Maui - Part 1

Our last trip to Maui was in 1999, and one reason it had taken so long to go back was because it was such a pain to get there. As we sat in the Dallas/Fort Worth airport for the fifth hour, I remembered why we waited 16 years. Our connecting flight in DFW had come in late and then during an inspection, they discovered a leak in the brake fluid lines. We didn’t know if they could fix it or if we’d be spending the night in Dallas. Finally, the announcement was made that the leak had been repaired and we would be boarding shortly. Nine hours later, we were banking towards Maui and heading into Kahului Airport with beautiful views of Molokini crater, south Maui and Haleakala’s upcountry.

Jenny greeted us with leis at the airport and drove us to the condo at Wailea Point. Since we’d gotten in so late, Jeremy picked up dinner at Da Kitchen – delicious kalua pork with rice and other Hawaiian fixings. We ate out on the lanai while we watched our first Maui sunset.  We made it!

Monday

I was wide awake at 4 o’clock with jet lag. But at least this time I knew what to expect and didn’t try to fight it. I just got up and piddled around the kitchen, checking my email and listening to the gray francolins start their wake-up calls. When it got light enough, Ron and I went for a walk along the Wailea Coastal Walk, a one-and-a-half mile path that runs from the Andaz resort down to Polo Beach in front of the Fairmont Kea Lani. We walked south, watching the colors change on the islands of Kaho’olawe and Lana’i as the sun rose. I love the colors in Hawaii. I guess we weren’t the only ones with jet lag because the beach path was already busy with walkers and joggers. Morning starts early in Maui.
 
When we got back to the condo, Jenny was up and getting ready to go out for a run. We walked out with her so she could show us a spot on the property where there were a bunch of fruit trees – mangos, papayas, limes and avocados. We filled a bag with fresh fruit to nosh on for the week. Ron loved being able to pick our own fruit and pretty soon he started “shopping” the trees for things to eat. :-)

Wailea

That day was our day for relaxing. Once every summer, Jen and Jer like to rent a cabana for the day at the Grand Wailea. When Jenny was back from her run and all the kids were awake, we walked over to the resort and checked in. Grand Wailea is one of those over-the-top resorts, like Atlantis in the Bahamas or the fancier Disney hotels. It has nine pools, fountains, water slides, rope bridges, and even a grotto with a bar inside called the Grotto Bar. We were assigned a cabana next to the main pool, which came with eight lounge chairs, a TV (who needs TV in Maui???), a fruit plate and a bucket filled with bottles of water. We had a fun time hanging out at the Grotto Bar and watching the kids play on the water slides. Reid, Charlie and Jenny all tried out the Fishpipe ride. We ordered lunch in the cabana, and later Ron and I took another beach path walk. What a great way to ease into vacation.

Grand Wailea

Jenny in the Fishpipe

Wailea Coastal Walk

Wailea Point

Around 3 o’clock, it was time to head back to the condo and get ready for our sunset sail with Alii Nui. Our tour group turned out to be pretty small - only 20 people. Apparently, July is a popular time of year for families with children, but the sunset sail was adults-only. As we sailed out of Ma’alaea Harbor, the crew served cocktails and put out an impressive spread of “pupus”. I had expected crackers and cheese and maybe some shrimp but there was also sushi, crab cakes, ribs, chicken skewers and more. We headed west along the coastline, passing the giant windmills on West Maui Mountain (new since our last trip). Someone spotted a couple of bottle-nose dolphins off the bow the boat. I’d heard that there were spinner dolphins in Hawaii but I hadn’t realized they had bottle-nose dolphins too. As the sun started to sink, the captain maneuvered the boat so that we could see the sun setting between the mountains on Lana’i and West Maui. Beautiful!

Ron with Captain Kawika

pupus

 

continued on Part 2