It’s Officially Summer

It’s Officially Summer

Aloha Family & Friends
And just like that, summer is upon us. Yes, even folks who live on a tropical island look forward to the beginning of the season. Perhaps it’s social conditioning (or more likely the long holiday weekend) but we’re happy to report our Memorial Day weekend held true to form and was a beautiful day for golfing, beaching it and of course, the classic BBQ picnic with family and friends.

What added to the good-natured feel of this year’s celebration is the fact that some important first steps have been made in rebuilding our town. There’s good news for both homeowners and tenants, as well as small businesses.

We have seen a lot of progress in the few short months since the debris removal process began. As of late May, Lahaina now has 1092 lots cleared with more than half of them verified by the EPA. Twenty-eight commercial lots have also been cleared of debris, over fifty applications for building permits have been filed with the County of Maui and as of last week, the first officially approved permits were issued to rebuild single family homes.

To help expedite this process, we’ve also noticed additional community resources becoming more readily available. For example, groups such as 4LEAF are being contracted to help homeowners maneuver their way through the permit process and Hawaii Community Lending has announced it will open applications for the Lahaina Homeowner Recovery Program in July that will assist homeowners to prevent foreclosure and qualify for financing to rebuild.

For those in search of a home to rent, it was also announced that a waiting list will open next month for the Kaiāulu o Kūku′ia, an affordable apartment project located on Keawe St. in West Maui. The project will begin accepting applications at 9 a.m. on June 24; and a lottery will be held on Aug. 20 to determine the order in which applicants are processed for eligibility.

It’s a slow process, but it’s a relief to see the forward movement.

Of course, while there are a lot of encouraging developments, we’d be remiss to overlook the aspect of solemnity and true meaning of the holiday weekend. The most important reason to observe Memorial Day is to honor generations of service men and women who lost their lives to protect our shores. But of course, this year we had an extra layer of poignancy as we honor and remember the 101 lives lost on August 8, 2023. As we move forward in rebuilding, please know we will never forget those who were lost. May their memory serve as a beacon to help us rebuild in a way that is pono for all.

Aloha, Greg & Leah

Now that we’ve got our grills fired up for the summer, here’s a tropical twist on the classic burger recipe that’s sure to be a hit with your Ohana!

Hawaiian Burger with Grilled Pineapple

Instructions

Heat oven to 350°F. Grease bottom only of 15x10x1-inch baking pan; set aside.

1. Mix pork, bell pepper, onion and 2 tablespoons of the Rub in medium bowl until well blended. Shape into 4 patties. Refrigerate 30 minutes to allow flavors to blend. Sprinkle burger patties lightly on both sides with additional Rub.
2. Grill burgers over medium heat 4 to 6 minutes per side or until cooked through (internal temperature should reach 160ºF). Meanwhile, sprinkle pineapple rings lightly on both sides with Rub. Grill alongside pork 3 to 5 minutes, turning occasionally, until lightly charred. Toast rolls on grill, cut-side down, about 30 seconds.
3. Serve burgers on rolls with grilled pineapple and desired toppings and condiments.

Test Kitchen Tips:

• Great with toppings such as lettuce, sliced tomatoes, red onion, sliced avocado and white Cheddar cheese.
• For Hawaiian Burger Sliders, shape pork mixture into 8 patties. Grill over medium heat about 3 minutes per side or until cooked through (internal temperature of 160°F).
• Substitute ground beef or turkey in place of the pork. Prepare as directed, grilling until cooked through (internal temperature should reach 165°F for turkey).

Enjoy!

Hawaiian Burger with Grilled Pineapple Recipe McCormick Grill Mates