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Maui Trip Report
Tuesday
07/05/05:

Drove to B'ham to stay overnight at the Holiday Inn Express on Hwy 20, Irondale so as to be near the airport for early AM flight. Saved about $100 flying out of BHM as opposed to ATL, and I really liked the small airport...no long walks or complicated driving!

I knew this was going to be a good trip when I arrived at the HIE to find my name on their lobby sign, welcoming me by name, as their 'customer of the day'! This got me a couple of gift bags full of treats left in the room!
The room was very adequate, clean, quiet.

They offered pizza/soft drinks/cookies for dinner...noting fancy just pick it up in the lobby...took it back to the room. Wanted something green...that was alot of carbs!!

BF buffet the next day was alittle better than the normal continental in their dining area. Nicely done! (I'm not a BF person....still alot of carbs! Was trying to conserve the calories for the real splurge in HA!

Disposed of the old clothes I'd worn (nobody knew me there anyway!) so as not to begin my travels with dirty clothes!

Wednesday
07/06/05:

Flight 9:00AM – 10:51AM BHM to IAH (HOUSTON BUSH INTL).
Flight 12:15pm – 3:10PM IAH to OGG (Kahalui, Maui).

We were able to sit together afterall...we were able to switch up to across the aisle from each other with the airline, then asked the young man seated next to DH to switch with me, and he did. I still don't understand why the airlines don't seat couples together from the start...Our friends who went a week later all had assigned seats 'from the get go' using Travelocity...while we booked direct with the airline, and had to wait for seat assignments (unsatisfactory ones). Something is wrong with that! Their tickets were also about $100 cheaper than ours!

Flight uneventful...LONG! First experience with Continental...and I think they try harder than Delta (our usual).
Everyone on our flight received Free earphones for the movie, etc. due to a housekeeping error($5 savings!).

Pick Up Rental Car. Thrifty Sebring convertible. We had to take a shuttle to pick up the car. Hadn't expected this.

Check-In our corner room #208 Maui Kai. Newly refurbished and very nice! A complimentary box of Chocolate covered Mac Nuts on the table.

We were very favorably impressed with the way these people do business! The facility has just about anything you could want for your stay! Even found boogie boards and grass mats, chair's, etc available for free. Oh yes, a free cappicino and coffee station downstairs beginning @ 7AM (I usually used the coffee maker in our kitchen since we were often leaving early).

The one thing they didn't have was the weather channel, which we could have benefited from. Otherwise, I can't think of a thing!

Once the A/C stopped and they came up immediately to take care of it! Quickly remedied and the guy encouraged me to call again about anything they could do to make our stay more comfortable! I digress...

Dinner: Take out at Honokawai Okazuya. Small, busy! Got the Mahi Mahi
w/lemon and capers; DH got the Terriaki Steak. Both Good and had leftovers a later snack.

Early to Bed!! Oops! The wind blows heavily here, causing a few wakes during the night for the one on the sleeper sofa. (Chairs go scrapping across or bumping on the lanai). We learned to sleep together again!

Thursday
07/07/05:

Sunrise Haleakala (leave 2:30-3:00AM). Time worked out fine!
Hiked Sliding Sands Trail, then check out Pai'i and Makawo towns. One snooty store in Pai'i...will look up the name later...enjoyed the free parking in town!

The one caveat here was, as you know, I wanted to do the Pony Express Tour, but was informed of a weight limit that DH exceeded. Well, after we lugged ourselves back UP the trail (it's much easier going down...the first part!, guess who's beating the bushes for riders at the top? Yep, Pony Express...and they come up to DH and ask him if he wants to ride!!! ACH!

Early lunch: Pai'i Fishmarket (very casual)/good. One snooty store in Pai'i...will look up the name later...enjoyed the free parking in town!

Back to Maui Kai for a nap!! This was when the A/C problem was discovered...Issac took care of it!

Noted a message from DS, informing us of Hurricane Dennis heading toward his home, not sure, maybe ours! He may go to stay at our home if it goes his way. Grandma will go with him. His wife will be at the EMA.

This news adds a stress we'd rather be leaving behind! We found the Sam's phone card to be the best investment of the trip! DH, being over the roads and bridges of our area, had to coordinate his workers, bosses from HA! We would have to cut our trip short and the commissioners would not be coming the following week if we get word that Dennis strikes us directly! I'm praying!!

5:45 PM: Lahaina Luau. GOT PARKING TICKET VALIDATED!! 10-15 Min.drive from Maui Kai. This was outstanding! Would not have expected it to be behind a Long's Drugstore! The best Lava Flow I had on either Island! Mai Tai's were another story though...better EVERYHWERE else!

Also, was not expecting vendor's to be there...I sat at the table wasting precious shopping time before I finally realized it!!

Sat with a family from LA...what a coincidence, so are we...Lower Alabama! Two handsome young men 10 and 12...one was so excited, he found a large piece of sea glass on the beach!

Friday
07/08/05:
BF: Leftovers from Wednesday night.
Snorkle Black Rock. Dissappointing! Cloudy water/extremely crowded! No turtles.

Skipped lunch.

Black Rock Diver/Torch Light Ceremony. The Diver (Kelani) happened by us and offered a pic op. Good thing too, cause I'm not a well versed photographer and could not get the dark action shot of the dive.

Dinner: Heading for Lahaina Coolers, DH is starving, we pass Aloha Plate Lunch, turned around (a bird in the hand)...that's a pun! Realized later that there's a $6 coupon in the E-book. Shucks!
Mai Tai's better than Old Lahaina Luau!

Shop Lahina, just a portion.

Saturday
07/09/05:
Dennis IS heading to hit Mobile directly, so the family go to stay at our home.

Snorkled Honolu'a Bay. It was good. Still cloudy. Learned later that the Bay had been closed a couple weeks earlier 2o to Sharks!! Someone had dumped a bunch of dead fish, which attracted them. I loved the walk to the bay almost as much as the snorkle! The huge tree, the roosters and the cold stream! I thought I had it made in the shade on the way back had climbed the stone beach both ways, did the stream X's 2 without incident, then, suddenly ended up on my muddy butt about 20 yards back up toward the car from the stream! ...What's that they say about pride coming before?

Did note that the canoe snorkle tour groups and catamaran snorkle tour group (Trilogy) pulled up right to where we had been snorkeling! About 16 folks from the canoe's and 30 from the catamaran.

Lunch: Lelani's at Whaler's (Maui Onion Strings/Hula Pie!)...also a fish taco. This was excellent! Overlooking Dig Me Beach and Kaanapali Beachwalk.
I really expected Duke's on Oahu to be more like this...

Dinner: 5:00PM Warren & Annabelle's, The Royal Flush. This was absolutely fantastic!!! Died laughing!!! And was TOTALLY amazed! Even his 4 yo son performed a trick we can't figure out! Good, clean fun!
The food/drinks here were some of the best of the whole trip too! Huge crème brulee' (you got to choose).
The favorite drinks were Haleakala Sunrise and Anabelle's Passion.

Sunday
07/10/05:

Pali Drive

Snorkle Napili @ Napili Kai Resort. I believe I'd like to stay here next time!!

Shave Ice/Auntie Ululani @ Kahulua...the best of the entire trip!! Careful, or you'll breeze right by it around the curve!

Judith's Banana Bread...I find the bb lacking in Hawai...they need to add a few walnuts or pecans, IMHO. Maybe could use a few more bananas as well! I just prefer our southern versions, I guess.

No time for'Ioa Valley/Needle ...we did drive up to Cafe O'Lei in 'Iao, but sadly, they were closed on Sunday. Ended up eating at Carl's (E-coupon) which is a Hardy's in our area.

Dinner: 6:00 PM reservations @ Plantation House Sunset viewing table.
(808)669-6299.
Asked for Derrick/waiter, but he was 'Off', got James, an English professor from Thailand (originally Michigan) instead. Had Crab encrusted Ahi appetizer, Watermelon Walnut Salad, Papio & Bananas Foster..huge and I only got half an order!! DH had the Rib Eye.

Monday
07/11/05:

Farmer's Market M-W-F 7AM-11AM. All kinds of free samples!! Loved the sweet corn! They served it raw! Got a couple of free smoothies...not sure how...we bought several items...some to take on the Hana drive tomorrow.

I loaded up with JoAnn's jewelry at the Farmer's Market! She had the most unusual pieces! She shows at the Old Lahaina Luau, but I didn't buy at that time. One Tahitian Hook I purchased there, she told me I wouldn't see it elsewhere, and I didn't. Later, vendor's in other areas asked me about it!

Washed clothes at the condo before leaving.

12PM Check out of Maui Kai
3PM Check in Mana Kai. Not impressed with the reception at the desk.
We were given poor directions to the nearest Long's and ended up driving around a lot! They wouldn't hold our bags 'til check in. Then, when we did check in, the girl forgot to give us the key to the safe (but she didn't forget to tell me it's a $3.00 charge, not free like Maui Kai!...I knew this anyway). So they had US return back to the desk (a long walk from our room,DH is not too pleased). Same answer when I called for more wash cloths (they have no one to bring them...they've let them all go home!).

The biggest screw up was I had made two long distant phone calls and a couple of e-mails to ensure we would have A/C. Well we did not! They said that only their hotel rooms (much smaller and no kitchen) have A/C. I know there are many of you who do not think A/C is necessary. Well, I'm from the deep South...the heat gets to me. DH & I found we did not cool down until about midnight (not what your thinking!!!Ha!).

BUT the view was TO DIE FOR!! We were in room 201 and it's got to be one of the best, if not THE best in the whole place! There were a couple of weddings right outside our lanai. We were like sitting right on the beach!

Lunch: Seawatch (@ Golden Emerald Golf Course). I liked this setting even better than the Plantation House. DH had the Lomi Lomi and I had the Papaya Salad and a Mango Tango. Very good!

Dinner: 6:30PM Nick's Fishmarket (808)879-7224. Patio/Rail for Sunset View. The Maui Wowie Salad was the best EVER, and big enough to be a whole meal! (I'm a salad lover!).

We had the Rack of Lamb, Crispy Goat Cheese (never knew I liked it so well!), sweet potatoes (purple) and stewed curried pineapple with eggplant shell. I think we ended up sharing, Mark often was not hungry by mealtime due to the various snacking we did, Taro chips and shave ice, etc.

Nick's and Lelani's were the two best ambience places to me. Nick's for the elaborate romance and Lelani's for the happening beach scene.

Tuesday
07/12/05:

Snorkle: In front of our room at the Keawaki Beach. Nice, convenient! Canoe races and swim races in front of our lanai daily.

Drove to La Perouse Bay...lava fields everywhere! Stopped by Ulua (got an offer of a masssage on the beach for $20 bucks/30 minutes, is this common??).

I thought DH might be interested, but not so, we passed. We drove to Maui Home Grown Market in Ha'ku to pre order lunch for the Hana drive, but it was really all for naught. Gerry refuses to make ahead even though we called the next AM before we left to let her know we were on the way, per their request! Still had to wait while she made the sandwiches, which were very good!

Watched the windsurfers & surfers just past Mama's at Hookipa Beach.

Dinner: 5:30PM Mama's Fish House (808)579-8488. There was alittle mix up with the reservations, so didn't get rail seating, but really liked the leather circular booth anyway. It was unique and looked more comfortable than the wooden chairs at the rail.

I had Queen Emma's Champayne Cooler, Lobster Ceviche, Tomato, onion, blue cheese and balsamic vinegar salad, then the Mahi Mahi. Mark must have shared, cause I don't have anything down for him.

Arrived back around 8:30PM, took the stairs (keyed) loaded down with paraphenalia from the car (clearing it out for the Hana drive in the AM), and guess what? The key doesn't work! Now, there are two doors, and outside one and an inside one. The key works on the outside one, not the inside one! We both have to strew our armloads onto the floor and try to open the door using mine and then DH's keys, to no avail.

The neighbor, who we find out later is just checking in, opens his door and is good enough to call Security for us, as we have no phone. Security lets us in but says we'll have to get the room re-keyed in the AM. I'm steamed as we'll be leaving early in the AM for Hana and the desk will not be open then and will be closed again by the time we get back that night.

So, I'm calling the manager, again to no avail (voice mail), when I hear someone delivering a rollaway bed next door....yes Keith, the neighbor is traveling with his Mom and though they specified two Dbl beds, they got one king! Well, I stick my head out and explain ny dismay to Winston, who replies, “Oh, the manager can't do anything about it anyway!...I'm the one who can do something about it!” Well, he did, and pleasantly so! My question is this, why didn't the security person call Winston for me?

Wednesday
07/13/05:

Hana Drive..Leave early. Pick up lunch order from Home Grown Market in Ha'ku (opens @ 6:30AM). We got behind trying to see everthing and
missed Tutu's Shack at Hana Bay...wanted to buy a postcard designed by here-today-gone-to-maui. Maybe I can mail order one from her.
Also, had phoned her and planned to meet that night at Mulligan's, but underestimated the time and were late arriving back to the condo (8:30 PM). I had tried to call from the pay phone at the Tedeschi Winery, but it didn't take.

We did the garden of Eden and hiked two waterfalls. One fellow was really proud of himself at the last one! He removed his clothing and put on a show, much to the dismay of serveral onlookers! I wish I had thought of saying LOUDLY to DH: “Oh Look at the LITTLE Thingy!!” Ha!
I hope the young woman I suggested it to on her way up went through with it as she said she would!

We arrived to find the patio door UNLOCKED AND OPEN!! We had expressly locked it before leaving...obviously the maid left it, as nothing was missing.
Also,the tip was taken, but only one glass was left in the BR (usually two) and no extra wash cloths left as per my written request.

Thursday
07/14/05:
.

Early Check out Mana Kai
10:20 AM Flight (Hawiian Air) to Oahu.