Saturday was an amazing day. We were up early - still on Illinois time and crept around hoping not to disturb downstairs neighbors at the condo. We had arrived too late to see "the view" from the lanai or porch so I was very surprised to realize that you look out southwest to another island, Kahoolawe. We were also surprised to see several 40 ton whales swimming around all morning between us and the horizon. One really energetic guy way out at the horizon breached several times, leaping straight up out of the water.
John had read in a tourism calendar that a Hawaiian United Church of Christ was holding a Lu'au to culminate it's 175th anniversary so we decided to take that in. Turns out that the Lu'au is an annual event and EVERYBODY goes. We had a great, great time. After lunch (kulua pig smoked in a earth covered pit - tastes like Memphis pulled pork-, macaroni salad and several other more exotic dishes I can't begin to name but were all very good) we were entertained by several dance groups from a traditional hula school. When I say classes don't think children. All of the dancers except two were adults with many "aunties" involved in each class. The music was provided by a three piece group of ukele and two guitars and M.C.'d by the founder of the school who was also the lead singer.
The icing on the cake (or the poi on the pork, if you like) was that the centerpieces were given away to participants and I was given one to bring back to the condo. It is made of a huge varigated leaf that looks like a philadendron with 18' long, bright red ginger blooms and yellow hybiscus laying on top of it. Finally a bannana palm leaf forms the vase for more ginger blossoms. I have it on the table on the lanai. John posted photos of the flowers in the Maui gallery.
Today has been a slow day. Jet lag seems to have caught up with me. I can't keep track of the time. We swam in the pool and plan a walk on the beach later. We enjoyed watching more whales and seeing all of the families teaching their little kids to surf at our little park. One man was out surfing with his dog, a golden retriever, on the board!
John took an official 60th birthday picture of me in my swim suit by the pool wearing the orchid lei that Elke had arranged for us when we arrived. If you have to turn 60, then I recommend doing it in Maui.
A companion blog to my photo site, www.daysixpix.com, celebrating all the days of life that flow though creation into the days of perspiration, inspiration, sabbath and resurrection.
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