Hana & Todd’s Birthday!!!

We have been planning this trip to Hana for a few days since the McAdams hadn’t been yet. We packed lunches and squeezed into the minivan rental. Hana is a long trip and we needed to get going early! Our first stop was a great waterfall spot where the girls got into the water for a perfect photo opportunity. 

There are lots of visuals to see along the road to Hana, but there aren’t always opportunities to park and get out. Many of the bridges have beautiful waterfalls to see for a quick second as you drive over them, but they don’t usually have a walking path or easy access to get into the water. This was a perfect stop for a quick dip, but we also saw these two cuties - who were very clearly social and excited for the visitors  

Eventually, we finally found ourselves at the bottom of the road to Hana. We stopped at Hana Bay Beach and had our picnic lunch. We were killing some time before our reservation time at the Wai’ānapanapa State Park, which means glistening waters. They require reservations now since COVID, so if you plan to go, be sure to check that out beforehand. 

It was a short walk down to the black sand beach and the cave, where funny enough, a couple was taking their wedding photos. It’s nice to see something different, but the waves here crashed pretty hard on the beach so we didn’t venture into the waters. 

The rest of our journey took us to the very end of Hana and the meandering road south through Haleakala National Park. Yes, we took the road less traveled. We’ve done it once before and we did it again today. 

Things that we didn't remember, the road being that long, the road being that bumpy, and seeing goats. It was entertaining and also uneventful which made me happy since this road can sometimes cause cars to break down. Thank goodness for a safe trip!

We rounded the southern way and about three hours later we found ourselves in Kaanapali picking up poke for the kids for dinner. Todd was also happy with his birthday poke bowl, and I was thrilled to have more leftover fried rice and corn on the cob. A chocolate chunk Costco cookie and two tall glasses of Sangria later, and this mama is ready for bed.

The girls went swimming, made popcorn, and played some cards while us adults stared off into space and relaxed after our exhausting day. The road is Hana isn’t for wimps.

Where were the others you ask? They skipped Hana and went to Wailua to shop and check out the other side of the island. They had lunch and got back to the condo just an hour before we did. Then we all had a chance to deconstruct our day and fill each other in on all the details over cocktails and a few phone calls for Todd’s birthday.

Honokahua Bay Snorkeling & Exploring

Today started with less drizzle than most of our other days here. My early morning rise was pushing 6am instead of the usual 5am. After a hodgepodge of breakfast leftovers and even a few ribs heated up, we set off for an early morning jaunt to Honokahua Bay where many tour boats take people for snorkel excursions. 

It’s only a ten minute drive from our condo in West Maui but the landscape seems to change rather drastically. It seemed much more lush and green on our walk to the bay. Vines were growing in the exterior trunks of trees creating this tropical look that seemed almost artificial. 

You have to be careful for dropping mangos because they really do just drop when they are ripe and there were mango pits/seeds smashed all over the walking path. It reminded me of that scene in the movie Castaway where he thinks someone is in the bushes because coconuts keep falling to the ground  

The bay water is a warm 79 degrees so wadding in was no problem, but the rocky shoreline wasn’t so comfortable for our feet. We forgot the water shoes back at the condo. The snorkeling was decent after you moved away from the shore, and the fish were certainly bigger than in our cove…BUT we struggled to see turtles. We finally saw one small guy but that was all. It was cool to see a different place for snorkeling snd to check out this lush rainforest. 

We headed back for lunch and drinks before someone put on the newish Disney live action Mulan. Somehow, six of us found ourselves captivated by the storyline and two hours later we decided it was a pretty good film. 

The kids had some photos to pick up in Lahaina so Denise and I decided to head out on a girls trip to retrieve them as well as to check out a few more shops (and I needed to drop off an Amazon return at the UPS store). 

We walked for a bit, scored free street parking, bought more souvenirs (super cute wood carving shop with photo opp wall below), got a Dole Whip, and headed back to the condo where Joe was bbqing chicken and T was making coconut rice. 

Yum yum. Dinner was divine. If you haven’t been able to figure it out yet, our vacations revolve around eating. After the adults observed and coached another game of Spikeball, the kids decided it was bed time. An early rise awaits us tomorrow as we embark on the road to Hana!

Mama’s and the Fourth Day

Today we are rolling into the fourth day of our trip with more drizzling rain. After eating through most of the breakfast leftovers from yesterday many of us ventured out for some snorkeling. Again, turtles. It’s a great cove for turtles! 

A little work was done and some showers were taken in preparation for our nice dinner out, but before that we lunched on the ribs leftovers and if you’re sensing a theme here, yes we indeed have lots of leftovers. We are hoping to plow through some of them so we don’t waste any food. 

By 1pm we were ready to venture to the other side of the island to the town of Paia where shops and trinkets awaited our open wallets. We found gelato and tried tons of flavors like pineapple upside down cake, pistachio, POG, and even one named Lahaina. They were delicious and it satisfied a few people who love love love gelato.  

Our dinner reservations were for Mama’s Fish House which is an island staple for us when we are here. Sadly, it’s a place that requires reservations almost five months in advance so it’s not a place you can just “pop into.” 

The views and location are stunning, but the restaurant decor is also elegant and well appointed. It’s a show stopping evening for sure. 

Due to COVID, our group of 13 wasn’t able to sit as a large group so we were a table of six and seven respectfully. Their menu has loads of fresh fish and prices in the $$$$ range per person. Many of us chose to split an entree to remove the issue mentioned earlier of leftovers. This is probably a good idea at a restaurant like this due to the cost, but we were also able to sample from each other’s plates, have a salad, and enjoy the table bread. Luckily, someone else took photos of their meals because I completely forgot. 

Short ribs and lobster tails for our kids and the table bread. We got stuffed Kona Kanpachi stuffed with lobster and crab, baked in a Macadamia nut crust, with potatoes and asparagus and it was delicious. Some very talented people work here! This dessert was purchased just for the photo. Behold, the Polynesian Black Pearl. 

And did you know the restaurant has a private fishing staff for their fish? That’s not something I’ve even heard of before. Nobody complained about their meals and in fact, as you can see above, we were so excited about our entrees and appetizers that I didn’t get any photos of them. All of the adults said that it was worth the high price tag (the kids were excited for lobster) and we’ve even read online that this is the second best restaurant in America. For reals? That’s pretty cool to think we’ve been to it! And it has three Michelin stars! You know what they say, you can’t take it with you! 

The restaurant is great for specials occasions and we have two birthdays this weekend in our group. The flower arrangements inside were really rather intricate and all real flowers which seemed unbelievable.

A late night trip to Walmart to get that replacement vase before heading back to our side of the island, and that’s a wrap! 8pm and we are pooped. Some are laying in bed watching the Olympics, while others are just laying in bed ready to drift into dreamland. Another day in paradise. 

The Gazebo & Some Rain

The 5am wake up today was followed by a surprise to see it raining pretty well. The was a bummer because today was the day that we planned to go to one of our favorite restaurants on the island, The Gazebo. This is literally a gazebo that’s been turned into a very popular breakfast and brunch spot. The line gets long fast, so we opt to arrive before they open and get in with the first seating. So that means at 6:20am walk to the condo complex next door to wait for the 7:30am opening. I’m smiling because we were fifth in line  

And this was the line at 7:15am.

It’s worth it. Obviously we wouldn’t subject ourselves to standing in the rain for an hour if it weren’t. Luckily for some, they got to wait until 7:25am to head over while others saved spots in line. 

The popular items here are the fried rice and the macadamia nut pancakes. I get the eggs Benedict but to each their own!

We got the local farmers market but it was much smaller than we remembered and we didn’t find too much. After a pit stop at the grocery store we were ready for some snorkeling. 

The kids all went out first and then some adults ventured out as well. Turtles. Every time we go. We love this Honokeana Bay. 

With rain continuing off and on, we hung out in the condo allowing some to read, some worked on laptops, some took quizzes for the summer college classes, and some snacked and watched movies. All good things. 

After playing plenty of card games, eating some leftovers, and getting bored, we talked the girls into boogie boarding. We headed out and pulled into Fleming Beach but we didn’t see any waves. We decided that it wasn’t the right time and promptly headed back to the condo where the girls went to the pool and sunbathed. 

Adults were mixing up drinks and trying to invent new cocktails. All were yummy. More card games and afternoon leisure time was eventually interrupted by the smell of slow baked ribs. Grams makes these ribs over five hours at 250 degrees and they are to die for. 

Our sides were corn on the cob and fried rice from The Gazebo. No photos. All food was delicious and really, there was no surprise. 

Lots of talking or planning for the rest of our trip ensued until one wise man said, let’s go see the sunset. 

And then the evening ended with popcorn, M&M’s, and the Disney Pixar film Luca. A brilliant Italian themed movie that we all loved. It’s 9pm and we are exhausted. Another day in paradise. ❤️

Hot in Lahaina

My morning began at 5am because my body felt like we should watch the sunrise on our first full day on the island. I only wish that I had known how to use the coffee maker so I could enjoy the view from the lanai with a cup of joe. 

When others started rousing, we all enjoy some warm brewed Vanilla Macadamia Nut coffee with muffins or eggs, depending on your fancy. Our leisurely morning included a stroll to the neighboring resort to get prescription snorkel gear rented for the week. Did you know they make that stuff? It sure comes in handy for the people who don’t use contacts. Todd was all set up and Papa and I enjoyed a leisurely stroll around the complex for a quick half mile walk in the hot Hawaiian sun. 

A few of us decided to try our hands at ocean snorkeling  and it was the first time snorkeling in the ocean for Macey. It was a fun experience to share and it undoubtedly was something that we do a lot of while we’re here.

Our excursion today was the old town of Lahaina which was settled by the Polynesians between 300 and 700 AD. It’s a cute small town with lots of shops and restaurants. Pretty much all of the makings of a tourist town. We partook in the buying and grabbed a few souvenirs for the few who didn’t join us on this trip, and then we weaseled our way into the Cheeseburger in Paradise for a party of 13. Well, a kid table and an adult table. The food was delicious as always, and the half portions from our shared meals were still plentiful and filling. 

A few drinks were had around the table, but the ambiance was of course the main selling feature of this joint. The location simple can’t be beat. 

With full bellies we strode along the waterfront with the goal of reaching the The Banyan Tree. This tree is unbelievable in size and grows in such a way that it drops down these branches that then grow into other trunks to provide more strength and stability to the tree. It’s a sight to see for sure. 

The Hawaiian heat was getting to many of us and our wallets were also needing a break from the constant shopping so we began our trek back to the parking lot…but along the way we saw a street performer with many different tropical birds available for photo opps. We jumped at the chance to have birds perched on our children and we waited patiently while the birds were “misted” to cool them down (see, even the birds thought it was hot today). And here are the obligatory photos. 

After hitting some traffic on the way home, we crashed for a few hours before dinner. The McAdams made an amazing smoked pulled pork with salad and watermelon and despite our tummies being nearly full from lunch, we piled on plates and enjoyed the feast - some even getting seconds. 

An evening game of Spikeball ensued and one broken vase later (we’ll get a replacement at Walmart later this week…) we were comfortably discussing astrological signs and the length of the day here on the island. Did you know that Maui actually gets one less hour of daytime at this time of year compared to where we live? Their summer sun is settling at 7:06pm whereas it’s 8:17pm back in Sacramento. Very interesting!

Maui Here We Come!

Our SF flight was early this morning with alarms going off at 3:45am and a plan to meet in the lobby at 4:15am. But we had a party bus shuttle! Oh joy. 

Luckily, we had no hiccups with check-in and getting the magical wristband which allows you to avoid the mandatory quarantine in Hawaii. The flight was uneventful and surprisingly served food (of course it wasn’t tasty, but we were surprised to even be served food in the Covid era).  

The downside of catching the 7:15am flight is that you arrive in Maui exhausted at 9:30am and you can’t check into your condo until 3pm. Sooooo we headed out to Iao Valley which is only about 15 minutes from the airport to check out one of the sights on the island. 

It’s often called The Needle and we had a pleasant little hike up a couple flights of stairs to the top where we took the obligatory photos. 

We also checked out the Korean garden right down the road, as well as the Portuguese Garden. So many wonderful cultures all mixing together on this island!

Once we had our fill of the wind, because it was extra windy up there, we headed down the hill to the island Costco to join all of the other tourists in stocking up on food and booze for our island adventures. 

Two pizzas, a mocha freeze, and a car full of groceries later, we squeezed into the rental van with food on our laps, and began our 55 minute journey to the condo. Hence the reason why we chose to go to Costco before leaving this side of the island.

Upon arrival, we were quickly reminded of why we love Napili Point Resort. The views here are to die for, and they are the thing we’ll all be staring at this week as we drink, hang out, play cards, and make memories. The condos are all individually owned but there’s on site management for housekeeping and all of your needs. There are two pools and BBQs with natural gas, but the best part is the cove the condo complex sits on. Every single time we snorkel, we see turtles It’s nearly guaranteed. There isn’t a sandy beach right here but it’s a short walk around to Napili Beach. We aren’t huge fan of messy sand, but the cove and snorkeling are why we come back. And the view of Molokai in the distance is pretty amazing.

Our bodies were exhausted by the time we unloaded the cars, played Tetris with the Costco food in the fridge, and got settled. Some of us took naps, a few of us swam, and a few of us even went out to Safeway! Ah, again, to find all of the other tourists buying booze, ice, and other essentials like sunscreen.

A few mai tais later, courtesy of this awesome chef, and we were all yawning at 7pm. It’s been a long long day and our exploring will continue tomorrow!