✈️ From here to eternity! London-Maui (and a day and Luggage lost in between)

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Aloha family and friends! After roughly 28 hours total travelling we feel like we have travelled to the ends of the earth, but finally we are here in Hawaii.

We checked in ok at Heathrow, and lucky for us, sorted all our baggage labels in London so we didn't have to check in each time on the stopovers. Daryl was asleep before the plane even taxied to the runway, and we managed to have a nice flight to our first stop in Chicago. Immigration here was a nightmare, and with less than 2 hours to our connection to LA it was pushing it. We used the automated machines for photos fingerprints etc only to queue up to have it all done again at the desk. Daryl was ahead of me and gave me a wave as he made his way to the luggage reclaim (or so I thought). After my passport etc was checked I went to meet Daryl, only no sign of him, so I collected our bags and waited with the trolley, and waited and waited (you get the picture) initially I thought he'd gone to the bathroom, but after waiting ages, I knew even he wouldn't literally take the p for this long!

Finally he emerged saying he'd be lead off to another room for questioning (thankfully it didn't involve a latex glove) but to cut a long story (and a boring argument) short, we made our connecting flight for the final call. On arriving at LA, it was literally straight on the next plane to Maui. Thankfully this one had more legroom and when the seatbelt signs were switched off I found an empty row, leaving Daryl with an empty row and we both had about 4 hours sleep.

Maui airport was lovely and chilled, and we were greeted by hula dancing and ukeleles. We walked across to the Starbucks to get a tea whilst we waited for our bags. Despite the inviting menu of iced teas we plumped for a good old fashioned teabag and milk (the man stared at us in disbelief saying Tea? You want hot tea? Erm, yes, we're British)

Still no sign of our bags so we went to the desk to find out more. I knew it was bad news when she asked where we were staying and if we had a contact number. Our bags were still in LA and would be with us at 6 tomorrow morning, but the desk doesn't open until 10, so maybe we'd have them by 12 midday, eeeekkkk. We had toothbrushes and a few bits of wash kit in our hand luggage, and with nothing more to be done, headed for home for the next week: Banana Bungalow Maui Hostel.

When we were first debating on where to stay, this hostel had loads of amazing and the occasional rubbish reviews, but it was the free day trips that sold it for us. So far so good and I'm glad to say, and they even gave us towels to use. The guy who checked us in was really nice and helpful, saying we don't have to pay until tomorrow and to check the room to make sure we were happy. We booked a private double room rather than a mixed dorm and yes it is basic but fine for what we need i.e. a bed and a fan and space to put clothes and bags etc (and a lovely painted surfboard on the wall.) I'm glad to say it was clean and the bathroom was fine (lovely shower) and so far the place seems nice enough (free wifi and free pancakes for breakfast, washing machines and a decent kitchen area, pool table, hot tub) and best of all, still spaces on tomorrow's trip to Iao Valley. We put our names down, and depending on the luggage situation, will see how it goes in the morning. Currently we are approx 11 hours behind the UK, so Daryl is fast asleep and I am wide awake, hence the update on here. I'm looking forward to the day trips around Maui in the next few coming days, before we fly to Honolulu for more Volcanoes, Pearl Harbour and the famous beaches we've been told about. Keep Calm and Hula on!

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