Mala Ocean Tavern Blog
Day Family Fundraiser | Live Music & Silent Auction
Our community comes together Saturday, January 29, 2022 for the Day Family Fundraiser | Live Music and Silent Auction at Mala Ocean Tavern.
Event Details:
Silent Auction 10:00 - 11:30p
Live Music - 10:00p - 12:00a featuring
Will Hartz and Solow Vella
3 Pounds of kalo
Current Participants & Donors:
Down The Hatch, Breakwall Shave Ice Co., Mala Ocean Tavern, Kohola Brewing Company, Kimo’s Maui, Esters Fair Prospect, Leilani’s, Duke's Beach House , Honu Oceanside, Jessica Stackpoole, Mahina, Hi Spice, Slight Detour, Cool Cats Cafe, Lahaina Lifestyle, Punakea Palms, Maui Gourmet Food, Lani Lace Lingerie, Pohaikealoha Kaikala Music, Da Playground, David Fincher, Tito’s Vodka, Herradura Tequila, Michael David Winery, UFO Parasail, Sea Maui, Ali’i Maui Outrigger Canoes, & More!
All Day Err Day Fundraiser:
We invite you to join us for the Day Family Fundraiser & Silent Auction, Saturday, January 29, 2022 at Māla Ocean Tavern. Emali Day is the wife to Dennis and the mother of their children Kona, Hina, & Asa. They are a close & humble family living on Maui. Emali is passionate about living a healthy lifestyle, and right before her 40th birthday she was diagnosed with breast cancer. As you can imagine, the news was devastating for the young family. Emali Day is a stay at home mother, who homeschools their children, lives by simple principles and high morals, and leads with love above all. As a community we are coming together to support Emali and her family.
After hearing of her diagnosis, processing, and diligently exploring her options, Emali realized she needed to listen to her intuition and follow the path for her in this journey. Emali saw several local specialists and was given a plan of action. Unfortunately, with Maui's limited resources she was offered a plan she wasn’t fully comfortable with. The offer; a 5-year “survival plan”, a plan to quickly get major surgery, and medication for the next 5-10 years. As eager as she was to get better and continue living life, there was no guarantee, and she has a lot more life to live.
Researching more options, with less invasive methods, the Day’s found facilities on the mainland that offer integrative healing protocols that aim for the root cause of imbalances in the body. The goal being to reverse all the disease in the body while also building immunity for the long haul. There are a number of natural treatments given, with IPT (a low dose chemotherapy delivered through insulin), being one that seems the direction to begin. IPT aims to attack the cancer directly without killing healthy cells at the same time. This is a 4 Week treatment which takes place at EuroMed in Arizona. that has been healing people for many years using proven integrative medical techniques. The idea is to get complete healing of her body so that she may live a long and healthy life watching her children and grandchildren grow. Insurance will not cover most, if any, of the treatment cost. Combined with travel expenses and loss of wages, it seems impossible to get there. But with the help of many loved ones and strangers, she has been able to go to EuroMed and the healing process on her own terms. All of Emali’s cancer markers are steadily dropping and the tumor is shrinking. But considering it took years to get to this place of dis-ease, her healing journey is not over yet.
The Day Family Fundraiser will raise funds to assist in covering medical costs, travel expenses, food, and loss of wages. Mahalo nui loa for taking time to read about Emali Day and her family, and supporting them all during her cancer treatment and healing journey.
Mahalo nui loa for being here. Please read Emali’s story from her husband's perspective:
Aloha,
My name is Dennis Day and I'm fundraising for my wife, Emali's, healing journey with breast cancer.
A few months ago Emali noticed a lump in her breast. She thought it might be a clogged duct as she'd just finished nursing our youngest child, Asa. It seemed normal because she had similar lumps after our other children, Kona and Hina, finished nursing. Many doctor and specialist appointments later, it was discovered she in fact had stage 2 breast cancer.
Since I've known Emali, she's always been a strong and independent woman. She was the first person in my life that was health conscious and explained it to me in lay terms. As far as I can remember she's lived a natural, tree-hugger type of lifestyle. When we were first dating she was seeking help from a naturopathic doctor concerning gut issues she had. So began the candida healing journey. After being diagnosed with candida there was only one solution that aligned with Emali and that was to heal with the power of the mind and eating a fully clean diet. For well over a year Em slowly healed herself from this disease. I've never witnessed anyone take control over their own health and mind as she did. It was hard and took tremendous amounts of discipline but she did it every day without complaint. I thought, "what an inspiration." It was at that moment I knew we would be together for the rest of our lives.
Years later we began having children and, yet again, I had the chance to witness the amazing power this woman possesses. Watching her have home-births for all 3 of our children put me in awe. She has always had this natural way of doing things that I never heard of prior to meeting her. We watch what we feed our kids; call us "mean parents" but there has always been very little sugar, almost no candy or soda, and home cooked meals. We even watch the type of toothpaste and deodorant we use to make sure there's no "bad stuff." We believe this is the right thing to do for our family and do them daily.
Em has made it a point to live our lives and not boast, brag or preach to others about what we do. She never wanted anyone to feel bad about themselves based on hearing how we live. This is just our life. Simple.
Her humility and grace has always been something I've admired but never talked about because, again, she just isn't like that.
We try to figure things out on our own in life, not because we don't need anything from anyone but rather to not burden anyone. As I write this I'm trying to ask for help in such a way that would make Emali proud and not put-off. With all the background about the natural living, there could only be one way for Em to take on cancer and that is as natural as possible. Truly trying to heal her body to prevent this thing from ever coming back.
Emali saw several local specialists and was given a plan of action. Unfortunately, with Maui's limited resources she wasn't offered a plan she felt fully comfortable with. They offer a 5-year survival plan and she has a lot more life to live. After a lot of research, we have found facilities on the mainland that offer integrative healing protocols that aim for the root cause of all imbalances in the body. This way, she can work to reverse all the disease in the body while also building her immunity for the long haul. There are a number of natural treatments given but also IPT (a low dose chemotherapy delivered through insulin). IPT aims to attack the cancer directly without killing her healthy cells at the same time. This is a 4 week treatment plan that has not been easy for her to accept. Not only does she homeschool our children but this is the longest time she will be away from the family.
The funds we hope to raise will cover medical costs, travel expenses, food, and possible loss of wages. Thoughts of loving kindness and positivity are always hoped for; at this daunting moment in her life, we ask for whatever you see fit to give.
Mahalo nui loa.
Dennis Day
Ua ola loko i ke aloha - love gives life within.
MALA Featured on Forbespeople.com
Mala Ocean Tavern has been making waves for 17 years on the culinary front on Maui, but now under new ownership and the direction of General Manager Rob Farrell and Executive Chef Alvin Savella, MALA is getting recognized by FORBES. Forbespeople.com has listed Mala Ocean Tavern as one of five businesses to watch in 2022.
Mala Ocean Tavern has been making waves for 17 years on the culinary front on Maui, but now under new ownership and the direction of General Manager Rob Farrell and Executive Chef Alvin Savella, MALA is getting recognized by FORBES. Forbespeople.com has listed Mala Ocean Tavern as one of five businesses to watch in 2022.
Mala Ocean Tavern established in 2004 in historic Lahaina town is a classic staple of the Maui food scene. Featuring the best oceanfront dining on Maui and overlooking the old Mala Wharf. Known for exceptional cuisine, the pacific rim and mediterranean inspired menu has been drawing locals and visitors of Maui for years, with focus on locally caught fish and incorporation of exotic ingredients. November 1 of 2018 the restaurant came under new ownership. The young new owners came with ambitions to bring MALA to the next generation, keeping the vintage charm and adding contemporary vibrancy. Bringing daily Brunch and incorporating new approaches on familiar dishes, they've established a modern vibe to the oceanfront eatery.
2019 the team was hitting a stride, and then 2020. As it did for many, COVID rocked the world of MALA's new owners, knowing that if they were not open for service they would not survive. During their closure the whole staff came together to give the older structure (once a pineapple weigh station) a little TLC. Indoor/Outdoor Dining returned on June 1, 2020 and the new owners wasted no time innovating to keep the doors open and to support the local community. During Covid, the team got creative inviting 'out of work chefs' from all over the island into the MALA Kitchen to cook for the locals "starved" for normalcy (All within Covid Guidelines and mandates). After several months and many exciting chefs, one chef stood out. After selling out three different tasting menus, the MALA owners decided to extend the Executive Chef position to Chef Alvin Savella. Savella, known as "The Kitchen Assassin" for his inventive and unexpected twists on flavor combinations, agreed to join the aspiring restaurateurs. Chef Savella is bringing a fresh perspective to the cuisine and his own unique flair, elevating the atmosphere at the classic Maui restaurant. Whether Bone Marrow with Pipikaula, Seafood Brodo, or Chef Alvin's spin on HuliHuli Chicken, the fusion of tastes for your pallet will erupt. Chef Alvin say's "Foods have to look good, taste good, and bring an element of surprise." Of course, the classics are there, because there is always something for each person to share in the aloha. However, big things are happening at this unassuming restaurant by the sea.
MALA means Garden and the experience of being in a garden near the ocean as you watch turtles (honu) splashing in the surf and see rainbows over the West Maui Mountain is one of a kind. This oceanside gem allows you to absorb into island living. With nearly two decades on Maui, the restaurant wants to continue to be where locals and guests of the beautiful island of Maui come together. Sharing in the aloha and offering an authentic experience for food, atmosphere, and service. The new MALA team has been able to raise the bar for dining on Maui's Westside. Priding themselves on creative culinary cocktails, perfectly executed dishes, education of the staff about food, wine, & spirits, along with outstanding customer service, MALA hits all the marks. Island living can always be a challenge to make things new, yet the community has embraced the fresh approach and welcomes the thoughtful changes that have been brought to the best oceanfront dining on the island of Maui, Mala Ocean Tavern.
ForbesPeople.com - Recognizing 5 Businesses We’re Keeping An Eye On in 2022.
COOKING HAWAIIAN STYLE WITH EXECUTIVE CHEF ALVIN SAVELLA ON MAUI!
Chef Alvin Savella is the Executive Chef for Mala Tavern, Down The Hatch, and Breakwall Shave Ice Co. was featured on an episode for the 2021 Season and we are so proud of him! Watch Chef Alvin, known as “The Kitchen Assassin”, on Cooking Hawaiian Style (above) with Host Lanai Tabura.
Cooking Hawaiian Style just finished shooting their 15th season on Maui and one episode features our Executive Chef Alvin Savella. This season was sponsored by Maui County Farm Bureau, location sponsor Kula Country Farms, and Aloha Air Cargo.
Follow @malatavern to find our more about what’s happening at our oceanfront eatery.
MALA website making news!
Mala Ocean Tavern launched our new website at the beginning of March 2021 and our design team, Menadena, was featured discussing the new site on Newswire. The site was an exciting achievement for our restaurant as we continue striving for improvements in all aspects of our business. With so many changes occurring through 2020, we wanted our site to be user friendly and functional for our wide variety of guests dining at our oceanfront establishment. The goal was to have simple navigation for booking reservations, easy accessibility to offer contactless menu options for diners, as well as highlight our award winning Chef Alvin Savella, among many other great aspects of the site. Everything we wanted was achieved, along with using our brand details to make the image appealing to the eye. We hope that you enjoy touring MalaTavern.com and are able to join us for an exceptional dining experience while you are in Lahaina, Maui.
Many mahalos to Menadena for helping our vision for this site be achieved. We also thank you Menadena for the previous work that they did on the site for our sister restaurants Down The Hatch and Breakwall Shave Ice Co. Their standards and level of professionalism are unparalleled.
Mahalos to our graphic designers, Diego & Maja, and our house Photographer RM Shutterworks for the imagery.
Happy Hour Lives on at Mala
Mala Ocean Tavern is a a sign of hope for tourists during tough times. The owners say they are here to serve locals as the restaurant continues to host musicians during their daily happy hour.
Mala Ocean Tavern is a a sign of hope for tourists during tough times. The owners say they are here to serve locals as the restaurant continues to host musicians during their daily happy hour.
Read the full article.