Chris Kendall The Raw Advantage – Maui Madness!

Im lapping up the fun n sun here in Maui, Hawaii! As I write this I am finishing off my 5th full day here. My trip here with my parents is set for 10 days so I figured I would split my blog into two 5 day jaunts and get as much in as possible 🙂

I hope you enjoy the video!

Todays video blog starts out with me leaving LA and heading on a plane to Maui! Once there the beautiful crystal clear ocean, a friendly gecko and a budding mango tree opens the scene. Its a pretty easy life here for a raw foodist, there are mango and banana tree’s growing in more than a few public areas n oodles of amazing local produce to purchase from many a market, grocer and farmer.

I was fortunate to get a hot tip from a member of 30bananasaday.com to visit Mana Market in Paia. It is located 10 minutes east of Kahului (the main airport in Maui) just off the highway on Baldwin Ave. Mana Maret features a wide array of pre made gourmet raw food including pate’s, wraps, salads, deserts ect. Although not my bag really, Gourmet raw food imho can be great for people during transition, special occasion, or if its their bag. Quite simply Raw gourmet introduces many people to the possibilities of raw food effectively getting their foot in the door to eat more whole ripe raw organic produce 🙂 The produce section is my candy store, mana impressed me much. I got to try 3 fruits I had never tried before (egg fruit, star apple, chico sapodilla) thanks to Ryan the produce manager who happens to be a 811  raw foodist (see “the 80/10/10 diet” By Dr Doug Graham) as I am. They had much too much to mention here, but all is unveiled in the video. On the way home I enjoyed a few discounted and ripe local organic Cavendish bananas from Mana. We stopped at my favorite local roadside organic fruit stand ( I will show in my next post)  for ripe  apple bananas and  ripe Williams bananas (larger than cavendish, or regular bananas, with a deeper sweeter flavor). Once home I enjoyed a lunch with my folks, while they had a wrap and a salad from Mana I had a bunch of delicious apple bananas, followed by 2 star apples and 2 egg fruits.

Apple bananas are some of my favorite bananas ever, they have a mellow banana taste with undertones of granny smith apples. Thin skinned and closer in size to baby bananas they are one of the main crops in Hawaii! They are usually best eaten when slightly soft and spotted like most bananas although Ive had some really ripe ones still be slightly green. Depending on the fruit sometimes a good indication of ripeness is when the skin started to slightly split. If you see them get them and get ready for a real treat! Better yet save up and come out to Hawaii one day to enjoy the best quality papayas, strawberry papayas, pineapples, banana’s, mangos egg fruits etc ever!

My first experience with Star apple, Taste reminiscent of cookies and cream or custard and pear. They are dark purple in color and when cut in half horizontally the inside has a noticeable star pattern not unlike persimmon. The flesh is juicy and medium firm, best eaten when the skin yields to slight pressure. The skin is not edible but apparently the seeds are, I simply enjoyed the inside and spit out the seeds. Ill be back for more 🙂

Oh my the Egg fruit! I didn’t make the connection at first but this fruit is also called Canistel. I have heard much more about it by that name, it is the richest of all sweet fresh fruits yielding 140 calories per 100 grams. Compare that to a banana at 80 calories per 100 grams. The skin and flesh is edible with a taste similar to hard boiled egg yolk/pumpkin pie filling/sweet potato. They are really sweet and delicious containing one large seed in the middle. A new favorite of mine I cant wait to get more. My mom fell in love with this one, if you ever see it pick a few up, wait till they are soft like a ripe avocado and enjoy!

My foot is starting to heal up well, still limping a bit but should be good to go soon. On the 4th day after the skate accident bruising appeared on the underside of my foot indicating deep bruising. I believe I may have hurt my ligaments which can take a bit of time but luckily I heal fast and have much to keep me busy without skating and other bouncing activities.

In the center of Lahaina near the ocean grows the biggest Banyan tree in Maui. It was planted in 1873, its foliage is near a city block in diameter with many branches growing down into the earth to root. These trees have a rich history in many religious writings and cultures. In Hinduism, the banyan tree is considered sacred and is called “Vat Vriksha.” God Shiva as Dakshinamurthy is nearly always depicted sitting in silence under the banyan with rishis at his feet. It is thought of as perfectly symbolizing eternal life due to its seemingly unending expansion. Also in Hindu culture, the banyan tree is also called Kalpavriksha meaning ‘wish fulfilling divine tree’. Buddha is believed to have achieved enlightenment in Bodhgaya in India while meditating under a banyan tree of the species Sacred Fig also  known as the Bodhi Tree. Banyans truthfully give off a radiating peaceful energy they are one of my favorite things about the Islands. I enjoyed a good hour meditating under the tree while my parents went shopping. Hey if it worked for the Buddha….. haha….  hey worth a try. I don’t believe there is any need to rush in this life, simple enjoyments 🙂

To finish the day I went with my parents to eat at Bubba Gumps Shrimp house. When we first got there I asked the server if they had any fresh fruit, as they didn’t they said it wouldn’t be a big deal if i brought in some of my own. Having come prepared I had already pre cut a whole pineapple and 2 local papaya’s and brought them with me in a plastic bag. I drank the juice from the mix and had a few chunks to start my meal as my folks had their drinks and ordered a large salad of mixed greens with tons of tomatoes and 1 avocado. Having ordered raw meals at all kinds of restaurants form all ethnicities, from asian to mexican to steakhouses, I always find if your courteous, patient and try to keep it simple (order exactly what you want instead of saying no this no that) a night out always goes well and is easy and enjoyable. When my salad came I simply dumped my fruit mix on top for a dressing, ate a bit to start and mixed it all together for the main course. It was really really really good, there need be no reason to be anxious nor embarrassed to go out and eat, its really all what you make of it. I actually enjoy going out showing how easy it is to eat raw out and sharing the lifestyle with anyone who asks questions.

Next weeks blog will continue here in Maui showing a few farmers markets, whale watching, a magic show and much more!

Watch out my full time live in raw lifestyle coaching with pro skateboarder Steve Berra is starting on the 20th, much excitingness with that!

till then enjoy much

As Always

Wishing You Much

PeaceLovenSeasonalFruit ck

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7 Comments

    1. 🙂 tis the way to go. I find near every time if you order a salad and ask if its ok to add some of oyur own fruit to it, as “Im on a Special Diet” it goes smooth as silk n make the meal amazing!

  1. if you are coming to Maui, lets play..
    were having a raw outrawgeous party with different chef each month showcasing their food for sale…
    if you want to join us, or simply spread the word,
    Maui Hot Yoga is pleased to meet you…Aloha!

    LAST FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH-Starting in August-

    Raw*Unity Come*unity community event-
    7pm Last Friday of every month

    Join us for the last Friday of every month where we will have a raw food potluck, each month showcasing a different Local Raw Chef,
    A wholistic health mall, where many local businesses will showcase their wares,
    a different 20 minute lecture about healthy living,
    And of course, a fantastic DJ with fun, positive dancing.

    Please share this information with whoever will be interested.

    The event is $3 if you bring a raw food dish to share, $5 without a dish & $10 if you want raw delectables from a local raw chef.

    Rent space for your booth its only $20 for a small table space.

    This month, August we have DJ Lior, Marah is offering Continuum dancing, and maybe YOU have something to share???

    Contact MG at 808-463-8811 to register your space….

    Be the LOVE…

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