Diane Snoey Appler
Fine Art

It's a funny story - we first attended about 8 years ago and it was a mudfest! Out in the fields, torrential rains... mud everywhere! These tarps were put down on the walkways to help us navigate. Dining and enjoying the great dishes the chefs made was a challenge between the rain, umbrellas, and mud. Fast forward to this year, we were on island and grabbed tickets to attend the fest again. On the way into the event, across the Athletic ball field we spotted this sign. Nic

....can you drop me at the beach? Yes, there is a new high school sport and the gear will be needed - mom, can you buy me a new.....Surfboard?! Surf was up for the first high school surfing state championship held at Ho'okipa. Kahlil Pineres-Schooley of Seabury Hall is carried in celebration after winning the boys shortboard competition on May 2, 2026, at Ho’okipa to become the first state high school surfing champion in Hawaiʻi history. HJI / Cammy Clark photo 2025 State le

We were told it was a great spot! Score! It was! A wine and sprits bar with couches around small tables for a relaxing way to sip and chat with your friends. They have a sense of humor as well.... DeVine is located in the Azeca Shopping Center , Makai side (means toward the ocean) next to Maui Pie. It looks like a simple store front outside but inside is a cozy oasis from the busy S. Kihei Road. The menu has a nice selection of wines and spirits, plus food like simple sala

A collector decided they loved one of my paintings that was a work in progress. That's where this story starts. Next steps? Do they like my plan for the painting? I showed them my sketches and we picked whales, honu, and a brighter sunset. Fishermen? No, they watch the boats at Molokini, so how about a sailboat? We have a plan! The original will be out of the budget but we have a solution. I'll create a limited edition giclee for them. Here's the process. Finish the painti

It's whale season, it's cold everywhere on the mainland but not on Maui right now (ok, we do have rain, it's below 70 degrees and I have my slippers on, I'm a wimp). Webcam Wailea Beach Resort toward Ulua Beach, 5 PM 2/8/26 What does this lead to? Lots of visitors. I love getting a chance to meet up with my past/present collectors/friends since this is the season to get off the mainland. And where are we meeting this month if not in my home studio? Guests at the Hideaway with

Friends raved about the meals, the ahi appetizer and lamb, especially, at this restaurant. This was John's meal, I of course had some..... The friends have been patrons for over 15 years, they know the staff and servers by name, all of them, (Chivas was our server). Us? Never tried it. On Maui. And we have lived here for over 10 years. Where is this place? Far Away? Hard to get to? Could not be closer or easier.....or more delightful. Nick's Fishmarket. at the Fairmont K

If you stay in the Ekahi (Ekahi: means one), Elua (Elua: means two), and Ekolu (Ekolu: means three ) condos, (named by the order they were built, FYI) there are some great dining spots nearby in Wailea Village without going to the resorts. Of course, my favorite happy hour (5-6 PM) is still at "Humble Market Kitchin" a Roy Yamaguchi Restaurant at the Wailea Beach Resort. But we all like a little change of pace now and again. Here's a quick run down and I have tried each a

Caspian arrived to the Snoey Family 5 weeks early at the end of January. Fast forward 6 months and here he is being introduced to some of the extended family! Proud dad Nick is on the far left and sweetest mom Nicole is holding the big nugget Cas! Cousins came in from Seattle and Chicago, uncles came in from the San Francisco Bay area and his great aunt from Colorado. All enticed by a BBQ with smoked brisket by Nick and family hikes led by Nicole and Caspian in the Vancouver

There are numerous (like a zillion!) recipes out there for Gumbo, I've tried many of them but they were just not quite right. In my mind, right was the gumbo they served at Joe Dale's Cajun House in Atlanta in the 1970-80's. Did any of my readers ever go there? I'd like to get the recipe for their Seafood Patsy - I have not found it yet. Send it to me if you know it! PLEASE. The recipe I use is from the Williams Sonoma Cookbook titled "The Essential Recipe Collection for

Yes, the water is really that blue. Maybe even bluer than my photo. John has a long arm and grabbed this selfie! Our overwater bungalow is behind us. Le Moana Intercontinental Hotel, on the main island of Bora Bora. The color is even that blue on a cloudy day! This next scene showed a rain squall that was heading our way really slowly, and ultimately created a balmy rain shower, typically for an hour or so, each day, then sunshine again. We watched this outrigger canoe ra

I've been in my usual routine, cooking, tennis, painting, etc. But the most fun was having friends visit from the mainland! We dine out and I can give you a tour! Fun on Maui always includes a lunch at the Burger Shack in Kapalua at DT Fleming Beach. (This view was the inspiration behind https://www.dianeappler.com/product-page/burger-shack-view-kapalua-dt-fleming-beach ) This was the day and always a delight. The view and breeze makes this a great spot for a burger. Burge

The blog I posted a few months ago is already out of date so I'll just give you a couple lines of highlights.... KOAST: Delicious. BYOB in Wailea Village by the start of the Blue Golf Course. It has a nice view and is very open and airy. We were in the table in the southwest corner of the patio and enjoyed a great sunset. Must try! 1111 Nikkei Sushi : CLOSED - was in Wailea Village as well Kohola Brewery: FOOD and WINE IMPROVED! Beer as good as always. It now has happy Hour

"Buy Blue" is what a colleague told me when they reported the result of my amniocentesis, many years ago. Yes, I was having a baby boy - and that was 34+ years ago. And now my son was expecting a son! So what do you want to be called? " my son said. I quickly replied "A Tutu"! (Hawaiian for grandmother.) It will be distinctive. I'll have time to practice saying it since he won't arrive until March 1, 2025. My daughter -in- law went into pre-term labor New Years Eve, so I

A hand-made card by a Japanese tennis friend kicked off my week of fun! Caution: Don't read this if you are hungry.... It was from my tennis friends, with a pool party after tennis. Another tennis friend, art collector and fellow foodie suggested a birthday dinner at a new place in Kahului. Gen Korean BBQ. It was different. Come with an appetite. A Honolulu trip started as a simple medical visit-trip but also turned into an extended dining birthday week. We have to fly

Never in a million years would I have guessed my husband and I would play in a tennis tournament! We really enjoy the game, and the friends we have made along the journey. You might recall, I played doubles tennis on court 3 "Tennis in Paradise" illustrated below. (Original Oil painting I painted live during a previous year's charity tournament.) It hangs in our home gallery as a reminder of this scenic spot. And just before COVID, I fell and broke my arm while trying to hit

Two hikes in the past month were fun activities and new to us, and very different from one another: Makawao Forest and Waihe'e Coastal Dunes. Two options for your next visit, both easy hikes and scenic. Picnic worthy. Makawao Forest: Tall trees and groomed path with separate bicycles trails. This is the map of the area to get your bearings, at the start of the trail system. The path we chose is a 6 mile loop but you can enjoy just a 30 minute hike and come right back the way

NEW! KOAST: Dined here twice and loved the food. It's moderately expensive but the quality of the local food, creativity of the menu, and service are excellent. I love pizza. My past fav was Penny’s Pizza and Pasta, it’s closed - I hope not for good - Latest new try is Black Rock Pizza on S. Kihei Road, near the Library and Movie theaters. Gluten free crust, my option, lots of great combos offered, and pick all your own toppings. BYOB. A plus. Inside and outside dining. Not

September is the hottest month to me in Maui. The trade winds slow down and it gets stuffy. Head to another microclimate - go uphill is the solution! The view from Kula to the top of Haleakala was fogged in in late morning, mist descending on the tree tops, rolling green fields and hillsides surround you. Looking the other way, there is a distant view of the the ocean where the sky is blue. I'm always scanning for the next painting scene but saw this chameleon instead! She

The hotels and resorts in the area of Wailea have done some upgrades and remodels so we like to check them out! Grand Wailea is grand in presentation and the fountains and reflecting pools are pretty as you walk the grounds. The Grand Wailea did a remake of their Humuhumu Restaurant with millions spent in the remodel. The bar is like a doughnut where the doughnut is a plexiglass aquarium full of tropical fish! Looking below my shrimp plate you can see the coral and fish go by