As time marches forward, many new innovations are discovered which aim to make our lives easier and more efficient. The onset of digital-everything is a perhaps the best example of this. Remember the days of vinyl records, cassette tapes, even CD's? All replaced with much more portable solution known as the mp3. Television broadcasts, which started life in black and white, can now be paused and pre-recorded, or skipped altogether in favor of custom programming from Netflix, streamed to your razor thin, 40/50/60 inch LED HDTV. Even Maui real estate sales have progressed with the times; going from a paper directory of homes for sale on Maui the size of a phone book, to a display of homes, condos, and land for sale throughout Maui browseable on your iPad 2 while relaxing in comfort on the beach chair atop the lanai of your waterfront Kapalua home. Just as the digital revolution has made the printed, phonebook sized, Maui real estate listings obsolete, so too does it threaten to make the printed world of fine literature redundant as Amazon's Kindle and Apple's iPad provide the avid reader with instant gratification of immediate downloads, and the ability to store many libraries' worth of books in the palm of your hand.

Yet despite the digital progress that has been achieved throughout the years, many of us still prefer the classic, analog devices to their digital counterparts. For instance, a classic, hardcover novel can be much more satisfying than its digital double in many ways. While a perfect word for word copy on the Kindle is convenient, it does not have the presence that the hardbound edition does. The feeling of fine paper beneath your fingertips, the fine texture of which is just barely visible beneath the printed words, the sturdy heft of a few hundred pages and the aroma of a well aged example; just a few of the reasons an analog hard copy can be so much more enjoyable. For those of us who take pleasure in holding a "real" book in our hands, there is a great event happening on February 11th at the Maui Mall: the Maui Friends of the Library Used Book Sale.

To be held from 9am until 2pm in front of the Kahului Whole Foods Market, the Maui Friends of the Library Used Book Sale will offer up a select variety of gently read hardcover, paperback, and oversized, fiction and nonfiction books at fantastic prices (a low as $1.00 per book) for book lovers to add to their bookshelf at home. Best of all, proceeds from this book sale will help to support the libraries of Maui County. If you are a true book lover, save the date (2/11/12,) put your Kindle to sleep, and head down to the Maui Friends of the Library book sale; you'll be glad you did!

As many Kapalua home owners can attest too, Hawaii is a special place of magnificent beauty. Stepped in a cornucopia of intrigue throughout its lengthy Polynesian history, our island home has much historical and cultural significance which visitors and residents alike would do well to explore while enjoying their beautiful waterfront Kapalua Ironwoods residence or luxury beachfront condo at the Coconut Grove. While there are many ways to experience and enjoy Maui's history and cultural, one of the very best places to start is at the aptly named Maui Arts and Cultural Center.

Commonly featuring a variety of culturally significant events and exhibits from past to present, the Maui Arts and Cultural Center is one of the states' most valuable places to enjoy Hawaiian history first hand from a number a knowledgeable guest speakers, presentations, and films. One such presentation at the MACC: the Heritage Film Festival.

A special series dedicated to films which tell the stories of the indigenous people of not only Hawaii but throughout the Pacific, films featured in the Heritage Film Festival highlight Hawaii's diverse culture, amazing history, and current affairs affecting our island home. Of particular note, many shows include a Q&A session with the people behind the featured Heritage film after the screening. Sounds like fun doesn't it?

The next Heritage feature, "Lychee Thieves" - a cautionary tale approached with humor, premiers on January 29th, at 4:00pm at the MACC's McCoy Studio Theater. Sure to be an enjoyable time, tickets for this Heritage film can be obtained by calling the MACC box office at 808-242-7469.

Mahalo for Reading!

Maui is famous for it's unending beauty: from the otherworldly peaks and valleys of Mt. Haleakala, to the magnificent sunsets on display daily outside any number of exclusive waterfront homes in Kapalua; when it comes to beauty, Maui truly is the best. Along with an abundance of natural beauty everywhere you turn, Maui also has a burgeoning art scene bolstering this unique beauty throughout galleries and homes from Kapalua to Kihei. With a diverse range covering abstract industrial paints on canvas, to lifelike carvings made of exquisite Koa wood, finding wonderful art on Maui is very much like finding a luxury home on Maui; there's something for everyone here.

Perhaps the best place for finding high quality art from Maui's most prestigious artist, the Maui Arts and Cultural Center is perhaps the largest outlet for Maui's artists to have their art recognized, critiqued, and admired in a non commercial setting. Hosting many, many installations and exhibits throughout the year, the Maui Arts and Cultural Center (or MACC for short) always has something artful and intelligent to experience. Case in point: the Schaefer Portrait Challenge 2012. Currently exhibiting at the MACC's Schaefer International Gallery, the Schaefer Portrait Challenge sees 57 artists from around the state of Hawaii submit their interpretation of human portraiture utilizing a variety of mixed media, from pastels and watercolors, to clay, wood, and stone, in competition for a grand total of $20,000 in prize money. Of particular interest to visitors to this fantastic exhibit is the Marian Freeman People's Choice Award. This award allows for public participation in the event by allowing visitors to cast their ballot for their favorite piece. At the end of the exhibits run, the ballots will be counted and the artist with the most votes will be awarded the Marian Freeman People's Choice Award, along with $5,000!

If you too are interested in attending this fabulous artists exhibition, take a short drive from your Kapalua resort home to the MACC Wednesdays through Sundays from 11am to 5pm until March 11th to enjoy some of Maui's most beautiful art currently on exhibit!

Regular followers of our Luxury Kapalua Home blog and Luxury Maui Real Estate Radio Show are sure to have caught our articles and episodes heralding the return of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions to Kapalua's famed Plantation Golf Course this past weekend. Just like last year's tournament, the 2012 Hyundai Tournament of Champions did not disappoint. After a fantastic weekend of exciting professional play atop the exquisitely manicured green of the Plantation Course, Steve Stricker has emerged with the very first championship win of the PGA TOUR season.

This fantastic win on the slopes of the West Maui mountains, amongst the beautiful ocean views and exquisite luxury homes of Kapalua, is even more amazing considering Steve has been playing while dealing with a debilitating injury. Just four months ago, Steve Sticker had withdrawn his bid for the BMW Championship outside of Chicago due to weakness in his left arm. Soon after his weakness had been diagnosed as being caused by a neck injury. Obviously not something to be taken lightly, particularly considering Steve's chosen career path, he reluctantly agreed to a doctor's recommendation to have corrective surgery, before opting instead for a series of therapy and massage sessions, rest, and two cortizone shots. This injury recovery and management plan has obviously worked well for Steve, as evidenced by his performance at the Plantation Course!

We at Sakamoto Properties would like to once again congratulate Steve Stricker on his win at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, and sincerely hope to see Steve once again at next year's Hyundai Tournament of Champions!

P.S. Click here for a few words from PGA Champions Steve Stricker, Jonathan Byrd, Jhonattan Vegas, Michael Bradley, Keegan Bradley, Bill Haas, and Vice President of Marketing for Hyundai, Steve Shannon.

Mahalo from beautiful Kapalua!

With the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in full swing (pun intended!) our wonderful residents and visitors would do best to remember there are a few other fantastic events worth attending throughout the next week. One such event: First Friday on Wailuku's famous Main Street.

Maui's premiere street party, January's First Friday ushers in the Year of the Dragon with flair with the bombastic drums of Maui Taiko and The Easy on the Maui Thing Stage at 6:30 p.m. Also on the Maui Thing Stage, the Maui Community Association presents the Wailuku Town Mulch-Cultural blessing, while the Lion Dancers of Ben Seng Au Maui will perform at 7:00 p.m. in front of If the Shoe Fits. Throughout the rest of Main St., you'll find an equally impressive line-up of performers including; Maui Rumba, Hawaiian Steel Guitar by Joel Katz, and Gene Argel & Ohana.

Of course it wouldn't be First Friday without local food and refreshments, and this first Friday guarantees not to disappoint. With fantastic food and drink special from Wailuku Coffee Company, the Na Leo Kako'o Beer Garden, Hawaiian Food and Awa Bar courtesy of Native Intelligence, sweet and savory crepes at Maui Bakeshop, and much much more.

The festivities officially begin at 6:00 p.m. and run until 9:00 p.m., with Main Street closed to automobile traffic from 5:30 p.m. For those unfamiliar with the area, Wailuku is picturesque approximately 30 minute drive from the beautiful waterfront homes in Kapalua (such as those found at the spectacular Coconut Grove and Kapalua Ironwoods condo residences,) with ample parking available throughout historic Wailuku Town.

After a fantastic day of golf at The Plantation Course, followed by celebration on Main Street, there is no better place to come home to than your own home in Kapalua. If you have yet to purchase one of your own, contact Betty, Roy, Mitch, or any of our wonderful staff at Sakamoto Properties today at info@sakamotoproperties.com and let us help you find your home in paradise.