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Published: April 14th 2009
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Big beach
Pretty quiet that morning. We booked our trip to Maui on a firgid, snowy day in January. I needed something to look forward to and keep me sane through the rest of the inteminably long Chicago winter. The wait was well worth it. Jonh and I have only been here for 2 days and have decided we will definitely return. So far it is my favorite of the Hawaiian islands. Maui's vibe is middle point between cosmopolitan Oahu and provincial Kuai. In terms of stunning scenery and activities though, it is second to none (that's a tall order in this part of the world).
We arrived late Sunday and checked in at the Maui Sunseeker a charming and conveniently located bed and breakfast in Kihei. Though far from luxe it was clean and the staff were friendly and helpful. The town is on south coast not the most glamorous or picturesque part of Maui (lots of strip malls and condos) but centrally located, an easy drive to most blocl buster sights.
The following day we woke up really early (Chicago being 5 hours ahead) and had breakfast at Kihei Cafe famous for their cinnamon rolls and higly recommended by Lonely Planet. Then it was off
Opting for clothing
on the way to little beach. to Big beach, supposedly "the beach" on the island. With its wide and long stretch of golden sand and undeveloped charm (no shower/ toilets and no resorts), it was the perfect beach to work on our tan lines. For people who do not want tan lines, it's a short hike over a hill to Little beach. Being secluded from the road, it is the designated nude beach. The views (of the ocean and neighboring islands, among other things) on this beach kept us occupied for a couple of hours. There is also decent snorkelling on both ends of the cove.
For that afternoo we had planned and booked an afternoon whale watching trip through the Pacific Whale Foundation however when we got there we were told sunset whale watching was only scheduled on Wednesdays. That was not what the web site said. We rescheduled for the following day.
A change in plans led us to Lahaina. Which depending on your travel philosophy could be the best or worst town on the island. Rich in historical points of interest from its days as a whaling port and as a capital of Hawaii, it fits the labels "charming and cute" perfectly. Unfortunately
all this charm and cuteness bring with it tiki-tacky souvenir/ t-shirt shops and anachronistic chain stores and restaurants ( Hard Rock Cafe, Cold Stone Creamery, Chicago pizza). For dinner we walked a mile from the main drag to Aloha Mixed Plate. A bargain for the great food and million dollar view of the harbor and the sunset. John developed a taste for Lau Lau pork(slow cooked pork wrapped in taro) and even poi.
Tuesday was another early start. We booked a 7:00 am ( I know what you're thinkng... we're supposed to be on vacation) snorkelling cruise to Molokini Crater, again with the Pacific Whale Foundation. Reputedly Molokini is the premier snorkelling spot in Maui. It's the remnant of a volcano that blew its top long ago so only a cresent shapped portion remains. Visibility is more than 80 feet, year round. Unfortunately the wind gods were not smilling on us and the oceans swells were too trecherous. The Captain and crew made the most of it by diverting us to the west coast reefs. We saw a few turtles, the coral appeared healthy and the fish, while not plentiful were varied and colorful. Perhaps sensing some passengers disappointment the
crew and captain decided to turn the snorkelling trip to a whale watching experience. The humpback whales come to Maui from December to April to breed and nurse their young. Though were are on the tail end we saw at least 5 whales from afar and a whale calf a little closer. What a spectacular sight. Now I can relate to why people get so excited seeing these gargantuan yet very graceful mammals.
In the afternoon we checked out Iao valley park. Site of the Iao "needle" a green, phallic, pinnacle that juts up to about 2000 ft. The setting was so lush, so green and with the gurgling stream and other worldly beauty of the needle you almost half expect fairies to appear. Just outside the park was a quaint lilttle park dedicated to Maui's different ethnic groups. There was a Japanese garden, Chinese and Korean pavilion, Portuguese house and a Filipino bahay kubo (hut). There was even a bust of Jose Rizal (Philippine national hero). We thought what a fun park this must be for a picnics. Imagine all the aroma from the the varied cuisines of these cultures.
Tomorrow we hit the road to Hana which everyone
here raves and all the guide books rave about. Will post more on that later.
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maureen
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jealous!
i'm so jealous! never been to hawaii (well, i have if u include flight stop-overs!). the pics remind me of punta cana some.