Favor cookies!

Santa arrived early this year and I got one of the items on my 2007 Christmas Wish List - a KitchenAid Professional HD stand mixer. I have always wanted to offer favor cookies to my clients and now perhaps I can expand my company in that direction! Hmmm... YUM-O!

Maryrose & Mike's Scouting Trip

One of my wedding couples, Maryrose and Mike, were just here on Mau`i for a scouting trip. We had appointments and food tastings with vendors back-to-back every single day. I felt so bad that during their entire 5-day trip, they only had one FREE day to enjoy the beautiful beaches... but at least they got a lot accomplished.

They have selected their venues - Holy Rosary Church in Paia for their ceremony (photo #1 above) and the Pua Le'a Estate for their cocktail and dinner reception (aka the Haiku Mill, photos #2 & 3 above). They have also selected a florist and I think they are very close to choosing their caterer and photographer as well. Once those are done, we can move on to the rest of the planning! Maryrose and Mike are such a great couple, and it's going to be a lot of fun doing their wedding... I can't wait!

Imua 60th Anniversary & Fundraiser

Silent Auction Items

Silent Auction Items

Beef Station

Wine Station

Barefoot Natives (and Willie K's daughter), Kathy Collins and I

Imua Family Services celebrated their 60th Anniversary tonight with a "Barefoot Black Tie - Mau`i Style" Fundraiser at the Hui No'eau Visual Arts Center in Makawao with a wonderful reception, concert and silent/live auctions. I was one of the 15 members on their Committee and 3 of us helped out on the silent auction items.

250 guests attended the gala, which started off with the silent auction, pupus (appetizers) and cocktails. It was followed by a scrumptious buffet dinner catered by Catering from Soup to Nuts. Kathy Collins from Manao Radio was the Mistress of Ceremonies of the evening, and Imua Family Services prepared this heartwarming video which highlights all the wonderful services that they provide for the children with special needs on the islands of Mau`i and Lana`i.

A few items were being auctioned off during the live auction session - Hotel Hana Ocean View Cottage, 7-night package at the Royal Kahana Resort, 4-night package at the Hololani in Ka'anapali, an Oscar Schmidt ukulele and 2 "Dinner for 8" prepared by Catering from Soup to Nuts. Responses for these items were amazing and Imua raised close to $15,000 just on the live auction!

To end this incredible evening, the Barefoot Natives performed for 45 minutes with all the songs from their latest album - "Slack Key Circus". It was a very successful event and all the guests truly enjoyed themselves. Most importantly, Imua Family Services raised enough funds and awareness tonight in order for them to continue to provide early intervention services to Mau`i keikis (children) and their `ohana (families).