Tina Lia, Author at Maui Thirty Magazine

Redefining Recycling: The Art of Trash

Centered around Earth Day each year, Maui’s Art of Trash gallery exhibit showcases artwork made entirely from items that might otherwise be discarded. This innovative exhibition features some of the island’s most inventive artists working in a variety of mediums and continually finding new ways to transform trash into treasure.

The Opening Night celebration is always a fun event. This year, the Maui Mall came to life once again with music, dance, and a parade of outrageous trash art fashions. First, Robert Sargenti’s Junk Yard Band took the stage. A talented assemblage of local musicians rocked the crowd, playing instruments made by Sargenti out of repurposed materials.

Next was Ryan Anderson’s Marenje Maui drumming group, a vibrant ensemble of percussionists. They weaved their way around the center stage area in an energetic performance that had the audience smiling.

Master of Ceremonies Kristi Scott kept the excitement going as she introduced the evening’s trash fashion extravaganza. Scott’s colorful gown and fascinator (headpiece) designed by Jett Robidoux were made from a repurposed tarp and plastic bottles.

Students and community members participated in the Trashion Show, walking the runway in fabulous outfits made from recycled items.

Prizes were awarded to the artists and designers, then it was on to the gallery opening…

So many pieces stood out this year for their clever concepts and creative use of materials. Chris Mithen’s “Best Day Ever” brought a charming whimsy to the show, giving new life to an old stuffed animal and car door.

With hammered bottle caps as scales and aluminum cans cut to shape as fins, Megan Kashinski’s “Thirsty Fish” was an eye-catching reminder of how discarded rubbish and recyclables find their way into our oceans.

Timothy Gunter’s “Steroid Scooter” was an impressive life-size replica made of welded metal pipes and assorted items. Gunter won 3rd place in the juried show.

This functioning lamp called “Seattilite” was created by Angie Turner from repurposed metal and glass objects. It looked like a UFO with its mysterious light illuminating through the top.

Roxanne Braddix transformed a child’s toy into a mythical creature with her “Sea Horse” sculpture.

Diana Drake carved a nature scene into an old book, using her distinct artistic style to deliver the message in this piece, “Pray for the Earth.”

Robert Sargenti creates wonderfully unique instruments from unconventional materials. His “Vinyl Grooves” electric guitar made from stacked record albums was featured in the opening night band performance.

“Tommy” by Murphy was a human-size robot that actually moved in response to the viewer’s voice. This fantastic showstopper was the 1st place winner of Art of Trash 2016.

Art of Trash is sponsored by the environmental non-profit organizations SharingAloha and Mālama Maui Nui. To find out more about the annual exhibit and see images from previous years’ shows, visit Art of Trash on Facebook.

Mahalo to Zane Mathias for all of the photos published in this article.

38th Annual Art Maui

Art Maui is an annual exhibit at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s Schaefer International Gallery. This juried show features works by some of Maui’s most creative artists in a range of mediums, from painting to sculpting, glassblowing, jewelry making, wood carving, and more. Every year there are new surprises in store for gallery viewers. This year’s exhibition included a variety of pieces that showcased the unique talents of our island’s art community.

Michael Worcester’s “Carved Water” bowl captured the light with a delicate glasswork design that gave the illusion of a pool of water. Peeking into the center, you’d almost think you could dive right in.

David Fitch’s “Pe’ahi o Na Ali’i” handcrafted wood table was skillfully carved and featured a detailed fan-like pattern across the top surface.

This ceramic piece by Mary Ann Leigh titled “Sanctuary” was an intricately sculpted vessel with jagged outer shapes opening to reveal a view directly through the inside.

A number of paintings stood out for their visual appeal. Meryl Haywood’s “Tove Lo” was a captivating portrait with a softness of tone and brushstroke that gave an ethereal feel.

Annamarie Sheehan’s “Healing Waters” drew the viewer in with its intriguing color palette and style.

Laurence Muleh’s “‘Akohekohe, ‘Amakihi, Ohia Lehua” was a beautiful tribute to Hawaii’s native honeycreepers and the flowering trees they feed on.

Several pieces in the show focused on sugar cane, an industry that will soon be ending on Maui. The artwork was grouped together along one section of the gallery. Tom Sewell’s “Goodbye Sugar” multi-media installation was central to the display and featured a television screen with images of sugar harvesting and production.

Julie Houck’s “Three Views of Cane” triptych (top of photo) and Susan Conway Kean’s “Ready for the Last Load” (bottom of photo) oil paintings gave a nod to the end of an era for sugar cane on the island.

Artist Deybra Fair’s work was instantly recognizable for her distinct design aesthetic. Her “Rusted Seams” sculpture transformed rough materials into a softer silhouette.

Two fun, original pieces highlighted the diverse creativity of Maui’s many talented artists. Shaun Fleming’s “Just the Essentials” carved wood cabinet displayed meticulously inlaid renditions of items kept on hand in kitchen cupboards here on the islands.

This clay sculpture by Mark Olpindo was aptly titled “Milk + Cereal.” Scaled to actual size, the fruit ring cereal looked good enough to eat. The milk jug seemed to defy gravity as it hovered above the bowl.

The 2016 exhibit marked another excellent showing of artistic skill and imagination. To learn more about Art Maui and see images of all of the artwork, visit www.artmaui.com.

Prince Was Here

Back in 2000-2001, I was working at a little indy music store right by the beach in Kihei with my now ex-husband Sid. One random afternoon, he answered a phone call that turned an ordinary day into the kind of surreal experience you can only have on Maui.

I think we had already gotten word that Prince was on island…Maui can be very small town in the way that stories get around quick. So when Sid got the call asking if we could keep the store open just for Prince to do some private shopping, we had a feeling this was no hoax. It was a slow afternoon, so the place was already empty. He gave the OK to the mysterious caller, and we locked the doors. He let me know that we’d been instructed not to speak to Prince or even make eye contact. The two of us waited anxiously, having no idea what to expect.

After about ten minutes, a huge black SUV pulled right up to the front of the store. An enormous man that clearly looked like a bodyguard walked over, and Sid let him in. The big guy glanced around for a short while, then headed back out to the SUV where Prince and his lady friend were waiting to be escorted in. This place was small, and I was getting nervous thinking, “How am I supposed to keep myself from looking at him? He’s going to be within a few feet of me the whole time he’s in here.” I felt like I could already hear his distinct voice in my head demanding quietly, “Don’t look at me.”

I stared with as much discretion as possible as the man himself walked through the doors accompanied by his bodyguard and a gorgeous petite woman. Sid remembers the moment when Prince suddenly appeared in the store wearing a neon hockey jersey that went almost to the ground, his hair teased out like he was about to go onstage. “There was no way you couldn’t have recognized him,” he says. I want to say he was surrounded by a mystical purple fog, but I’m pretty sure he was just glowing from the inside. What I remember most is that it was a warm sunny day, and he was in full face make-up, looking very out of place in our little beach town shop.

My favorite detail of Sid’s recollection is how the Talking Heads “Stop Making Sense” movie was playing on the TV mounted on the store wall, and he had thought he was pretty cool for picking that classic 80’s gem to watch. Then the bodyguard asked Sid a question, so he turned the volume down briefly on the movie. Prince spoke the only two words we would hear from him…“thank you.” His voice was soft but sassy, and we knew the choice of cinema had not met with his approval. So much for nostalgia.

The new releases were set to come out, and we had everything stacked behind the counter. The bodyguard asked if Prince could buy one of each new title. It was an unusual request, but this was no ordinary shopper. This wasn’t even an ordinary celebrity. We were in the presence of a legend. Customer service kicked up a notch that day.

Prince and his lady friend left the store quickly, disappearing into the SUV while the bodyguard stayed behind to make the purchases. And just like that, it was over. Sid and I waited a few seconds for them to pull out of the parking lot, then we wandered out the front doors in a bit of a starstruck daze. Had this really just happened? We looked at each other, then over across the road towards the ocean. And in that same moment, we saw a whale breach in full splendor right in front of us. It felt like there was magic in the air, like Prince himself had summoned the whales and left a rainbow of rock and roll pixie dust in his wake. That’s how I remember it anyway.

No, I didn’t meet Prince. I didn’t talk to him or really even get to look at him, but he was there all the same and it was unforgettable. One of those very special encounters that will always have me thinking, “Only on Maui.”

Artist rendition created from photo by Sheila Sund https://www.flickr.com/photos/sheila_sund/8753578018/

Maui Fair Date Night

Thanks to free entry tickets from friends, Eddie and I had a date at the Maui Fair on Friday night. The county fair always comes around this time of year, and it’s nice to go every once in a while. I’m not much for spending a lot of money on rides or games, but I do like to see the student artwork and eat something dangerous. We picked Friday night when one of our favorite musicians, Willie K, was playing.

Arriving at the fairgrounds around 6pm, we navigated through the parking situation and walked a little ways to the entrance. First was the livestock and poultry exhibit. It was interesting to see the critters up close…a giant bull and multi-colored pheasants, among others. I did wish they had more space to roam rather than being confined to little cages. We took a brisk stroll through and hit the exit, finding ourselves right in front of the funnel cake cart.

There we found the junk food of my dreams, deep fried Oreos. They were hot and spectacular, lightly dusted with powdered sugar. I’ve only ever seen these at the fair, so I couldn’t pass them up. We split a basket and enjoyed every bite.

Hopped up on sweets, we moved on to the arts and crafts exhibit. The student artwork was impressive…it’s always fun to see what creative ideas kids come up with. From grade schoolers to teens, the artists show so much talent and whimsy. We checked out the crafts tables and the variety of produce on display, then walked along the lovely “orchidland” to the photo salon. Lots of interesting images lined the wall, and a beautiful display of live bonsai trees sat on the table across.

We headed over to the products and services tent and browsed through the goods, then decided it was time to get some dinner. I thought about having more deep fry, but figured I’d better play it safe with a Greek salad. Eddie went for it and got the BBQ pulled pork plate along with a bright blue frosty lemonade drink. Living on the edge, he also grabbed a pronto pup (deep fried hot dog on a stick).

We washed it all down with a bottled water and agreed to go check out the ferris wheel. The line was long, so I held our place while he went to get scrips. It felt like the ride didn’t last more than a couple of minutes, but we had a good time and took some great pictures. Walking off the platform, we could already hear Willie K jamming in the entertainment tent. We made our way over and caught most of his set, finishing off the evening grooving to the music together.

All in all, it was a pretty sweet date. We did spend a bit of money, but at least we saved $14 on the entry fee ($7 x 2). Here’s a breakdown: $5 parking, $4 deep fried Oreos, $5 frosty lemonade, $7 Greek salad, $7 BBQ pulled pork plate, $4 pronto pup, $2 bottled water, $12 ferris wheel ($6 x 2). Somehow we lost another $2 along the way…maybe we got the wrong change…$48 total spent. I imagine that a family bringing kids could drop a lot of dough over the weekend. Probably most kids wait for Saturday’s discounted ride pass Wristband Day.

To find out more about the annual fair, check out their website at http://www.mauifair.com

30 Organic Foods Found at Costco

Discovering a variety of choices can make grocery shopping fun. I’m always on the lookout for healthier options, and I like that our local Costco in Kahului, Maui has an ever-increasing array of organic foods. Different items are popping up all the time. Some come and go, while others stay in stock regularly. Here are thirty of my recent finds…

Organic by Nature Organic Premium Sweet Baby Peas: Frozen peas in a giant bag…these are a great go-to veggie. Heat/defrost and add to pasta, curry, or just eat a bowlful with butter.
Organic by Nature Organic California Broccoli Florets: Four perfect serving-size bags of frozen broccoli. Another easy veggie to have on hand.
Good Grains Organic Frozen Quinoa & Kale Blend with Citrus & Black Pepper Seasoning: This is an interesting mix. Add some butter and parmesan to kick up the flavor, or try some olive oil and nutritional yeast to keep it vegan.
Seeds of Change Certified Organic Quinoa & Brown Rice with Garlic: One of my favorites. Cooked heat and serve bags that make an excellent side dish. I like it with fish, but it’s also shovel-it-down good on its own.
Minsley 100% Organic Cooked Brown Rice: These are convenient heat and serve microwaveable bowls. You could also skip the micro and drop the rice right into your stir-fry.
Minsley Cooked Organic Quinoa: More ready to eat bowls…these don’t even need heating. I like to flavor with soy sauce or liquid aminos and serve with fried eggs on top.
Kirkland Signature Large Grade A Organic Eggs: If you don’t have your own chickens or an in at the farmers market, Costco is the place to go. Lowest price I’ve found on island for organic at around $8 for two dozen.
Spice World Organic Garlic: Ready to use garlic minced in a jar. This has a different flavor from fresh garlic, but it works well in cooking as a simple way to spice up a meal.
Kirkland Signature Organic Creamy Peanut Butter: Best price and taste I’ve found for organic peanut butter, perfect for smoothies or paired with apple slices. If only they’d offer a crunchy version too.
Daisy Girl Organics Fuji Apples: Sweet and crisp Washington State apples. These last a surprisingly long time in the fridge, and they’re a bargain at around $13 for 5.5 pounds (that’s under $2.50 a pound).
Taylor Farms Organic Superfood Power Greens: A ready to eat pre-washed combo of chard, kale and spinach. This mix makes for great salads and stir-fry, or a green boost in a smoothie.
Larabar The Original Fruit & Nut Bar: These really are just made with fruit and nuts…a tasty on-the-go power snack. Two flavors in the 18 bar box, Cashew Cookie and Apple Pie.
Organic by Mariani California Deglet Noor Pitted Dates: Dates are a natural way to satisfy your sweet tooth. Add them to homemade desserts, cereal…or eat a few right out of the bag.
Organic Made in Nature Golden Delicious Calimyrna Figs: Another excellent sweet snack. Nothing in here but dried figs, and they are yummy. I’ve chopped these up and used them in recipes too.
Kirkland Signature 100% Pure Grade A Dark Amber Organic Maple Syrup: When you just need a great big bottle of maple. It’s so good, you’ll want to make a mountain of french toast every time you look at that jug.
Amy’s Organic Chili: For a quick easy meal, this is a fine meatless chili. Medium heat, vegan, and packed in non-BPA lining cans.
S&W Premium Organic Black Beans: These cooked beans do nicely in a salad or refried with some spices. Also in non-BPA can lining…stock up for the zombie apocalypse.
Coco Libre Pure Organic Coconut Water: We can’t always make it to the farmers market for fresh coconut. Another useful smoothie ingredient to have on hand, these store conveniently in the cabinet.
Naturipe Organic Blueberries: California grown big sweet berries. Organic does vary in price, so look for the good deals and pick a ripe bounty from the packs.
Kirkland Signature Organic Blueberries: These frozen gems are much more economical than the produce section variety. Defrost in the fridge and throw some in your cereal, or blend them in a beverage.
Bare Fuji Red Crunchy Apple Chips: Wow, there is nothing in here but 100% organic apples baked into crispy chip form. “30 Apples in Every Bag”…watch out, it’s hard to stop eating ’em.
Wild Friends Organic Honey Sunflower Butter: This tastes exactly like it sounds. If you enjoy sunflowers and honey, this combo is a fun alternative spread. Try dipping some apple chips in there.
Don Lee Farms Organic Superfoods Veggie Patty: A hearty burger that fries up nicely. It’s not always easy to find a satisfying meatless substitute, so these flavorful patties are a welcome addition to the Costco freezer section.
Good Earth Organic Sweet & Spicy Caffeine Free Herbal Tea: A strong spiced beverage with a distinct taste of cinnamon, ginger and orange. It’s naturally sweet and zesty, perfect hot or iced.
Amy’s Light in Sodium Organic Soups: Another quick meal in a can. Two flavors in the box, lentil and lentil vegetable. Both are good, even better mixed with some pasta or quinoa.
Pita Pal Organic Balela: “A Savory Mediterranean salad of chickpeas, black beans, spices and herbs.” This is a healthy mix with a bold tangy taste.
Wholesome Sweeteners Organic Blue Agave: “100% Pure Agave Nectar from the Weber Azul.” A natural sweetener that dissolves easily and works well in a number of recipes.
Amy’s Organic Burrito Cheddar Cheese: Frozen burritos are a fast fix when you’re feeling hangry. Simple and satisfying, this Costco box is a great bargain at under $1.50 per burrito.
Hi I’m Skinny Sticks: Real Sweet Potato: Hi, I’m gonna eat the whole bag. These are like sweet potato fries in veggie stick form, and they are face-stuffing goodness.
Kirkland Signature Organic Coconut Oil: Costco sells a two-jar pack of this versatile oil at a bargain price. I stir-fry with it, put it in baked goods, and mix it with cacao and agave for a ridiculous choco frosting. I also use it to moisturize my face.

I’m scanning the kitchen now and I have to say…this list could go way past thirty. Make room in the cupboards, it’s time to head over to Costco and see what natural foods I’ll be stocking up on next.

To learn more about organic and non-GMO food labeling, check out the USDA National Organic Program and the Non-GMO Project.