passed in January and many have been awaiting the first B&B’s to be approved under the new ordinance. According to today’s Maui News, it looks like the Haiku Plantation Inn will be the first B&B to become permitted under the new ordinance. We will continue to follow the approval process for B&B’s on the Maui Real Estate Blog.
On the entertainment front, June is typically a big month for festivals on Maui. I will be providing event and ticket information on two of the summer’s biggest festivals next week with posts on the Kapalua Wine and Food Festival and the Maui Film Festival at Wailea. Festival season gets off to a bit of an earlier start than usual this year. This weekend Saturday the Maui Arts and Cultural Center will be hosting the first annual Maui Brewers Festival. This looks like it will be a fun event with a variety of micro and macro brews, pupus and live music all on the lawn of the A&B amphitheater. The event runs rain or shine from 2:30-6:30. Tickets are $50 in advance or $75 at the door. The event is sponsored by the Kona Brewing Company and benefits the MACC. Check out the MACC website for a complete list of beers, participating restaurants and performers.