Sunday, November 7, 2010

Discovering Maui: Part 1

Enter the word "love" into the Hawaiian dictionary, and the translation is the word "aloha." The Aloha Spirit is the welcoming and nurturing of all peoples, the practice of unconditional love, kindness, harmony, and the elevation of the senses. 
We are filled with the aloha spirit after visiting the island of Maui for a week.  Our days were spent hiking, shopping, learning, swimming, sunbathing and eating....Oh the food!  Wonderful!
This is our second time visiting the island.  Our first was on our honeymoon seven years ago.  We have spent time on all four islands but I have to say Maui is my favorite.  Not much has changed ... the sunsets are still breathtaking, the color of the land is oh so brilliant and smell of tropical flowers fill the air. 

We landed around 4:30 in the evening.  Enough time to rent our car, checked into the Kaanapali Beach Hotel in Kaanapali and have dinner before we crashed for the evening after a long up and down flight. 

Kaanapali Beach Hotel is located on the beach in West Maui. Officially recognized as Hawai'i's "Most Hawaiian Hotel" has a charming Hawaiian atmosphere.  This is our view of the island of Lanai from our balcony at the Kaanapali Beach Hotel

The next morning our first stop is Lahaina
Lahaina is a historic town that has been transformed into a Maui hot spot with dozens of art galleries and a variety of unique shops and restaurants. Once the capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom in the early nineteenth century, Lahaina was also a historic whaling village during the whaling boom of the mid-1800’s. Up to 1,500 sailors from as many as 400 ships took leave in Lahaina including Herman Melville, who immortalized the era in his classic novel Moby Dick.


This Banyan Tree was first planted in April, 1873, and marked the 50th Anniversary of Christian missionary work in Lahaina. When this tree was imported from India it was only 8 feet tall. It now stands over 60 feet high, has 12 major trunks in addition to a huge core. It stretches over a 200-foot area and shades 2/3 of an acre.
Richard from the Hula Cookie Company served us a Mango, Pineapple and Watermelon Shaved Ice.  A very popular treat on a hot day.  Richard is the Pastor for the Kaanapali Beach Ministry leading Sunday morning services on Kaanapali Beach at Leilani’s restaurant.  We had quite the discussion about World War II and its effect it had on his family and mine.

Our Mahi Mahi Fish and Chips lunch at Lahaina Fish Company was recommended by a shop owner in town.  Every seat has a great view of the ocean.  And the food was great!


You can't go home without seeing at least one hula show.  This one is held every evening at the hotel.


We love to experience everything Hawaiian and what better way then to visit Maui's Swap Meet.
Where you can find crafts, flowers, exotic fruits, vegetables and artist showing their work.  You won't find anything made in China here.  It's held every Saturday at the Maui Community College. 

This bouquet of Protea was going for $5.00.  I would have loved to take it home.






This usually looking fruit is called, Rambutan.  It is native to Malay Archipelago, Southeast Asia and also grown in Hawaii.  Coming from an evergreen tree, the Rambutan fruit resembles the Lychees, have a leathery red skin and are covered with spines. Rambutan is a popular garden fruit tree and one of the most famous in Southeast Asia. The fruit is sweet and juicy, being commonly found in jams.  I wish we bought one, but decided on a strawberry papaya instead.



I could have spent the whole day here but we wanted to drive up to Haleakala National Park before the day was over.


You pass through as many ecological zones on a two hour drive to the summit Mt. Haleakala as you would on a journey from Mexico to Canada.





Unfortunately the weather was not cooperating and the viewing of the volcano crater was not visible so we decided to try another day.  Next stop the Tedeschi Winery, what a great way to end the day with a little wine tasting. 


After tasting 4 different wines for free we purchased a bottle of Maui Splash.

Another day was done...we enjoyed the rest of the evening watching the sun go down. 

Check back later this week about our trip to the Iao Needle and the windsurfer at Paia.
I'll be writing a chapter on our visit with Alii Chang from the Alii Kula Lavender Farm and the flowers of the island.
Aloha!

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