Hawaiian Trivia
You know that "hang loose" wave that Hawaiians do with their thumb and little finger raised, and their middle fingers curled under? That got started by a plantation worker, who patrolled the slow-moving sugar cane train to keep the boys off of it. He'd lost his middle fingers and would shoo them away with his hand. The boys began mimicking that hand to silently warn one another that he was on the patrol. It caught on as a way to say "hang loose."
Maui Sunset 10-6-10
Maui Sunset 10-7-10
Maui Sunset 10-8-10
Maui Sunset 10-9-10
Maui sunset 10-10-10
Maui sunset 10-11-10
Maui sunset 10-12-10
Maui
sunset 10-13-10
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7
Day 8: October 13, 2010 - Turtles and Friends
The best
part about coming to Maui isn't the sun, the scenery, the beaches or the
ocean. It's the people you meet who love sun, scenery, beaches and ocean,
and have the Aloha spirit. Not just locals, though they're great, but
the people who choose to call Maui home as often as 
they
can, whether through timeshare, owning a condo, home, or simply vacationing
there as often as possible.
The condo complex I usually stay at is right on the beach. Each evening at sunset the residents (some owners, some guests) meet at the pool at sunset to share our awe at Mother nature, Maui, and our own dumb luck to be in such a wondrous place. We meet, we chat, we compare notes, we share our love of Maui and this place, we swap recipes and jokes and stories. I love the people I've met here. I've traveled here twice by myself but I've never felt alone because of the warm hospitality that has always greeted me.
Today we said goodbye to Ryon and Sue, who are flying back home.
It was a gorgeous last day here. We fly out tomorrow.
The sun was
glorious and promised a beautiful sunset later (it was our best one yet!).
I sat poolside, 
watching
the surf, and enjoying the turtles (1
2)playing in the surf nearby.
Here's a bird I saw at the pool.
Then Kathy and I went into Lahaina lunch at Lahaina Coolers, and last-minute souvenir shopping.
Later we made a left-over dinner back at the condo. Mai tais by the pool, conversation with our new friends. The glorious sunset. Life is good in Maui. Life is good, period.
Day 7: October 12, 2010: Sun, Hiking, Vistas, and a Show!
Today
I started with a soak in the sun (stealth photographer Kathy took this
one from our second-floor balcony!), and had two business phone calls
while I watched a sea turtle play in the waves right in front of me! I
guess if you have to do business on vacation, doing business right by
the ocean with the sound of the waves, the feel of sun on your skin, and
the sight of a playful turtle, it's not so bad! Technology is great.
Then we went for a drive along Highway 30 to the spectactular vistas of the west coast. Nothing beats them for beauty and diversity in all of Maui.
Vista 1 Vista 2 Vista 3 Vista 4 Vista 5
We hiked to Mushroom Rock (here's a view from above) and here's Kathy at Mushroom Rock.
Then Kathy
wanted to wait in the shade so I hiked down
to where I saw a tidepool with fingerling fish in it. They skitted about
before I could get their photos. I got some gorgeous shots of the surf
and rocks. We saw
some beautiful mountain flowers,
and a cove with a boat. 
Tonight we are catching the Warren & Annabelle show, a magic and comedy show. I've seen it before, but it changes all the time, including the stars. Don't know who it will be tonight. Should be fun. But ... we may miss the sunset! The appetizers/drinks start at 5; show ends at 9, so unless we can sneak out ...
Snuck out. Here's the sunset photo. And here's Warren. You can't see Annabelle, because she's a ghost.
Day 6: October 11, 2010: Coffee, Rainbows, Sailboats and Sunsets
Hard
not to feel a catch in my throat as the days spent in Maui outnumber the
days yet to spend in Maui this trip. We leave in 3 days (!) and I am as
in love with this place as ever. Maui is in my soul.
Today we had breakfast at the condo then went for a brisk walk. We got caught in the rain. But then ... we caught a beautiful rainbow!
I had some business to take care of that involved printing, signing, scanning and emailing, so I went to my old standby: Westside Copy & Graphics in Honokawai. The owner there, Sharon, is trying to sell the place, but can't find a buyer (or perhaps wants too much given the revenue it produces).
We had lunch at the Aloha Mixed Plate (kahlua pig for me with brown rice, mahi mahi and french fries for sis). Then we toured the coffee plantation near the Sugar Train. The best I can say for that tour: it was free.
I soaked up some sun, reading my current book: Autobiography of a Yogi, then I made Mai tais (cheers!) and we caught the sunset. Kathy got a gorgeous photo of a saiboat just as it coasted in front of the setting sun: it looks like the sails are on fire!
So it was another relaxing, gorgeous day in paradise. I feel very blessed. (And ... Mom misses you, Max & Sam!)
Day 5: October 10, 2010: 10-10-10!!!
What a red-letter
day this is! 10-10-10. Many, many couples got married today, including
my friend, Debbie Burns, and her husband Mike (congratulations!)
Today was our first day of poor weather in Maui: rainy, muggy, cloudy, the works. We found a lovely organic food store nearby then Kathy and I went to a bookstore, then a Maui Arts & Crafts fair, then a bit of a walk.
We also toured a condo for sale in Honokawai, near where we're staying. 2BR, 2BA, 1100SF, for $600K. Full ocean-front view. Not been updated in ages, but still ... it's an amazing deal compared to a few years ago.
Tonight
was the weekly pupu party (appetizers and cocktails) at the condos. We
met the whole Aussie crowd again, as well as the darling Ryon and mom
Sue. Ryon and Sue saw 13 weddings today at Kapalua Beach! (This owing
to the 10-10-10 phenomenon.)
For the pupu party I made my Mai tais and jalapeno poppers; both were hits. We will need to shop for more Mai tai ingredients tomorrow!
The sunset was gorgeous again, stunning! Never the same one twice. Earlier we saw a guy "walking on water" (enjoying the surf on a rock).
All in all it was a restful, wonderful day in paradise.
Day 4: October 9, 2010: Hiking at Sunrise
The other day Kathy threw out a perfectly good pot of coffee before I'd had my second cup. I was really looking forward to that second cup. How did I retaliate? I woke her at 4:20 this morning for a 5-mile hike in 46-degree weather. She wore a tank top and skirt. :)
It
all started the night before when I was flipping through the Maui Revealed
guide book. When I read that you could hike through a Redwood forest
on Maui, I had to see for myself. Kathy agreed. I did mention the 6,000
foot elevation, and the Northern California climate, but she might not
have been listening. Or maybe she was asleep by then. Oh well. It started
from Highway 37 in Kahalui, a 45-minute drive from Honokawai, where we
are staying. At some point I asked her where her jacket was. She'd not
brought one. Hmm... 6,000 foot elevation, before sunrise ... tank top.
Oops. Fortunately strong women run in my family. She would be fine,
she assured me.
Then came the drive from Hwy 37 to 377, and then 10 miles on Waipoli Road. The first 6 miles are paved and look like a bike path. The last 4 miles are unpaved, deeply rutted, and look like a trail. At one point she suggested we just park the Jeep and walk the road. Nothing doing, sister girl. The vistas along the way were amazing. We saw:
Gorgeous
cloud formations 1 2
3
Dark
trees with interesting cones outlined against the sunrise 2
cone
Molokini (the crescent shaped atoll in the middle/right of this
photo)
When we arrived at the Poli Poli Park (which I have now secretly renamed Roli Poli Park), we parked our rig in the small lot near a broken down car: windows smashed in. We left nothing of value and left the Jeep unlocked. We were on the trail before 7 a.m. Shortly after joining the trail we saw a ranger cabin, which a man and his son came out of, and said hello. Then the man (we're assuming the ranger) asked us if we knew the temperature. "Freezing," we guessed. There was frost on the ground. "Close," he said, "46 degrees." Brrrrr.
Kathy kept a solid march on, and the scenery blew past me in a blur. I rode a wooden rhinoceros for part of the time (a fallen tree that looked exactly like a sleeping rhino.)
The guide book said a 1,000 foot descent then a "gentle" ascent making up that 1,000 feet. Nothing gentle about it, folks. Tree roots everwhere, steep and frequently muddy terrain. We saw signs of cattle, deer, horses and human, but we met no one else and nothing else along the trail.
It wasn't the most scenic of hikes, but it was surreal hiking through Redwoods on Maui. The Civilian Conservations Corps reforested this area when it was destroyed by cattle, planting redwood, sugi, cedar and many other types of trees, even though they were not native to Hawaii. The trees flourished. Everything flourishes in Maui.
On the drive back we were fortunate enough to catch some parasailers jumping from a cliff. My camera was out of batteries and Kathy's started taking all white photos for some reason, so we can't show it to you. It was amazing tho. We were just 100 feet from him when one sailer took off ran down a hill, caught the wind and lifted into the air.
When we returned, I took a short nap while Kathy read. Then: sunning at the pool, Mai tais, and ... the day is still young (that happens when you get up two hours before the sun). But, then, when you have 3 of my Mai tais (to my one!) and you've not had a nap, you might just miss the sunset.
While Kathy was catching her zzzs I joined a rowdy group of Aussies at the pool, who were sitting in the moonlight reminiscing over old times. They are here for the 40-year reunion of flat sharing in Sydney. The men had girlfriends who stayed with them in this very exclusive area of Sydney; they all shared a flat in half a mansion. Six men, six girlfriends, and 40 years later they're all still happily married! Only one couple couldn't make it to the reunion: they are expecting their second grandchild to be born at any moment.
They offered me a glass of wine, and regaled me with stories of parties, the police being called when the richest man in Australia phoned to complain of the noise, and the roommate who answered the phone said, "If you won't tell me who you are, you can just F--K off." Within 5 minutes, uniformed officers were at the door. I also heard two very off-color jokes, (Mongolian V.D. and the Arab in the hospital) which I can't share here (you'll just have to ask me!) They were warm, lovely and loving people, and I look forward to seeing them all again tomorrow night at the pupu party, poolside.
What initially drew me outside, besides their laughter, was the moon. It's gorgeous. (I tried to get a photo, but without a flash it came out blurry and with a flash it disappears.) I had heard an Australian accent and thought that it was Michael, who we'd met a couple of nights ago, an Aussie who wanted my Mai tai recipe. I ended up sitting by "Michael" but it was a different Michael! Two Michaels from Australia, at the same condo complex in Maui. Too weird!
Kathy and I may be the youngest people staying here at the condos, but I feel steeped in rich history and warmth. She is still sleeping and probably will be until morning. :)
Day 3: October 8, 2010: Shopping, Dining, Ukulele Woes
We drove
to Lahaina and shopped our debit cards off. Souvenirs, more Maui hats
(they are darling, you have to agree!),
sarongs,
jewelry, yadda yadda. We even got a smokin' deal on some beautiful fresh
plumeria leis: $5! It's
fun to shop with my sis: we don't get to do that much! We stopped at Cheeseburgers
in Paradise for the Early Bird special, and then, after we'd shopped til
we dropped, lunched at Captain Jack's (near the Banyan tree if you're
going) for what have been billed by fellow condo resident Michael, an
Aussie, as "the best burgers in Maui." He was right: they were
mo bettah! Sistah had clam chowder ... boring!
Before
I left the mainland I bought a nice ukulele and took a lesson and planned
on practicing while here. But at the last minute I threw my son's dime
store ukulele in instead of mine. That way, I could practice on something
that didn't matter much whether it got broken (he's never played it or
shown an interest). While tuning it, tho, I broke a string, and because
they're so inexpensive, it was cheaper to buy a new one than restring
it. I bought one for under $10 but when i went to tune it, I found that
the strings didn't stay tuned: they slipped. It's now history. So I may
not be able to practice again until I return. What will I find to do here???
:)
Well,
yesterday we "stayed" at the Ritz-Carlton (looking for Dragon's
Teeth). Today we "stayed" at the Westin - appetizers and cocktails
at the Tropica oceanside restaurant. Sistah enjoyed wine at the condo
before we left, so Yvonne drove. When
we arrived, we left our car with the valet and walked
through the tropical setting of the Westin. We saw waterfalls, and
a pond with flamingos.
Then we sat among the palm trees and tiki
torches sipping our cocktails and watching the sun
come down over Lanai. OK ... I guess I don't really need to
practice ukulele while here!
Day 2: October 7, 2010: Orbs, Cliff Divers, Dragon's Teeth
Today
we took a nice long walk to a coffee shop for breakfast. Did some shopping
(I bought a new Maui hat -- mine was lost a while back off an amusement
park ride -- and T-shirts for the boys), and I took in some sun while
Kathy read. I had read about these cool rock formations called Dragon's
Teeth nearby (at Makalua-puna Point) 
so
we drove out there and walked
right past them, apparently. We explored
for nearly a half hour, met a young couple who'd never heard of the Dragon's
Teeth, and saw a honeymoon couple diving
off a rock into the ocean (you're welcome, men for the thong picture).
We saw some beautiful tortoises (couldn't get a good shot, sorry!), and
finally found the Dragon's Teeth when we'd just about given up.
They were right at the front to the lava field. Two
of the photos I took of them looked like they had numerous orbs.
The lava field is accessed by a green lawn and golf course owned by Ritz
Carlton. At that site are buried 2000 ancient Hawaiians. The Ritz intially
removed 900 remains before public outcry grew too loud to ignore. They
eventually re-interred the bones in 1990, and relocated the hotel further
back (it was initially designed to be an oceanfront hotel). Turns out
the "orbs" were a problem with my camera! I may have orbs my
whole trip. :) See that pic of Kathy and I above? See the sailboat in
the background? Here is a
better pic of it Kathy took. Gorgeous!
Day 1: October 6, 2010: Geckos, Mai Tais, and Planning Ahead
The plane
ride here went very fast, for a 5-hr plane ride. We made the mistake of
not ordering a rental car in advance and ended up paying haole walk-up
prices: ouch! But after a trip to Costco for supplies (mostly of the rum
and wine variety) and the local grocery store, we settled into our condo.
Valerie, the manager, is a doll, and knows me from several previous visits. She greeted me with a warm Aloha hug, always a great start to any vacation!
Then we had dinner: salmon and broccoli cooked in our condo washed down with a little pinot gris (Willamette Valley, of course!)
We saw a gecko on our walk to the pool. It graciously posed for a shot, then took off like a rocket when the camera flashed.
Cocktails pool side (that's my sis, Kathy, with one of my killer mai tais). Does it get any better than this?