West Maui Book Club

I just read “Beyond the Bear – How I Learned to Live and Love again After Being Blinded By a Bear” by Dan Bigley and Debra McKinney.

Well, I fully expected to read a real tale of horror, having heard of Bigley’s attack in the news, but was thoroughly enamored with the way it is told here. The tale is more hopeful than horrid, more inspiring then sad. McKinney has done a fabulous job…no small endeavor considering what transpired. I also fully expected to have Kleenex in hand throughout, which I did, except it was to wipe away tears of joy from Bigley’s own. Way to go, both of you. Bigley, your spirit is amazing, and McKinney, you let it shine. I often forgot who did the actual writing! PS I started reading this Easter morning, 2014, and finished by 2:10 PM. Could not put it down….

Live Lovingly, Laugh Freely

Come meet Henry S. Bradsher, author of “The Dalai Lama’s Secret and Other Reporting Adventures: Stories from a Cold War Correspondent”, on Saturday, November 16, 2013 from noon – 2 PM at Barnes & Noble located in the Gateway Plaza.

Bradsher, who is visiting from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, worked with the Associated Press and the Washington Star for a quarter-century in India, the Soviet Union and Hong Kong.  He won the George Polk Award for Foreign Reporting in 1973 and was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for international reporting in 1972.

Before beginning his career as a foreign correspondent, Bradsher covered the Montgomery, Alabama bus boycott and the attempted bombing of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Montgomery home.  He arrived at Dr. King’s home immediately after the 16-stick dynamite bomb had been disabled.

While in India, Bradsher uncovered and reported the Dalai Lama’s secret.  This vital secret had been closely guarded for more than a decade.

While in Moscow, Bradsher reported on the downfall of Nikita Khrushchev.  The KGB, the Soviet intelligence service, later bombed his car.

While in Hong Kong, Communist Chinese officials in mainland China labeled him “the most despicable” journalist.  After a power shift, they welcomed him as the first American journalist allowed to work in China in over a year.

Also while reporting from Hong Kong, Bradsher faced the challenge of Henry Kissinger’s attempts to thwart publication of his reports.  History later proved the accuracy of his reports.

Bradsher will sign copies of The Dalai Lama’s Secret at Barnes and Noble, Lahaina, Saturday, November 16, from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m.  He will speak to the Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunrise at Pioneer Inn Tuesday, November 19, from 7:00 to 8:00 a.m., and to the Rotary Club of Lahaina at Royal Lahaina Resort Thursday, November 21, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.  The public is invited to each of the three events.

‘Bout time….and hopefully in time for 2013 Christmas!  The Outlets Of Maui in Lahaina are currently under a $19.5M reconstruction of the very vacant Lahaina Center located at 900 Front Street.  This center has been in a sad state of occupancy for quite a while, so it will be nice to have some new shops in our area.  (Although our beloved movie theater is gone, dropping our big screens down to a minuscule three at The Wharf.  Couldn’t they have worked something out on this one?)

On a positive note, expected new outlet arrivals include: Coach, Calvin Klein, Banana Republic, Brooks Brothers, and other name brands.  Some favorites will stay, too, like Hilo Hatties, moving only to some coveted Front Street frontage alongside Hard Rock Cafe and Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse.

Wishing them all success!

A friend could not believe that I had never read “The Five People You Meet in Heaven”.  Why would I?  It sounded too real and too many have passed that I still mourn.  Well, I would not be a friend to you if I do not suggest the same…do read “The Five People You Meet in Heaven”.  Well-written, heart-felt and comforting in the only way good reads can make us feel

Darn! Another West Maui restaurant has closed effective August 1, 2013. Kahana Grill has served the West Maui Book Club on several occasions and always provided excellent service, food, and accommodations. This restaurant will be sorely missed!

The movie, “42”, is a real tribute to Jackie Robinson, our culture’s first black, major league baseball player. During our viewing, we cringed, laughed and ultimately cheered while Chadwick Boseman as Robinson and Harrison Ford as the Brooklyn Dodgers manager, Branch Rickey, conquer prejudice on and off the field. Their goal was steady and slow and in this film that game plan pays off handsomely. It’s no wonder that on every April 15th all major league players don the #42 jersey to show unilateral equality.

Meanwhile, Nicole Beharie as Robinson’s beautiful wife, Rachel, almost steals the show when not only does she stands by her man but also up for him at every turn.

This is a Hollywood love story that more than likely isn’t too far from the truth. It’s also one everyone should see.