Resting in Paradise

Having had two previous days of sight-seeing and sun we thought it might be prudent today to enjoy some time sitting on the lanai enjoing the view and the cool breeze.

We drove to Hana on Wednesday and it was spectacular. Unfortunately, there hasn't been much rain lately so the streams and pools were very meager. Some places there was no water at all but you could tell that at times it is breath taking with well over 50 stream crossings as the road hugs the cliffs and switches back and forth to get up into the back country.

What really blew us away was the coastline and the surf on the windward side of the island. The waves were crashing against the shore at Ho'okipa Beach and they looked to me like they were mountains. We were assured later by someone who should know that the surf can be two or three times greater than it was that day.

We visited Kahanu Garden, one of the gardens of the National Tropical Botanical Garden. It is located on a cliff overlooking the sea just outside of Hana. The young man who took our ticket money and shared fresh, fire-roasted breadfruit with us turned out to be the director of the garden. There are three main features of the garden: an area in which all of the plants brought in the canoes of the original Polynesian settlers are planted, an ancient stone temple built in 1200 BC called Pi'ilanihale, and an incredible shoreline that can be viewed from the lanai of an old fishing shack built back in the 40's. We had such a great time there that we stayed an hour past closing. The director came looking for us but never once hurried us and suggested that it was time to close. He just sat on the lanai with us and visited about this wonderful spot.

On Thursday we began by taking a long beach walk at Wailea. (I put these names in for Steve and Denise. For everyone else, we drove a couple of miles south of where we are staying.) There were naturalists on the beach providing info to people about snorkeling. They assured me that with a swimming noodle and a mask, snorkle tube and fins I, too, could enjoy snorkeling the coral reef just off the beach. We plan to rent some equipment for next week, spend a couple of days learning to use it in the pool here and then heading out to the beach with it.

We went to Buzz's Wharf restaurant for seafood late lunch and then toured the Maui Ocean Center. The Ocean Center was quite well done and we had a great time learning about what we might see at the reef - if we are lucky.

We have had some trouble wrapping our minds around the fact that the stock market closes at around 10:00 AM here in the islands. But I was delighted to discover that the Daily Show comes on at 8:00 PM here. I can watch it and be in bed by 9:00. Whoo-hoo!

Aloha!