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Becky
"We're Going to Hawaii!"Whoopee! We are finally on our way. Becky turns and looks at me with a giggle and a grin "We're going to Hawaii!" Like i didn't know that. But i laughed and said "Yes, at last we are." After a 5 hour flight we landed without incident. I'd like to pause a second to thank the kind and generous flight attendant who moved us to 4 empty seats so that i could accomodate my particular needs, have more leg room, and eventaully take a nap. I was very grateful for the preferential treatment.
Through security, down this ramp, and around that bend we, and other groups of travellers, were all finally spit out into bright sunshine and very blue skies with white puffy clouds. Humid air wrapped around me immediately and though not uncomfortably hot, it was not comfortably cool either. A little breeze made it alll nice though and we looked around our location with great interest to get a sneak peak at maui's beauty. Not much is usually appareant from an airport parking lot, but i was hopeful.
We went in search of our rental car which was at the furthest corner of the parking lot. There
Lettie
(Jamm'n to Hawaiian Tunes) "Yes, I know.
we found our little, and cute!, PT Cruiser convertable. Alright! This was going to be fun.
We had to check in with the rental car agency and while there had our car spiffed up a little. It had sand in all the crevices and stains on the seats. Items left in the car. Not the usual rental car experience i've had in the past, but thought that well, they say everything is casual here so i might as well get used to it.
We are starving and ask where we might find local cuisine. I was eager to try Hawaiian food. We were sent to "Da Kitchen" only a few blocks away. But the directions they gave is - "Oh, it's just over there." Go this way and around the backside and it's right there. So is 50 other buildings and streets. We did find it. Becky, i swear has a nose for direction and finding places similar to a hounddog.
Steppng inside it is obvious the noise of happy conversations. Bob Marley's playing, colors are bright and activity is everywhere as waitresses bustle by. We are seated immeidatlely and a smiling and friendly food server explains the
Fun on Wheels
Our Rental Car: PT Cruiser Convertable menu and specials. Becky ordered Teriyaki Beef and I one of the supposed local favorites: "The Pau Pau Platter". I was thinking it was a sampler dish, ya know - a piece of this pau, a piece of that pau. Pau Pau. As you can see the amount of food is enormous. The words Pau Pau in Hawaiian mean, so i was told, "Very, very much." I guess so.
The food was very good, however, i found most of the meat dishes very salty for my taste. I had Kaluha pig (pork wrapped in spinach leaves and steamed in tarot leaves), lomi salmon (reminded me of salsa - had chopped papaya fruit and vegies in it with lchunks of cooked salmon), lau lau pork (a kind of rich, flavorful pulled pork in a pile), sticky rice, chicken long rice - similar to a rich flavored, but think chicken and thin short rice noodles in soup, and a mixed greens salad with a very tasty papaya seed dressing. Mmmm...
Last, but not least was a bowl of poi. This is a staple of the Hawaiian people and many varietis are made. But the basic recipe is the same: Tarot
"Da Kitchen"
Where the Locals Hang root ( a brown slightly ridged and ringed potato shaped vegetable) is boiled and run through a food processor. A little water is added to make "three finger poi" and less is added to make thicker "one finger poi" the local favorite. Then it is placed in a wetted bowl so it won't stick and with a little cool water poured on top. It is covered and left for several days to ferment or "sour" which develops a slightly sour taste similar to yogurt. They leave it longer if they want a more soured taste. Overall, it is bland flavored, gray pink colored, and the consistency of pancake batter. Many add milk and or sugar to flavor it more. It is very healthy and i had hoped to like it. Well, i'm work'n on that.
We leave and head to the upcountry, as they call the hills and mountains of Maui, to go to our B&B. You will remember we missed our first flight and therefore our first night here which was to be in Paia, a quaint hippie artsy community on the norh shore. Instead we are going to our second destination: Upcountry B&B. Here are some pictures
Leaving Kahuli
Lots of fields of...Sugar Cane (?) Not sure yet, but we see many of them. from the drive. I'll share tomorrow about our B&B host Michael and his supposed steller hospitality (according to internet reviews) after a night at his home on the side of Haleakala, the largest volcano on Maui.
Aloha!
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Vern Johnson
non-member comment
fun
Wow it looks great. Have fun you deserve it after a winter in Kansas. Vern