doing things we could do without doing and enjoying the fact that we're doing it anyway!

whether it's 5 extra minutes at the beach under the topical sun to rub our feet in the warm sand ... one more walk along the length of the beach, kicking at the waves & picking up a few (more) little pieces of coral.

Or stopping for the 3rd time in 2 weeks for a shave ice.  adding ice cream to the bottom of the cup to mix with the fruity syrup as it melts.  (where the employee remembers that Ken likes a GREEN cup)


Or buying an extra bag of toasted coconut coffee, ANOTHER hawaiian Tshirt, decals for the car, a hibiscus printed Starbucks mug, ANOTHER Harley Davidson T (well, actually 2), a pair of flipflops, souveniers for friends & family (many), a papaya for EVERY morning, and undoubtedly other things I can't think of at the moment.....  it's all part of the vacation mindset game.  And we're playing it well! 

Our National Park Senior Pass was put to work today when we made the 49 mile, 1.5 hour drive from Kihei to Haleakala National Park- that took us from sea level to over 10,000 feet.  Needless to say .. the 89 to 60 degree temps is a SMALL example of the changes that occur along the way.  Plant life that lives in one place but cannot sustain in the other, birds plentiful in one place, unheard of in the other ... and the realization that from sea level to the peak is under 2 miles in actual feet- but it's still 20 miles from the base of the park to the top!!  We stopped a few times for kodak moments, and  

took the drive slow because a certan "princess" doesn't like living (or driving) on the edge .. but we had some tutoring from the park officals and experienced life above the clouds!  The clarity of the sky & air was amazing, the views were endless, and the arrival in one piece to the base of the volcano ... totally welcomed!  AND- I got a couple of stamps in my parks book too.

missed a wedding, but not an opportunity

 MANY months ago ... not too long after we had our flights booked for Maui ... for our usual time of 10/8-10/22.  Low & behold ... a few weeks later, I see a post on FB that my nephew officially decided on an Oct 20th wedding date.  dagnabit.  So, a few days later, we got in touch with the airlines and made changes to our flight to bring us home a few days early.  THEN, we contacted our timeshare mgmt company and changed the dates of our stay- to the tune of a couple hundred dollars.  I teased my nephew that this meant "we" were his wedding present!  Sadly, a month or so later, the wedding venue was altered & landed week earlier yet and, at the risk of another fee for making travel changes ... we were unable to attend the wedding ... which took place TODAY!   My son has texted a couple of pictures, so we don't feel quite so separated from the action- but I wish things had turned out differently.  

 HOWEVER ... having said that, we are here.. and that means we do what we do when we find ourselves in Paradise #2 ... & today, that meant a full day out & about!  It started with a yummy breakfast at a local hangout in Wailuku called the Tasty Crust.  Banana pancakes & bacon gave us happy opus and gave us a jump start for a few errands (ie:the Hawaiian Scrapbook store) then onward to Iao Valley for some walking/hiking/foto ops.  With the tradewinds back, there were skies bluer than should be legal without a fee, and the streams were full and babbling around every corner!

Still ahead was a "date" to meet our Livermore friends Bill & Veronica at the Maui Ocean Center.  It was a bit windy in that direction (Ma'alaea Harbor), but we saw it as an opportunity to beat the heat slightly and do without the pesky flies too!!  The sea critters were agreeable with our visit & we really enjoyed the outing... including a lunch at Seascape where we not only enjoyed some fresh fish - but also shared a HUGE slice of Maui Mud Pie!!!  We walked it off afterward .. then headed for the barn.  Day 12, over & out!!!

guess who came to breakfast ... and lunch ..

NOT that I would be feeding them on our lanai .. but if I did ... it would be kinda cool to have them show up  at breakfast time.  I could crunch up the crackers I bought for the seafood dip ... that I wasn't very happy with.  But that was IF I was going to feed them.  This guy (?) has been showing up for the past 3 days ... and he talks the entire time he is ... "not eating".  I love the little squeek, chirp, ticking sounds he makes!  On the other hand ... the little sparrows that are all lover the beach are getting fed- mostly by accident. 

While one nibbles on chips or whatever, the itsy bitsy pieces fall into the sand & disappear... or at least to the human eye ... these minature versions of  the aviary community seem to be able to find them .. all.  They will peck constantly if someone doesn't shoo them away.  They are persistant.  We weren't eating anything, so I'm wondering if he didn't show up just to find out if we were going to eat something soon!!!  Not only did he land on the chair across from me a few times, but he even landed ON my chair a couple of times too.   He hung around long enough for a few pictures  :o)

tanning & tantalizing

 as my skin gradually warms to medium caramel hue & my hair bleaches out to strawberry blonde ... I find my attitude mellows out with each passing day to the point of not giving much thought to what time or what day it is.  Morning arrives when I wake.  That's about the only thing I can assure you.   And this comes as no surprise to me, as it has been my M.O. for every trip to the islands for the last 15 years.  Our preferences & routines have changed over the years .... but the mental relief that washes over me within the first 24 hours is ALWAYS the same!  And also the norm- is my obsession with the flowers of Hawaii ... I have several hundred pictures of hibiscus alone in every color that exists. 

SO- with numerous days ahead of us and many more pictures to tuck under my belt ... I am also looking forward to pulling all the fotos up on my desktop monitor at home ... since it's at least 5 times the size of my laptop.  THAT will be the true test of the good, the bad & the ugly!

road trip to West Maui

Our schedule ... such that it isn't ... took us to a busier part of the island yesterday.  Without a specific game plan ... other than a meal at KIMO's, we hopped in the car when we got around to it, and headed up the road.  Along the way ... we must have mentioned Ma or Pa a half dozen times.  Remember when they went here, remember when they told us about there.  It was another reminder of all the things they have made possible for us over the years ... because of the choices they have made in their lives!  We have been blessed in many ways. )ur first stop ended up at Whaler's village ... where I gussied up my existing toe rings.  They've not been removed for at least 5 years!!  Now, I glance down and they look all shiney new again!!  A little color on one ... a little Hawaii on the other.  sa-weeeet

And when our appetites caught up with us ... but the supper hour had not- we decided that eating dessert first was just what we needed!  (and it was)  So a stop into Leilani's right on the beach, was the place to be for a weeee piece of Hula Pie.  It must have been a smaller piece than usual, since we polished it off with narry a groan (like you do when you have dessert AFTER a full meal).  YUM

fall in the islands ... sugar at our table

One of our favorite places to visit on Maui is the upcounty.  It offers a cooler climate, but more importantly ... it's lush green hillsides and island views can't be beat.  A few years ago we came across a farmers market/pumpkin patch that pops up in early fall.  It's a colorful & delightful place with a corn maze, cheery gardens, an eclectic array of Halloween decorations, and a bountiful field of pumpkins.  You can pull a heavy duty wagon down an S shaped road to pick your own soon-to-be jackOlantern!  The spooky-time holiday is very popular here and decorations are all about.  The trail of gourds you see here are for those not wanting to make the trek all the way down to the still growing crop below.  The walk down is no big deal, but I imagine it isn't as graceful a climb when you are hauling a 20# pumpkin (or 2) in a wagon that already weighs 40-50 pounds itself!  Our breakfasts include local produce of some type .. the fav of the Capt being their apple bananas.  This particular find were labled as "candy apple" bananas ... there is a different flavor to them, but I can't explain it ... (and it's not apple!)  Our outing to higher elevations took us by the Sherri Reeve Gallery in Makawao.  This talented lady has been a friend of the family for over 20 years ... beginning at a time when her watercolors were presented in art faires.  Her artful strokes recreate the colorful landscapes, flora & birds of the island, the underwater sealife, and all things Hawaiian. She paints with a little whimsy, often delicate lines, & a whole lot of love.  

We purchased 2 pieces this trip and feel as if we are bringing a little bit of our friend home with us in doing so.  Thank you Sherri - for your gracious personality & cheerful disposition.  You once told us that we were an inspiration of romance for you ... and you are always the welcoming presence for us.  Our visit would not be the same without a hug from you!!  SO, once again, as we settled in for the night ... I had to admit- it was another rotten day in paradise!  ahhhh.....

ah man ... another one??!

the best things is life are most certainly free.... and our evening scenery proved it!  We found out today that our friends from Livermore came to Maui a few days earlier than usual ... just like we did.  So we met up with them to exchange howdys & hugs- and stayed through the entire sunset (and then some)  THIS was the view from their unit.  GREAT PAY OFF for stopping in to say hi  :o)

I find this very alarming ...

Kauai has it's roosters, California has it's alarm clocks, New York has it's traffic, Chicago has it's fire engines ... Maui has these critters!  Neither the roosters nor the quails have any sense of time it would seem. You will hear them off & on throughout the 24 hours, but they seem particularly chipper at sunrise.  Their calls or chatter is difficult to describe.  The Capt has interpreted it as quail #1 chirping twice to signal an announcement coming, secondly- hiccup chirps indicating how many have gathered together.  These sounds are echoed across the yard, or at times off into the distance ... almost as if they are reporting back that everyone is "ready".  It's one of those sounds that by day 2 or 3 ... it's just backround music!

all in "my" day's work

this morning ... our toes hit the sand before 9am and minutes later we were dressed in our snorkle togs  & a hundred yards from shore.  Poseidon or Neptune must have favored us, as we saw a variety of artfully painted fish ... and 8 turtles!!   Timing is everything, cuz right before we entered and long after we returned to solid ground ... the sightings were few & far between.   The Capt confessed to me over our brown bag lunch, that while he loved seeing all the underwater critters ... he's found that he loves being ON the water even more than under it.  Although this, too, will pass at some point (he has his own phases...) I appreciate that he took today to spend WITH ME, beit on land or in the sea.

Following our 5 hour beach campout ... we took a drive south of Maluaka Beach.  It took us all the way down to the end of the road, along miles & miles of dark brown lava flow rock, piled up like rich, fresh soil. But this is neither fertile, nor pretty .... just barren and desolute.  However, on this typical clear & sunny day ... the water sparkles like a Sweet Adeline costume & I took a dozen great pictures just hanging the point & shoot out the car window as we cruised along.   As mom used to say ... It was another rotten day in paradise!

a picture is worth more than the words I have printed upon it!

breakfast BY the champion!

I should think that when one's HALF sticky bun is flanked by a half each of an apple banana, orange & papaya- & adorned with vanilla-mac coffee in a Hawaiian Starbucks cup .....

it would be fit for a princess !  Thank you Capt ... you are my champion this morning!