Maui Time Food & Drink

Best Barbecuing Beach, Winner
Kamaole III
Okay, you're right! What's not to love about Kam III? There's lots of grass, BBQ stuff, sand, surf and lifeguards. Literally, it's the kind of place that you can spend all day at. But what do you want me to say? You knew that already. How about I tell you about the time that I almost drowned after getting sucked out by the mean undertow or how I always get stung/bitten by little organisms in the water? You knew that too? And we still love Kam III? Okay.

Best Barbecuing Beach, Runner up
Launiupoko

Best Beach To Look At Beautiful People, Winner
Ka‘anapali Beach
When people come to Maui, they aren't just taking in the tropical sunsets, martinis and time to relax— they're taking in all the beautiful people too! Maui Time readers voted Kaanapali one of the best beaches to look at beautiful people and that is no lie. The white sand highlights the golden glows on fabulously toned bodies, along with that extra sparkle from the sea. People-watching is fun, we can all admit that, but watching beautiful people basking in the golden sun is priceless.

Best Beach To Look At Beautiful People, Runner up
Baldwin Beach

Best Buddha EDIT PICK, Winner
Lahaina Jodo Mission
Address: 12 Ala Moana St., Lahaina, HI 96761
Phone: 808-661-4304
Fax: 808-661-0939
Website: http://tinyurl.com/6ym6nd
The truth is, when it comes to Buddhas, size shouldn't really matter. I think it's cool, though, that Maui's got the biggest Buddha outside Japan. It makes bustling, crowded Lahaina just a little bit Zen. The 12-foot tall copper and bronze statue weights in at over three tons and was built in 1968 to honor 100 years of Japanese immigration to Hawaii.

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Best Haunted Place EDIT PICK, Winner
Best Haunted Place
I know. Sounds cheesy and generic at first and I've never been overly creeped out by Iao Valley, but hear me out. There's this tree in the Valley that if you butt the front bumper of your car against it and shift into neutral, your car will roll backward. Not impressed? Your car will roll backward UPHILL. Yeah, it's true. I have a friend that's tried it and he said that the car got going to 20 miles per hour. That's just not right. Plus, he's a highly reputable dude. You're gonna have to trust me on that.

Best Hotel/Resort, Winner
Four Seasons Resort
Address: 3900 Wailea Alanui Dr., Wailea, HI 96753
Phone: 808-874-8000
Website: http://www.fourseasons.com/maui
Voted as the Best Hotel/Resort on Maui, Four Seasons is the place to stay! Experience the aloha of Maui in one of the island's most spacious guest rooms, completely renovated and upgraded with the finest amenities. Envision the driest, sunniest weather with the Pacific waves rolling onto a white sand beach. Picture the perfect place to snorkel, scuba dive and whale watch and then go rejuvenate and relax at one of the best spas in America. Go here for a tropical getaway and a good time.

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Best Hotel/Resort, Runner up
Fairmont Kea Lani
Address: 4100 Wailea Alanui Dr., Wailea, HI 96753
Phone: 808-840-8402
Website: http://tinyurl.com/58wtja

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Best Island Activity, Winner
Hiking
This is hilarious to me. Out of all the "activities" like wakeboarding, surfing, parasailing, paragliding, snorkeling, horseback riding, scuba diving and harvesting you guys choose "hiking" and as a runner-up "Whale Day"? Not that those two things aren't great. I used to love hiking before I got really lazy and sloth-like and Whale Day was all kinds of big and fun, it's just that…I don't know. I'll shut up now and admit that I must have no idea what I'm talking about because you, dear reader, are never wrong. For this one issue and then we're back to normal.

Best Island Activity, Runner up
Whale Day

Best Ocean Activity, Winner
Surfing
The sport of Hawaiian kings still reigns supreme over all others in Maui. Every day surfers paddle out with longboards and shortboards, with one fin or three, in search of the perfect ride. Whether you're an expert or a beginner, a grommet or old-timer, we know that you readers love surfing above all other water sports. And why shouldn't you? It's not just anywhere that a person can live simply for the perfect wave.

Best Ocean Activity, Runner up
Snorkeling

Best Place To Get Your Pole On EDIT PICK, Winner
Studio Butterfly
Phone: 808-870-8868
Website: http://www.studiobutterflymaui.com
Those of you that have kept up with my column have heard all about the rise and fall of "The Pole" in my living room. Yes, I love pole dancing and all of the hot mamas that come with it. I first got my start on the pole at Studio Butterfly and will stand by the statement that Studio B is the best place to learn the art. Carmen Ferri is awesome. And fit. And hot. And cute. And pretty damn good on the pole. She'll have you doing all kinds of crazy moves in nothing but your heels and hot pants in a heartbeat. Wine may or may not be involved.

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Best Public Pool, Winner
Kihei Aquatic Center
Address: 303 E. Lipoa St., Kihei, HI 96753
Phone: 808-874-8137
Website: http://tinyurl.com/63wewg
It's big, it's clean, and it's open kind of a lot. There's not much more that you could ask from a public pool. I have always had a fantastic time whenever I've swum there. I'm not sure what it is that really sets it apart from the other pools out there. Maybe it's just that Kihei is so damn hot? Think that's what makes it seem so extra wonderful? I mean, I live upcountry and while the pool is pretty nice, there's not many days I feel like swimming unless it's a freak-of-nature day and scorching hot. Who knows? What we do know is that for whatever reason, the Kihei pool rocks!

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Best Public Pool, Runner up
Lahaina Aquatic Center
Address: 245 Shaw St., Lahaina, HI 96761
Phone: 808-661-7611
Website: http://tinyurl.com/5ew6a4

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Best Snorkeling Spot, Winner
Black Rock
It's hard to say which side of Black Rock is better for snorkeling, the south or the north. On the north side there's lots more coral and cute little fishes to chase around while you're trying to avoid getting pummeled into the sharp rocks by big waves. The more sheltered south side, however, has an ample enough supply of sea life and the exhilarating possibility of getting jumped on by a cliff diver. Tough call.

Best Snorkeling Spot, Runner up
Honolua Bay

Best Stoplight To Apply Mascara EDIT PICK, Winner
Launiupoko
If you've ever tried to make a left onto the highway from Lauiniopoko Beach Park and been stuck behind this agonizingly long stoplight you probably know where I'm coming from with this one. Once while waiting for this light to change I managed to comb the salt-water tangles out of my hair, apply mascara and write a really long text message, and I still had time to spare. Another time I completely emptied out my purse, organized the contents by frequency of use and slowly, methodically replaced it all.

Best Swimming Beach, Winner
Big Beach
Swimming at Big Beach is like a bad relationship—you think that if you can just get past the break, you'll be fine. The water at Big Beach is calm and placid…on a flat day. Other days you'll experience the awesome force of Big Beach's spectacular shore break. On those days Big Beach is ideal for bodyboarding, skimboarding and even bodysurfing. But there will always be those among us who persist in swimming at a beach that is no longer hospitable. They'll insist that if only they could get past the immense shore break—with its gigantic waves that threaten to suck you in, the whirling ominous, dark clouds of sand, the walls of water that threaten to crush you with sheer force—they'll be back in waters that are calm, cool and refreshing. And for a time, they will be. This is, of course, before they realize they have to swim back to shore.

Best Swimming Beach, Runner up
Keawekapu Beach

Best Way To Get Back In The Action After A Break Up EDIT PICK, Winner
Speed Dating @ Wow Wee Maui Kava Bar & Grill
Address: 333 Dairy Rd., Ste. 101, Kahului, HI 96732
Phone: 808-871-1414
If you can manage not to bring up your ex, his annoying habits or his idiot friends on a three minute first date you are well on your way to recovery after a big breakup. It's good practice for the full-length date you might get if you click with someone over half a cocktail. If you don't know what else to talk about besides that lazy, lying mama's boy, Wow Wee will supply you with a list of sexy and fun questions that won't give away how desperate you are to hook up with someone before he does.

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Best Way To See Humpback Whales EDIT PICK, Winner
Canoe or Kayak
Sure, it's fun to pack onto a boat with about 30 of your closest friends and ooooh and awwww in unison when a whale breaches close by, but no whale-watching cruise compares to paddling yourself out to the whales in a tiny one- or two-person craft. It's really quite simple: after launching from shore, just steer for splashes. Sure, you might have to go a mile offshore, but when you get there, and all you hear in the world is the sound of air rushing through a blowhole or a fluke slapping the water, you'll know why you made all that effort. Just don't get too close—even though you're small, the whales have the right of way.