Saturday March 11, 2006
One Month anniversary of Being Home-
Final Maui Post

Well, just read my blog in its entirety to revisit my blissful time in Maui. Sigh, well it's been long enough to readjust and reflect on the best and worst of my trip. My hundred plus photos are up on flickr.com! You thought the torture of looking at other people's travel photos went the way of slides. Oh, no. Now we bring it on into your own livingroom. And guilt trip you with emails that there are new photos for you to painfully plod your way through.






If you are interested in checking out my pics, despite the pain, make yourself a nice cuppa (Kona would be appropriate, but whatever you have is fine) and click on this link: http://flickr.com/photos/bizzylizzy/ and then click on the photo set that says Maui February 2006. If you want to see it as a slideshow there is a link in the upper right hand corner to do so (that's what I recommend).












The Best Things I Brought To Maui:
Myself.
Lonely Planet Maui as usual. Thank you guys for always knowing exactly what I need to know before I know it or know that I need to know it. Hidden Maui could have saved me my 15 bucks.




The Best Thing I Bought in preparation Before My Trip:
My A3H Card-For $30 you get 20-30% off at activities/restaurants. I got a deep discount on my kiteboarding lesson and whale watching tour. It also allows you to get "owner's tickets" for 1/2 off the regular price of activities (I got half off my kayak and bike trips. These are posted the first day of the month so that's the best time to check the website: www.halfofftickets.hawaiifun.org.

The Worst Thing I Bought in preparation Before My Trip:
The underwater 35mm camera. It took ok pictures but you really were shooting in the dark, because you couldn't tell where the camera was aimed with snorkel goggles on. Even though it is pricey I wish I had bought a underwater case for my digital camera. Cool idea, eh?




The Best Thing I Brought Back from Maui:
All my photos!
And my beautiful handmade jewelry from Maui Hands by Danny Bushart.














The Worst Thing I Brought Back from Maui:
Myself. I should never have brought me back here! Such a sourpuss about not being in Maui anymore. Jeesh! If you like it so much there, why didn't you just stay. ;^)






The Best Thing to Keep My Maui Memories Fresh:
All my photos again!
And Hotel Honolulu by Paul Theroux















The Thing I look forward to the most that reminds me of Maui:
Learning how to really kiteboard. And now I can say, when I am winning big air competitions, that I had my start in Maui. (Hey, it could happen! Do I hear anybody willing to sponsor a rising star?)












See below for more of my 35mm photos. I was so hopeful that the whale photos would be amazing. As you can see though, there were a lot of "splash" photos. Like, "Look! A Whale!" And my camera capturing the magic moment of the "splash". I also thought that I would get much closer shots, but my lens must have been deceiving. I had more confidence in my 35mm than I should have. Oh, well. I have a million great memories and almost as many great photos. Thanks you guys for being such great sports and letting me share them with you. Aloha in our hearts!

Sunday February 12 Lahaina/Kaanapali

Up at 6 am to go out and watch the whales with the Pacific Whale Foundation. The whales were dancing as soon as the full moon set and the sun shone. Large breeches in the distance and close ones of baby whales. Lot’s of great pictures on the 35mm that I will post when I get home. A few on the digital that I’ll share now. The guides have an underwater microphone and dropped it overboard so we could hear the singing. Did you know that the song is different every year but during the season all of the whales sing the exact song? Nobody knows the purpose of the songs. Researchers have played the song of a previous season thinking it would attract females as a mating call and it only attracted males, so they are still trying to figure it out.
Snorkeled the afternoon away at a beautiful gold sand beach north of Lahaina. Saw every single fish (and ell) in the books! Found a kitesurfing area while snorkeling and sat enthralled pining away on the beach. There was a guy actually using a surfboard instead of a kiteboard, no straps or anything; and he was switching feet (putting his right foot forward or his left)! He was amazing!
On the snorkel back met up with a turtle as large as myself! I’m really not kidding. He and I floated around for a long while together. He had to have been ancient. He didn’t mind my company one bit and just kept munching his kelp. Of course, had run out of film by this point but it was fine, I could concentrate solely on the turtle. I kept looking out of the water thinking there was no way I was only 100 ft from shore and lolling around with a giant turtle. I really felt blessed to be in the presence of such an amazing creature.

Checked into my beautiful room at the Garden Gate Bed and Breakfast. I would definitely stay here again. I liked the Lahaina Inn but I think I would prefer to stay away from the hub-bub of the downtown area. The room here at the Garden Gate is huge, beautiful, has a view of the ocean and the garden area is lovely.






The Old Lahaina Luau was next. Open bar!!!!! Did the most drinking of the entire trip (can you tell, from the guys I was picking up on?) Liquid Lavas right over this way, nearly naked bartender! The food was good, the unveiling of the buried pork was cool. The dancing fabulous. I do think if I came back I would do the Fest at Lahaina, which focuses more on great food. But hey, did I mention the open bar? Also, they gave me a lai and flowers always make me happy!
Tomorrow, home again, home again. Sad news but now I can bug everyone with, “When I was in Maui . . . “ and more pictures than I could ever post. Look for an upload of my Hawaii pictures on my flicker.com account in the next week or so: http://flickr.com/photos/bizzylizzy/

Saturday February 11, 2006 Makena/Lahaina

Lots of conference most of the day (Hormone Replacement Therapy Anyone?) and then drove in 80 degree weather to Lahaina, picking up my turtle carving on the way.













Checked into the quaint Lahaina Inn. Lahaina originally was a whaling town. The Inn is decorated turn of the century with antiques.


























It’s right in the hub of Lahaina which is great because you can walk to the square where the giant Banyan tree resides (this tree literally takes up two blocks). Artists were set up under the trees outstretched limbs.


So many tourists in Lahaina! It was kind of fun to buy tacky souveniers with the throngs despite Lonely Planet’s warning: “Friends don’t let friends buy tacky souveniers.” But who’s to warn a girl when she’s traveling alone? Watch out guys! You’re in for coconut bikinis and dashboard hula girls!

Watched the sunset from the deck of ocean front Fish Market Restaurant while watching more whales and eating more seafood.

Friday February 10 Haleakala Crater

Woke at the god awful hour of two am (who does this to themselves on vacation?) to be picked up for my sunrise bike tour. After a safety orientation (keep your feet on the pedals, do NOT cross over the double yellow line, no horseplay) we drove up 10,000 feet to the top of a crater.





It was 31 degrees up there. Luckily, they supplied us with windbreakers, pants and gloves. I had on shorts, pants, tshirt, fleece, my windbreaker, their windbreaker, rain pants, and gloves and I still was freezing my ass off. It was wonderful despite that. We watched the moon set and then got to see the clear night ski. The clarity is so impressive that there are multiple observatories up there.
I patiently waited at the guard railing with all those around me, all of us with chattering teeth and shivering.









It was a bizarre feeling to be standing in the dark waiting to see something you have never seen before become unveiled by the dawn. It was spectacular! The first colors began so slowly and were just a red stripe on the horizon, and with that you could see a solid mass of clouds over the ocean. It was like flying above the clouds and looking down.



















As light gradually increased, the crater’s shadows came out and you could start to see the stark moonlike surface with the sun rising behind. I climbed up to the highest viewpoint once we could see our surroundings for the actual sunrise. From high on the peak, you could see most of Maui and the crater. It was spectacular to see the sunrise lighting up the entire island. For more info on Haleakala National Park check out their website.

We got our bikes at this point and after another safety drill and lining up in order of height, down we went. Hairpin turns and riding the brakes the entire time. The first eight miles it was bone chilling but the view made it all worthwhile. On the bike down we passed through the volcanic ecosystem, the rainforest, eucalyptus groves (the smell was like heaven), ranching land, and finally beach level in Pa’ia.






We stopped for breakfast at the Sunrise Farm where they grow protea flowers (apparently they have over fifty varieties). I bought yet another bouquet of flowers for $3! Roadside stands rock! The entire bike down was two hours.
That bike ride was one of the best experiences of my life. I will definitely do it again someday. You can do it without a tour but it seems like it’s just safer with the van following. I thank the guides at Mountain Riders for getting me down the mountain alive (more) and happier than when I went up.
We rolled back into Wailea at 1:30 pm. All of that seen and it seemed like the day wasn’t even touched!
Watched the sun go down from my lanai and while whales swam by below.
That evening had the best sushi of my life at Sansai. The sushi bar is one of the best places to eat if you are eating by yourself. The chefs are always fun to talk to and watch and the people sitting around you will usually chat you up. Bizarrist of bizarre a guy from the Dalles sat next to me! He gets to travel the world harnessing the wind and setting up windmills. Coolest job in my book, saving and seeing the world all at the same time; though he did sound a bit travel weary.
Used the Japanese bathhouse at the Diamond twice in one day! Once when I got back from my ride and when I got back from dinner. Those Japanese really know how to put water to good use. The bath house is open to the air (don’t ask me how people can’t see you, but they can’t) and it is sex separated (men and women each have their own area). From the bath you can look down to the ocean. There are also areas in the bathhouse with special features like an area where you sit on a stone block and water comes down from the ceiling hitting your back in a way that feels like hands. Heaven! I couldn’t very well take pictures in the bathhouse but you can see a picture on their website.
Today will definitely go down as one of the best days of my life!

Thursday February 9 Makena/Wailea/Kihea

Up early to go to Makena landing for kayak and snorkeling. There are beautiful wild roosters and chickens everywhere here. While we were waiting to get on the ocean I watched a hen and her chicks scratching in the sand while the cocky rooster stood protectively waiting. So crazy to see chickens at the ocean.

Watched the sunrise over the volcano while rocking on the waves. Ocean kayaking is wonderful, you don’t get cold when you are wet and the paddling over the waves is so fun. It was calm when we first got out, but the wind picked up and by the end of the day you could jump the waves with the kayak! The snorkeling was fun (my first time ever!) because of the wind it was a bit murky but still saw some beautiful fish and best of all, turtles. Since being here I have totally fallen in love with these guys. Now I understand the clan of the turtle logo! And I want to be part of it.
A turtle surfaced (apparently they can stay down as long as 2 hours) next to me while I was in the water and I got to follow it back into the water and as it swum around. I know it knew I was there, it kept a watchful eye my way, but it let me stay close. It’s so tempting to want to touch these guys. I had to keep telling myself no! I got to take pictures but they are all 35mm so can’t share as of yet. Hopefully some will turn out.
Went to the conference after this and then tried to hang out on the beach, but too windy so instead drove around Kihei. This is a big condo touristy area.

Found a stand where local guys were carving under trees. Some really cool tikis in there. The guy promised me a turtle carving by Saturday from hibiscus wood.




























Watched the local teens learn to paddle their outrigger canoes. They were typical onry kids on shore but once they were in the boats man were they all business!



















Good cheap food in Kihei: real fish tacos (not fish sticks in a tortilla) for lunch. Had pork, some different kinda pork in a banana leaf, and pork in noodles, with, of course, mac salad from Da Kitchen authentic Island food (wow, these guys really know how to eat healthy!) while watching the sunset from the beach.

When I got back to the resort, the car must have been reeking of the left over pork medley, as out of nowhere,comes one of the most beautiful orange tabby cats with emerald green eyes and jumps into the car and won’t come out until I gave her some pork. She was the sweetest feral cat I have ever met! I was unloading my trunk and she jumped up on top of the open hood, peering in as if to say, “You got any more food in there?” I had a fleeting thought of “rescuing” her, brining her home, and naming her Pele, after the Volcano Goddess. But then I thought, hey this cat lives at the Diamond Resort all year long, pulling this shtick to get free leftovers, obviously well feed, and, why in the world would she want to move from Hawaii to Rainy Oregon? So Pele still lives at the Diamond Resort.