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-megan
Apr 29, 2009
Feb 7, 2009
maui: go beach
The rest of our time on the island turned into a variation on a theme involving fruit, the beach and bikes. Therefore, instead of document each weekend, here are a few highlights from the remainder of our time living maui style. We also stopped taking the camera everywhere so have fewer pictures to share. But the pictures we have really do capture the beauty of the island.
We spend a few days walking the white sand beaches of Wailea and Kihei. You can take the city bus all the way down to the end of a long strip of beaches. We tried some local foods that day including a plate lunch of kalua pork and teriyaki. The place we ate at had been recommended, but we discovered that maybe our tastes weren't quite the same. Nevertheless, we could say we had tried it. We also had a shave ice and got a super sugar rush (and a little bit of a belly ache). The next day we decided to check out our local beach, Spreckelsville (named for the Spreckels sugar empire). There were some local families there, but otherwise it was pretty empty. That's it in the picture above.
Our next weekend we visited the Maui Swap Meet and loaded up on fruit from local vendors. Lots of citrus, a pineapple, and some crazy fruits like the egg fruit (turned out to be inedible by our standards). We were going to see a show at the Arts & Cultural Center that night, so with the afternoon, we biked out to Ho'okipa to watch the windsurfers.
For our last weekend, we had a car so we could get around a little easier. We had yet to get in the water for some snorkel action, so we spent Saturday morning trying to find the best snorkel site. Both of us complete novices, we searched until we found a bay where lots of other people were in the water, bobbing around. As soon as we had our masks underwater, a veritable universe of fish and reef appeared. It was fascinating just to float and watch them go about their business, in all of their luminous colors. However, it was a chilly day and we couldn't stay in the water for too long. We warmed up by walking over some of the lava flows on the King's trail for a few hours.
For our last night in town, we went to dinner down in Ma'alea. Before dinner we had time to walk the beach at sunset.
A friendly beach dog
Whale tail
Evening lights in Kihei
Even though we had a spectacular month on the island, we were ready to get back home. After a long flight, with delays, we arrived safely. The cats greeted us warmly, and the Christmas cactus gave us a taste of the islands with it's lush blooms.
Jan 18, 2009
maui: visit and celebration
It took a few days to get settled into the hectic pace of a high volume pharmacy. Luckily the pharmacists and staff have been friendly and helpful and it has been a good rotation so far.
For our second weekend on the island we didn't have access to a car, so we explored on foot. Saturday we went out for breakfast at a diner in Wailuku, just about a mile up the hill. We had a read to try the place, visited mostly by locals, in some of our try-not-to-be-a-tourist tour books. Known for good pancakes and indifferent wait-staff, we fueled up for a short hike.
Climbing up a lushly forested ridge, we reached a white cross constructed on a bluff. From a little bit further up the ridge, we could see the bay of Kahului as well as down the way towards Kihei. We also took a break from the camera, so you won't get to see pictures from the hike. Just imagine sunshine and century plants. Also, sweating. Lots of sweating.
We had enough daylight left to hit the beach. Or the bay. It is the closest strip of sand from our house. Although it isn't a very dramatic beach we were able to catch the beginning of the sunset and see some ocean kayakers put in for an evening row.
Sunday was my thirtieth. Lucky to be here, and also get to share it my mom and brother who were in town on portage from their cruise. We drove to Lahaina to check out life on the other side of the west island.
>
It was a stormy day early on, but the sun peaked out now and then. We had a misty walk up to some petroglyphs just off the road. By the afternoon, we were able to get in a little more beach time before heading out to a fabulous dinner at Mama's Fish House. Everything was perfect from the mai tai to the mahi mahi.
We're getting more settled into island life and next weekend plan to get in some solid beach time and a shave ice.
For our second weekend on the island we didn't have access to a car, so we explored on foot. Saturday we went out for breakfast at a diner in Wailuku, just about a mile up the hill. We had a read to try the place, visited mostly by locals, in some of our try-not-to-be-a-tourist tour books. Known for good pancakes and indifferent wait-staff, we fueled up for a short hike.
Climbing up a lushly forested ridge, we reached a white cross constructed on a bluff. From a little bit further up the ridge, we could see the bay of Kahului as well as down the way towards Kihei. We also took a break from the camera, so you won't get to see pictures from the hike. Just imagine sunshine and century plants. Also, sweating. Lots of sweating.
We had enough daylight left to hit the beach. Or the bay. It is the closest strip of sand from our house. Although it isn't a very dramatic beach we were able to catch the beginning of the sunset and see some ocean kayakers put in for an evening row.
Sunday was my thirtieth. Lucky to be here, and also get to share it my mom and brother who were in town on portage from their cruise. We drove to Lahaina to check out life on the other side of the west island.
>
It was a stormy day early on, but the sun peaked out now and then. We had a misty walk up to some petroglyphs just off the road. By the afternoon, we were able to get in a little more beach time before heading out to a fabulous dinner at Mama's Fish House. Everything was perfect from the mai tai to the mahi mahi.
We're getting more settled into island life and next weekend plan to get in some solid beach time and a shave ice.
Jan 4, 2009
maui: first weekend
As we de-planed in Kahului airport, we immediately started shedding layers of clothing. It is strange traveling from your home, where it was 40 degrees and rainy, to a temporary home with a sweet smell and sunny days. Strange, but amazing. After the first weekend, we're feeling pretty adjusted to island life on Maui and have seen some major sites and tasted interesting local fare. Here are some highlights:
Hana Highway
Car sickness, be damned! On a particularly cool and cloudy day we hit the stretch of highway out to Hana. We made several stops along the way, to hike up to waterfalls, explore the coast and grab local fruits and snacks. Also to give me a chance for my stomach to settle. We took a windy road down to Nahiku that ended in a grassy overlook of the ocean. On the way we passed a fruit stand and loaded up on citrus.
A few miles later we passed a road side vendor with the promise of fresh ice cream. The owner was busy burning a pile of branches, but bounded over to our car to sell his wares. He was out of the ice cream but let us sample his coconut candy. We bought two bags, one of liki'moi and one of caramel. Crisp and coconutty, with a light sweetness, the stuff is killer. He told us he spends 16 hours making each batch by hand.
The state park in Hana was beautiful, with black sand beaches and lush flowers. Nick managed to get a shot of the water spray through a blowhole.
Haleakala
The day after our drive to Hana, we could see the volcano (previously enshrouded in clouds) and after a stop in Makawao for provisions we headed up to 10,000 feet. It was a perfect day for the hike in the crater and we had it mostly to ourselves. Once you descend into the crater, you feel as if you could be in any desert on earth, much less one in the middle of the sky. Miles of lava rock and cindercones to explore, with exotic rare plants like the silversword.
There are a few park service cabins scattered throughout the crater and we found one with a picnic table where we took lunch. There were some friendly nene trying to beg some coconut candy from us.
The end of the hike (back up to 10,000 feet!) was during the sunset and we caught some color in the clouds and on the hills.
Iao Valley and Big Beach
We went to see the Needle in Iao valley before having our beach day. The park was pretty crowded with tourists of all sorts, but we found a secret trail that headed up to a viewpoint and a handmade shelter.
The beach was all I could ask for, with warm sand and blue water.
The way the shore meets the ocean causes large waves to break hard. We watched as most people were tossed by the waves, and a few local guys did some maneuvers with boogie boards.
Now we have a week of work ahead of us. Check back next weekend to see what it brings.
Hana Highway
Car sickness, be damned! On a particularly cool and cloudy day we hit the stretch of highway out to Hana. We made several stops along the way, to hike up to waterfalls, explore the coast and grab local fruits and snacks. Also to give me a chance for my stomach to settle. We took a windy road down to Nahiku that ended in a grassy overlook of the ocean. On the way we passed a fruit stand and loaded up on citrus.
 |
| From Maui |
A few miles later we passed a road side vendor with the promise of fresh ice cream. The owner was busy burning a pile of branches, but bounded over to our car to sell his wares. He was out of the ice cream but let us sample his coconut candy. We bought two bags, one of liki'moi and one of caramel. Crisp and coconutty, with a light sweetness, the stuff is killer. He told us he spends 16 hours making each batch by hand.
 |
| From Maui |
The state park in Hana was beautiful, with black sand beaches and lush flowers. Nick managed to get a shot of the water spray through a blowhole.
 |
| From Maui |
Haleakala
The day after our drive to Hana, we could see the volcano (previously enshrouded in clouds) and after a stop in Makawao for provisions we headed up to 10,000 feet. It was a perfect day for the hike in the crater and we had it mostly to ourselves. Once you descend into the crater, you feel as if you could be in any desert on earth, much less one in the middle of the sky. Miles of lava rock and cindercones to explore, with exotic rare plants like the silversword.
 |
| From Maui |
There are a few park service cabins scattered throughout the crater and we found one with a picnic table where we took lunch. There were some friendly nene trying to beg some coconut candy from us.
 |
| From Maui |
The end of the hike (back up to 10,000 feet!) was during the sunset and we caught some color in the clouds and on the hills.
 |
| From Maui |
Iao Valley and Big Beach
We went to see the Needle in Iao valley before having our beach day. The park was pretty crowded with tourists of all sorts, but we found a secret trail that headed up to a viewpoint and a handmade shelter.
 |
| From Maui |
The beach was all I could ask for, with warm sand and blue water.
 |
| From Maui |
The way the shore meets the ocean causes large waves to break hard. We watched as most people were tossed by the waves, and a few local guys did some maneuvers with boogie boards.
 |
| From Maui |
Now we have a week of work ahead of us. Check back next weekend to see what it brings.
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