B on Hawaii

Recently, through a series of less than usual events, I found myself working closely with a physical therapist. I was prescribed a number of back and shoulder strengthening exercises to combat the negative postural effects of sitting on my computer typing.

What is it about Hawaii that attracts visitors by the thousands and keeps them coming back year after year? Besides the obvious miles of endless beaches, warm tropical climate and crashing waves of the Pacific... Could it be as simple as a feeling they get from being here?

It's no secret that Hawai'i, much like the world's most beautiful and diverse ecosystems, has an incredibly fragile landscape. Factor in that we're North America's #1 travel destination, and the dilemma isn't hard to see: How do we keep our environment as pristine as possible (read: not trampled upon), yet continue to appeal to savvy travelers and their en masse arrivals?

Between the relentless news of our faltering economy, political distrust and the ever-rising cost of living, it may be hard to find things to feel good about that won’t leave a gaping hole in your wallet. However, there is one thing you can do everyday that won’t cost you a dime, and is nearly guaranteed to improve your quality of life: Exercise.

Furthering the effort to educate visitors to Maui on why Kapalua is so culturally significant, the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua has launched an "Ambassadors of the Environment" program in partnership with the renowned Jean-Michel Cousteau's Ocean Futures Society. This marks Cousteau's first venture in the State of Hawaii.

Tonight will be an exciting evening on the Wailea, Maui, coastline: It is the official opening of Kō. An ingenious, new restaurant concept opening inside the Fairmont Kea Lani, Kō is the brainchild of chef de cuisine Juaquin "Jake" Belmone, as cultivated by executive chef Tylun Pang and food & beverage director Peter Sylvester. It has been two years in the making.

It's time for Alan Wong's next "Farmer Series Dinner", and if you haven't made it to one of these spectacular events, you should make a point of it—for many reasons. First, Wong is perhaps the most innovative chef on the islands at the moment.

When it comes to eating healthy, there is an ever-expanding array of information. And it can seem at times like the more we learn about our options, the more complex the decision making process becomes.

Everybody knows fresh tastes better. Living on the islands, I find one day old fish is rather unacceptable to my palate; I'm sure most would agree. In that same vein of thinking, could you imagine if we had the luxury of demanding only the freshest of meat and vegetables?

In our never tiring quest to deliver to you, reader, the most fascinating people in Hawaii who achieve the most extraordinary things, we turn to an organization that is changing lives all over Oahu and Maui.