Maui's latest superstar, World Series- and Gold Glove-winning Shane Victorino, is having a busy homecoming.

He appeared at the Hawaii Winter Baseball League game on Oahu yesterday to throw out the first pitch and be honored by the fans. He has several other appearances to make, including at the grand opening of the full-service Hawaiian Island Creations surf shop at Lahaina Cannery Mall from 5 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday.

The store had a previous presence on Maui but had been absent until its recent renovation of the 2,652 square-foot space in the mall. The Lahaina HIC is No. 9 for the company, which also operates a ROXY brand store on Oahu.

“;The timing is about as good as it could possibly be,”; said Todd Vines, public relations and account manager for mall publicist Gilbert & Associates.

The “;Flyin' Hawaiian”; will start off at the mall's center stage at about 5 p.m. to say a few words and sign autographs. He will be escorted in to HIC, which will give the first 300 children an autographed picture.

Of the many appearances Victorino will make while at home, Vines said, “;it's such a unique opportunity for the kids to come out and meet (him) ... We feel very fortunate to be a part of it.”;

More Mavro

George Mavrothalassitis is just about always ebullient, but was even more so on Friday, as he prepared to receive the first AAA Five Diamond Award for a stand-alone restaurant in Hawaii.

His eponymous Chef Mavro at King Street and McCully previously had been a Four Diamond-winner.

His wife and publicist Donna Jung, president of Donna Jung & Associates, was ecstatic as well, as one might expect.

“;Oh my gosh, it's just such huge news, not just for chef, but for everybody who works there,”; she said.

The Marseille-raised chef is in some heady culinary company, as reported yesterday, but does he watch “;Hell's Kitchen”; or “;Kitchen Nightmares”; starring Michelin-starred chef Gordon Ramsay? Maybe other food shows?

He does not.

“;I don't watch that kind of thing on TV,”; he said. “;Nothing against the food channel, or whatever show,”; he said.

He knows it makes his profession more popular in the eyes of the public and he sees that as a good thing.

“;I agree that families, people understand a little bit better what is going on”; at restaurants and in the kitchens.

That hot, high-pressure, often obscenity-laced work environment seen in TV reality shows does not reflect every restaurant kitchen.

Nevertheless, “;It's never easy and it is a lot of sacrifice and it is quite difficult ... I spend my life in the kitchen. Why would I want to (turn on the TV) and look at one more kitchen?”; he laughed.