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.