Saturday, September 7, 10 am – 3 pm.  La ‘Ulu 2019: Breadfruit Day. Maui Nui Botanical Gardens, 150 Kanaloa Avenue, Kahului, across from the War Memorial Stadium. Free admission, free parking.  More information here. 

Monday, September 16, 7:30 pm. Showing of The Game Changers, a new documentary about plant-based eating. Regal Maui Mall Megaplex 12, 70 E. Kaahumanu, Kahului. Film is one hour and 50 minutes. Tickets and more information.

The Common Ground Collective is a nonprofit organization focused on food security and new economic opportunities for the community, has launched a foster farm program.  Participating landowners can receive help in harvesting produce.  They can choose to either donate or sell the collected food.  One local nonprofit that welcomes food donations is Maui Food Not Bombs, which provides free vegan food to those in need.  Schedule a free harvest here.

New vegan options: We added Freshies in Makawao and Your Bliss in Kihei to the Maui Vegan Food Guide.  Check them out to see if their vegan options appeal to you. … Volunteer opportunity for vacationers: Vacationers may volunteer on Mondays and Wednesdays at 9 am at the Leilani Farm Sanctuary, Maui’s only vegan animal sanctuary.  More info here.

YouTube educator Mic the Vegan recently visited Maui to bust popular myths about veganism. In light of the recent propaganda push to justify cattle ranching and dairy farming on former Maui sugar lands, it’s a good time to view a couple of Mic’s videos, Ditching Veganism to Raise Grass-Fed Beef for the Environment and Grass-Fed Beef Debunked … Maui resident and actor Woody Harrelson is partnering with vegan chefs to produce a new vegan documentary series. … It’s great to see Carla Tracy’s roundup of Maui plant-based food news in Maui News.

Wildlife expert-professor-activist Dr. Liv Baker visited Maui recently to make the case for compassionate conservation.  Highlights of her talk are here in Talk Story.

“The Clear Case for Compassionate Conservation: Living in a world where all animals matter,” will be presented by Liv Baker, Ph.D., on Wednesday, March 13, 7 pm, at the J. Walter Cameron Center in Wailuku. Free admission and refreshments courtesy of Down to Earth.

Congratulations to Maui vegan Brian Goldthwaite for placing 2nd in his age group in his first marathon, the 11th Maui Oceanfront Marathon on January 20th.  Erin Pinto explains that “my superstar vegan husband just ran his first marathon and got 2nd for his age group!”

Kihei's only vegan food truck, Aloha Joy, has opened behind Azeka Mall in Central Kihei (1 Piikea Ave.). Aloha Joy features crepes with both a sweet and savory option, banana bread with chocolate chips, chocolate peanut butter cups, kombucha (original, ginger, and ginger + turmeric) and more. Dishes are 100% plant-based (no meat/animal products, no eggs, no dairy, no honey).

PROTECTION FOR MAUI FARMED ANIMALS SAVED: Sponsored by Maui Councilperson Yuki Lei Sugimura, HHT-43 would have removed shade law requirements for farmed animals.  Fortunately, this cruel measure was killed in late November, and everyone who voiced their opposition no doubt helped secure a positive outcome.

Thursday, November 1 is the deadline to register for the Vegan Spirituality Retreat. When:  Maui: Friday, November 30 (arrival) through Tuesday, December 4 (departure); Hawaii: Tuesday, December 4 (arrival) through Sunday, December 9 (Monday departure). 

Monday, October 1, 9 am - 12 noon: "Benefits of a Vegan Lifestyle with Kathy Ryan."  Film, Q&A, vegan cuisine.  $5 payable by September 17.  Kaunoa Senior Services, 401 Alakapa Pl, Paia (Spreckelsville), 270-7308.

Veg-Out Kihei is a brand new full-service commercial kitchen on wheels.  Veg-Out Kihei is parked on Pi’ikea Street in the lot behind Azeka Mauka.  Veg-Out Kihei offers a slightly smaller version of our Haiku menu.  Open every day  11 am -7:30 pm, rain or shine.  Choice Health Bar has opened a branch in Paia. 

Vegan Chef extraordinaire Ayako and Zen Island Kitchen will host a Japanese vegan dinner on August 4th at Consuelo’s in Paia.  The four-course dinner is described as organic vegan, GMO-free and served with lots of love, food unavailable at any Maui restaurant. Live music will be provided by Monkeys with Drums. Zen Island Kitchen draws its inspiration from healthy, traditional Japanese cooking methods and strived to bring forth an innovative cuisine without boundaries. The result is a deliciously unique creation not limited within the label of conventional Japanese food.  

Intrepid Travel has recently introduced an Italy tour that includes dinner in Venice’s first vegan restaurant and two nights in an all-vegan villa in Tuscany. Prices start at $2,610, pancetta not included. The adventure company also added vegan-focused tours to India and Thailand, where visitors can make a plant-based meal with a homestay host.