MAUI NO KA 'OI

After quite the dry spell of no blog entries, it's time to get back to it. We can now tell you what has kept us so busy the last few months.

In June we got word that our favorite publication was hiring a new Art Director.
In July, John filled that role at Maui No Ka 'Oi magazine and he now has 2 issues under his belt.

The September/October cover.

The current November/December 2011 issue on stands now.

John has been working feverishly on the complete re-design for the January/February 2012 issue which goes to press in 2 1/2 short weeks. That includes a new logo, testing new fonts, interviewing illustrators and photographers, and looking into new paper alternatives.

He is a one man Art Department and for the last 2 issues has has been re-introduced to the world of magazine design. The last time he worked at a magazine (SPIN and DETAILS) he had a full Art Department to rely on. Now he finds himself wearing many hats - photo editor, graphic designer, production manager, location scout and so on. He has also been able to visit some incredible homes here on Maui for possible use in the home features. At these home shoots, he also acts as prop stylist and pet wrangler. 

On a recent scouting trip to Keokea, John got to venture inside the Kwock Hing Society Building, which is otherwise locked. It is featured in the current issue.

On a recent scouting trip to Keokea, John got to go inside the Kwock Hing Society Building, which is always locked up, the inside is not open to the pubic. It is featured in the current issue.

October found him traveling off island for a 2-day visit to the printer in Waseca, Minnesota. 

I stayed busy during August and September compiling the 7 page Holiday Gift Guide for the November/December 2011 issue which is on stands now. (see attached pages below)

Not only did I compile the products in the Guide, but I photographed about half of them. What I did not photograph, I tracked the images down from merchants, which was no small production. John says I basically acted as photographer and photo editor for the entire guide which was a big help to him.

It was a huge undertaking to get products for the gift guide because I basically had to start from scratch with the stores and vendors. I did not have a single contact. It's been great fun for me to get to explore the island and meet new people. Kind of rejuvenating actually. I mean, I get to shop days on end and not spend any money. In some cases, companies did not have images for me to use and they asked me to shoot products for trade. We have quite the supple of salt and honey.

A behind the scenes look at shooting the book "Surfing Jaws" for the Holiday Gift Guide here in the studio.

At present, along with my other freelance work,  I am also compiling two Great Finds pages for the January/February issue. One on Luxury items and the other for Golf Items. Great Finds is basically a page of "must have" products that I locate around the island. This is also a recurring gig for each issue!

Most of you know that we left our office once a week at best when we worked from home. Now John is on the road to Wailuku most days and I have can be found cruising around the island in search of items to feature in the magazine. While we loved being home all the time, it's fun to get out and see behind the scenes of Maui.

In January I will be getting back to my fashion roots as I will be styling a 6-8 page fashion story for the March/April issue. Booking models, hair, make-up, and pulling all of the clothing to be featured. I can't wait for that project.

Mahalo for bearing with us... and we hope to be posting more now that things are a bit more established with our roles at Maui No Ka 'Oi.

A hui hou.

SUNSET SUNDAY 100211

Link to larger image

JANE LOUISE BRATTAIN - A LOOK BACK

ALOHA…

Yes, we're still here. We have had quite a spring and summer full of changes and lots of work. It's kept us quite busy and away from updating CFC.

Some of you know that my grandma was here in March and returned back to Indiana in early April. She passed away April 26th, 3 weeks after returning from a 3 month trip in Florida and 3 weeks here on Maui.

This post is in remembrance of her in pictures from her early days at 9 years old to her 3 trips to Maui through March 2011. Of course there are many more, but these are some of my favorites.

More updates on our changes to come.

A hui hou grandma -
September 18, 1921 - April 26, 2011
xoc

9 years old

Smoking in the pool.

Smoking and drinking somewhere on the beach in Florida.

The following images were from her 3 trips to Maui: 2007, 2008, 2011.

2007

2008

2011

TUESDAYS TEXTURE 081611

Moss growing on a palm tree trunk.

SUNSET SUNDAY 081411

TUESDAYS TEXTURE 080211

Fishtail Palm

TUESDAYS TEXTURE 072611

Begonia

SUNSET SUNDAY 072411

TUESDAY TEXTURE 071911

LETTUCE AND ARUGULA

SUNSET SUNDAY 071711

TUESDAYS TEXTURE 071211

Variegated Fern

SUNSET SUNDAY 071011

SPICED RIGHT

A few weeks ago I realized we had no good spices to make a curry, so I went on a major spice shopping spree. John and I always loved getting the banana chicken curry from RICE in NY and since we had plenty bananas on hand I decided to try a banana curry of my own. I found a few recipes I combined and came up with this. The only thing that I think was wrong with it was the brand of coconut milk we get… CHAOKOH. We buy a case of it from Costco and it has a bit of a strange flavor to me. It tends to not stay as creamy as the brand I prefer… THAI KITCHEN and I will start buying that from now on.


1 tablespoon olive oil
2 carrots, peeled and sliced,
2 mini red peppers
2 mini yellow peppers
2 mini orange peppers
(you can use all one color if you cannot find mini's.)
1/2 cup frozen peas
1/4 cup diced pineapple
1 medium onion cut into 1/2 wedges
1 sliced banana
2 boneless chicken breasts
2  cardamom seeds

For the sauce:
2 bananas
3/4 cup coconut milk
2 teaspoon curry powder
1 teaspoon garam masala
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon ginger powder
coarse salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoons chopped cilantro

Basmati or Jasmine rice

- In a food processor or blender, add banana, coconut milk, curry powder, garam masala, cinnamon, cayenne pepper and ginger and process until smooth.

- Preheat oven to 425ºF. Lay 4 large pieces of aluminum foil on a work surface, placing 2 on top of each other in a + pattern. Place one sheet of parchment paper on top of each

- Toss vegetables in olive oil and place half of the vegetables in center of each parchment paper Smash the cardamom seeds and place one on top of each vegetable pile. Top with 1 chicken breast. Season chicken with salt and black pepper.

You can see the smashed cardamom seed in the center on the bottom image.

The sauce mixture in the food processor.

- Pour banana-coconut milk mixture over each chicken breast, dividing evenly.

- Seal foil/parchment packets by bringing together 2 opposite edges and folding them down together. Place packets on a rimmed baking sheet and cook in oven for 30 to 40 minutes.

- Let cool a few minutes before opening.

- Carefully open foil packets. Place rice in bottom of serving bowl and spoon packet contents on top. Garnish with cilantro.