June 1-June 7, 2011 Maui

After a lot of research, many phone calls, and e-mails I found a trip that would work for all seven of us. Nate, me, Nathan Feigion, Jana, Dad, Mom, and Jami. Wednesday, June 1^st we met everyone at the airport. Our flight was taking off at 10:05 AM for a 12:57 PM arrival in Kahului, Maui. On the flight they have you fill out an agricultural form and they picked one of those people for a prize. My mom ended up winning the golden coconut which has a certificate for 25,000 miles on Alaska Airlines along with some luggage tags and a few other goodies.

After arriving we decided we would drive to our condo and then go find lunch. After checking in we went to find food.  The place we were going to eat at was closed, so we went to the Fish Market Maui which was next door. It was a fast food seafood place where you could also buy fresh fish to take home.  The food was most excellent.  Then we went out toward the ocean to watch the weekly free hula dancing along with the beautiful sunset at the condo.

Lighting the tiki torches

Jami, Dad, Mom, Jana, Nate, Me, Nathan F

Thursday we had to got up early to go down to the docks at Ma’alaea Bay to go on a snorkel tour. When you get on the boat they have some fresh fruit, little muffins and juice. After going over some safety information they start heading towards Molokini, an old sunken volcano. On the way they hand out snorkel gear and offer to give some pointers to those who have never snorkeled before. On the way out to Molokini the water was a little rough and I started feeling a little sea sick. Down below one of the crew members gave me a glass of ginger water to help ease the feeling.

Nate taking video with his Go-Pro

Once we got into the protection of the crater the water was calm. We snorkeled for around an hour before it was time to leave and eat lunch. As we headed over to Turtle Town we got to eat grilled burgers.

When we got to Turtle Town the water was a little on the choppy order, but in the water we went. Nathan F accidently dropped his go-pro camera and one of the crew members jumped from the boat and dived down to the bottom to get it (over 20 feet deep!)

While at Turtle Town I didn’t get to see any turtles. As I can’t wear my glasses when snorkeling and my eyes aren’t the best I have to get somewhat close to see them. I heard there were some turtles over near some rocks but I didn’t dare get any closer because I didn’t want to get pushed into the rocks. Mom, Jami and I decided to start heading back towards the boat due to the choppy water. I got back first and when Mom and Jami got back they told me they had looked down and saw a shark! It was a white tip reef shark which is pretty harmless but since Jami is terrified of sharks it was a little unnerving for her. Later I heard that Nate also saw the shark and swam after it to get video . . . boys!

On the boat ride back to Ma’alaea Bay the crew trolled for tuna. We did get one on the line for a min. but it broke off.

Later that same evening we went to the Royal Lahaina Luau.  Jana went up on stage and learned how to dance a hula. The food was pretty good and the dancing and music was enjoyable as well. I especially enjoyed watching the fire knife dancers.

Friday we went to the Maui Ocean Center Aquarium. I thought it would be fun for everyone to see all the fish they missed out on while snorkeling. We found out that there was going to be a feeding in the large tank around 1:30 PM so we decided to eat lunch at the Seascape Ma’alaea Reastaurant at the aquarium. We really didn’t expect the food to be great considering we were at the aquarium but we were all pleasantly surprised as the food all tasted amazing.

After lunch we went back and watched them feed the sharks, rays, and fish. Then we stopped by the gift shop where Mom had this artist paint their last name Hawaiian themed. 

Saturday Dad, Mom, and Jami flew over to Oahu to see Pearl Harbor, the USS Missouri, the submarine, and the aircraft museum. While they were doing that, the rest of us went down to Makuleia “Slaughter House” Bay to snorkel. After snorkeling we went and got cleaned up and then went down to Lahaina to eat at the Cool Cat Café.

Jana chasing a turtle

After dinner we strolled the streets of Lahaina and then when we got back to our condo we went out to the beach to watch a lightning storm that was over on Molokai .

Jana climbing a Banyan tree in heels

Sunday Mom and Dad got up early to go drive around the mountain. Later we met them up at the Iao Valley State Park. We hiked up to the Iao Needle viewpoint and then around the park, which was rather small. We then decided to drive down the road to Hana just far enough so I could take pictures of the Rainbow Eucalyptus Trees.

Jami hiding in the foliage

Mom and Dad in front of the Iao Needle

Jana in Green

Nathan F with a Rainbow Eucalyptus

Rainbow Eucalyptus

Jana with a Rainbow Eucalyptus

Rainbow Eucalyptus

After we found the trees we decided to try keep driving as I hadn’t felt car sick yet, so we took it slow. After a while Nathan F was getting hungry so we pulled over at a little food stand on the side of the road. While there a hitchhiker was dropped off. After Nate saw some European cities written on his bag he had to talk to him. I wasn’t thrilled as I figured he would ask us for a ride and that Nate might not say no . . . well that’s what happened.

The guy’s name was Eric Kennedy and he was an arborist from Colorado. He came to Hawaii for his cousins wedding and he was just hitchhiking around while there. We found out that he was going to be on our same flight back to Portland in a few days and then he was going to hitchhike back to Colorado. He was a nice enough guy and I had Nathan F in the backseat to keep an eye on him, as well as Mom, Dad, Jami, and Jana in a rig following us.

Jana, Jami, Me, Nate, Mom, Dad, & Nathan F

Eric Kennedy

When we were almost to Hana we pulled over at a place selling coconut candy. We asked them where the closest gas station was and they told us 15 minutes. They said we better hurry though as they close early on Sunday. Well after a little trouble we found the gas station just a few minutes before they closed.

That is where we parted ways with Eric. We then drove down to see the beach and were pleased to find it was a black sand beach. We then headed back toward town, which took over an hour.

Monday sounded like a good day to go parasailing. Everyone except me went. I get sea sick and small boats are worse so I decided to just stay back and go shopping. After everyone got back we ate lunch at Leilani’s On The Beach, all seven of us ordered the fish tacos, and they were amazing!

Jana & Jami

Dad & Mom

We all decided to dress up for dinner that evening as it was our last night, and after watching the beautiful sunset we went out for dinner at Bubba Gumps.

Jana's temp tattoo

When we got back to our condos it was time to pack. We had to leave the next morning around 10 so we didn’t want to wait and pack in the morning.

Tuesday the Nathan’s and I ate breakfast at the restaurant at our condo and then rushed to get everything to the car. We didn’t really have any hickups but when we got home we realized that our GPS wasn’t with us. Luckily when I called the rental car place they found it in the car and they mailed it to us. Overall a successful and fun trip!