SAP's Maui TR
Jul 9th, 2004, 04:14 PM
#22
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This is bonniebroad's recipe from a post some time ago. Just leave out the rum, and it's virgin. Personally, I find lava flows too sweet, but everyone else seems to like 'em!
LAVA FLOW:
Lava Flow is quickly becoming the favorite Hawaiian drink.
Ingredients:
1 oz Light rum
1 oz Malibu rum
2 oz Strawberries
1 Banana, ripe but not overripe
2 oz Pineapple juice unsweetened
2 oz Coconut cream
Preparation: Blend strawberries and the two rums in a blender into a smooth paste. Pour the paste into a hurricane glass. Rinse the blender. Blend banana, coconut cream, and pineapple juice in blender until smooth. Pour this mixture into the glass with the rums SLOWLY. The strawberry/rum mix should creep up the sides of the glass to make a wonderful looking (and tasting) summertime cocktail!
LAVA FLOW:
Lava Flow is quickly becoming the favorite Hawaiian drink.
Ingredients:
1 oz Light rum
1 oz Malibu rum
2 oz Strawberries
1 Banana, ripe but not overripe
2 oz Pineapple juice unsweetened
2 oz Coconut cream
Preparation: Blend strawberries and the two rums in a blender into a smooth paste. Pour the paste into a hurricane glass. Rinse the blender. Blend banana, coconut cream, and pineapple juice in blender until smooth. Pour this mixture into the glass with the rums SLOWLY. The strawberry/rum mix should creep up the sides of the glass to make a wonderful looking (and tasting) summertime cocktail!
Jul 9th, 2004, 05:13 PM
#24
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Day 6 - Heavenly Hana
I kicked everyone out of bed early again, ignoring the groans. I tend to be a little militant when I've got the sighteeing bug. PAP was joking about the Hana Highway to Hell and the kids looked concerned about what on earth I had in store for them. In the end, it was a long but wonderful day. Most importantly, the Dramamine worked for JP.
I had forgotten to call the Hana Bay Juice Company, but lo and behold they were open. I yelled this fact out a little too suddenly as we passed, though, which caused PAP to slam on the brakes in the middle of the intersection thinking we'd hit something. MS was so embarrassed that she just kept muttering, "Oh my God, Oh my God" over and over as she peered out the window to see if anyone was looking. Traveling w/your parents must be a real drag sometimes.
The ladies at HBJC set us up for the day w/smoothies for breakfast, box lunches for Hana and most importantly, that goofy "On the Road Again" CD tour by Captain Aloha and Uncle Boy Kanai. It really was a helpful addition to my printed materials and certainly made the trip more enjoyable for the kids.
After the tour was over at Lindbergh's Grave, we re-played the music track portion at JP's request three more times until we got back to the hotel. I enjoyed many of the songs, but I think I'll scream if I ever hear "Reggae Rock in the Maui Style" one more time. Unfortunately, this is now JP's favorite song. MS finds that particularly funny because one of the lyrics says, "Reggae music, it drive people crazy. . ."
I didn't think the Hana Highway was nearly as difficult as I imagined after all the dire warnings. Of course, as PAP points out, I was not the one driving. We missed pulling off the road in time during the first few waterfalls, but we still caught a lot of sites on my short list of possibilities. It had been pouring rain in Pa'ia and PAP would occasionally glance over at me like I was crazy, but there were long intervals between the cloudbursts. The mist actually contributed to Hana's lush beauty.
Memorable highlights of the trip include:
the views of Honomanu Bay;
the windswept Ke'anae Peninsula;
banana bread;
waterfalls - several right by the road;
the green, misty tunnel of Nahiku Road;
the overlook, artesian falls and pool at the end of Nahiku Rd.;
the multiple honor stands w/fruit, flowers and banana bread;
buying a fresh coconut from a stand where the charming lady vendor w/pigtails cut the husk off with a machete on a stump, gave it to us with a straw to drink the juice, and then chopped it in half so we could eat the jelly with a "spoon" made out of the husk (which made me feel like I was in a Michener novel);
a brief visit to Blue Pool and a very cold swim - please read and respect the signs those locals have put up to defend themselves from the onslaught;
a picnic lunch on a rather rough lava rock overlooking Black Sand Beach at Wai'anapanapa State Park;
and standing on the black, rocky shore (sand is a misnomer) when the next downpour came until we ran for cover in the nearby cave, which has its own pool;
The only disappointments of the day were because the intermittent downpours prevented us from hiking to the upstream waterfalls at Pua'a Ka'a State Park (I was worried about the slippery mud in the narrow parts); spending more time on the east coast beaches; and swimming at Oheo Gulch, which had been banned by the State Park because of the heavy falls. Also, we didn't spend any time in Hana itself, which I plan to do on a future trip. I would definitely spend the night to get the full flavor of the place. The Pipiwai Trail hike will also be on the top of my next list, along w/Venus Pool and Alele Falls.
Just after leaving Oheo Gulch, we got stuck behind a group of horses trotting closely together behind a cart. Their broad hindquarters were perfectly framed in the windshield and it struck me that they looked just like they were dancing to the music on the CD. It happened to be an island version of Willie Nelson's "On the Road Again" and, when I pointed this out to the kids, it sent them into fits of laughter. PAP took a picture of this "view" for our scrapbook. I'm sure it was one of those quirky had-to-be-there moments, but it's one we won't forget. That song won't ever be the same again, either.
The views of the southern coast and Haleakala were also incredible along cliff-hugging Hwy 31. The blind curves are nerve-racking, but very much worth the drive. At one point coming around a narrow corner, a local "businessman" leaned out of his old white Buick and waved a humongous doobie in PAP's face. The man was grinning from ear to ear and obviously having a great time teasing the haoles. At last, we rounded the SW corner back up to Teddeschi Winery, where we stopped for fudge.
After a tiring day, we made it back to the hotel in time to for the sunset at Polo Beach. It turned out to be another peak experience of the vacation as PAP photographed the kids playing in the surf, silhouetted against a mango sky.
Dinner was a quick trip to Maui Tacos just before they closed -- good, cheap and fresh.
I kicked everyone out of bed early again, ignoring the groans. I tend to be a little militant when I've got the sighteeing bug. PAP was joking about the Hana Highway to Hell and the kids looked concerned about what on earth I had in store for them. In the end, it was a long but wonderful day. Most importantly, the Dramamine worked for JP.
I had forgotten to call the Hana Bay Juice Company, but lo and behold they were open. I yelled this fact out a little too suddenly as we passed, though, which caused PAP to slam on the brakes in the middle of the intersection thinking we'd hit something. MS was so embarrassed that she just kept muttering, "Oh my God, Oh my God" over and over as she peered out the window to see if anyone was looking. Traveling w/your parents must be a real drag sometimes.
The ladies at HBJC set us up for the day w/smoothies for breakfast, box lunches for Hana and most importantly, that goofy "On the Road Again" CD tour by Captain Aloha and Uncle Boy Kanai. It really was a helpful addition to my printed materials and certainly made the trip more enjoyable for the kids.
After the tour was over at Lindbergh's Grave, we re-played the music track portion at JP's request three more times until we got back to the hotel. I enjoyed many of the songs, but I think I'll scream if I ever hear "Reggae Rock in the Maui Style" one more time. Unfortunately, this is now JP's favorite song. MS finds that particularly funny because one of the lyrics says, "Reggae music, it drive people crazy. . ."
I didn't think the Hana Highway was nearly as difficult as I imagined after all the dire warnings. Of course, as PAP points out, I was not the one driving. We missed pulling off the road in time during the first few waterfalls, but we still caught a lot of sites on my short list of possibilities. It had been pouring rain in Pa'ia and PAP would occasionally glance over at me like I was crazy, but there were long intervals between the cloudbursts. The mist actually contributed to Hana's lush beauty.
Memorable highlights of the trip include:
the views of Honomanu Bay;
the windswept Ke'anae Peninsula;
banana bread;
waterfalls - several right by the road;
the green, misty tunnel of Nahiku Road;
the overlook, artesian falls and pool at the end of Nahiku Rd.;
the multiple honor stands w/fruit, flowers and banana bread;
buying a fresh coconut from a stand where the charming lady vendor w/pigtails cut the husk off with a machete on a stump, gave it to us with a straw to drink the juice, and then chopped it in half so we could eat the jelly with a "spoon" made out of the husk (which made me feel like I was in a Michener novel);
a brief visit to Blue Pool and a very cold swim - please read and respect the signs those locals have put up to defend themselves from the onslaught;
a picnic lunch on a rather rough lava rock overlooking Black Sand Beach at Wai'anapanapa State Park;
and standing on the black, rocky shore (sand is a misnomer) when the next downpour came until we ran for cover in the nearby cave, which has its own pool;
The only disappointments of the day were because the intermittent downpours prevented us from hiking to the upstream waterfalls at Pua'a Ka'a State Park (I was worried about the slippery mud in the narrow parts); spending more time on the east coast beaches; and swimming at Oheo Gulch, which had been banned by the State Park because of the heavy falls. Also, we didn't spend any time in Hana itself, which I plan to do on a future trip. I would definitely spend the night to get the full flavor of the place. The Pipiwai Trail hike will also be on the top of my next list, along w/Venus Pool and Alele Falls.
Just after leaving Oheo Gulch, we got stuck behind a group of horses trotting closely together behind a cart. Their broad hindquarters were perfectly framed in the windshield and it struck me that they looked just like they were dancing to the music on the CD. It happened to be an island version of Willie Nelson's "On the Road Again" and, when I pointed this out to the kids, it sent them into fits of laughter. PAP took a picture of this "view" for our scrapbook. I'm sure it was one of those quirky had-to-be-there moments, but it's one we won't forget. That song won't ever be the same again, either.
The views of the southern coast and Haleakala were also incredible along cliff-hugging Hwy 31. The blind curves are nerve-racking, but very much worth the drive. At one point coming around a narrow corner, a local "businessman" leaned out of his old white Buick and waved a humongous doobie in PAP's face. The man was grinning from ear to ear and obviously having a great time teasing the haoles. At last, we rounded the SW corner back up to Teddeschi Winery, where we stopped for fudge.
After a tiring day, we made it back to the hotel in time to for the sunset at Polo Beach. It turned out to be another peak experience of the vacation as PAP photographed the kids playing in the surf, silhouetted against a mango sky.
Dinner was a quick trip to Maui Tacos just before they closed -- good, cheap and fresh.
Jul 11th, 2004, 03:18 PM
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Day 7 - Just Another Day in Paradise
Our last full day in Maui was basically a langorous repeat of Day 4's hang loose schedule.
JP was really in need of some kid-style fun and spent four hours at the Keiki Lani kids' club. He loved it so much, we wished we had enrolled him earlier. Among other things, they built sandcastles, did island crafts, played in the pools and watched a movie. He cried at 3 p.m. when the program ended 'cause he was "never going to see (his) new friends again."
Meanwhile, the rest of us spent the day lounging at the pools. I had originally booked myself for a 2-1/2 hour spa treatment, but a nagging guilt began to creep in. For one thing, MS really wanted someone to hang out with since JP was occupado. I also had developed a small prejudice against the Hawaiian tourist industry's persistent efforts to lure me away from my money. After the first few self-indulgent forays into the Valley of Temptation, my practical German-Irish blood began to pump some sense into my brain.
Both PAP and MS were relieved that I had rejected the luxury of lomi lomi massage. Baking in the free sunshine with a compensatory drink in hand, I vowed to embark on a new line of research along the lines of Kal in Kauai: developing a plan for budget-conscious pampering in paradise that could be loosely entitled "Decadence on a Dime."
Alas, my stoic thoughts didn't stick around longer than my last mai tai. PAP decided our final full night of vacation warranted a romantic view. I had originally made reservations at Sarento's over a month before, then nearly canceled them after I heard a couple of bad reviews. In the end, we decided to chance it, figuring the sunset view would be worth it. I am SO glad we did. The service was almost as good as Nick's, the food and location were even better, and it was a satisfying $30 less ($60 less than Mama's).
There was some unexpected entertainment that evening. An exceedingly gracious young man was inviting Sarento's guests onto the lawn for sunset portraits. Although dressed in a polo & khakis, his pale page-boy hair, formal speech and extravagant manners were like a character from a long-gone century. When he bowed low and extended a hand, I could just envision a red carpet rolling out. It crossed my mind that he had been imported from the Excalibur in Las Vegas, but he was an excellent photographer.
Despite feeling like tacky tourists, we allowed our picture to be taken and were surprised out how very nice it turned out. The sunset also cooperated by being more gorgeous than usual. The backdrop of palm trees silhouetted against an orange-yellow sky looks positively fake. We happily forked out $20 for the 5x7 because it's the only one we have of all of us together during the whole trip.
Aye, foiled again by those clever Maui Marketers.
Our last full day in Maui was basically a langorous repeat of Day 4's hang loose schedule.
JP was really in need of some kid-style fun and spent four hours at the Keiki Lani kids' club. He loved it so much, we wished we had enrolled him earlier. Among other things, they built sandcastles, did island crafts, played in the pools and watched a movie. He cried at 3 p.m. when the program ended 'cause he was "never going to see (his) new friends again."
Meanwhile, the rest of us spent the day lounging at the pools. I had originally booked myself for a 2-1/2 hour spa treatment, but a nagging guilt began to creep in. For one thing, MS really wanted someone to hang out with since JP was occupado. I also had developed a small prejudice against the Hawaiian tourist industry's persistent efforts to lure me away from my money. After the first few self-indulgent forays into the Valley of Temptation, my practical German-Irish blood began to pump some sense into my brain.
Both PAP and MS were relieved that I had rejected the luxury of lomi lomi massage. Baking in the free sunshine with a compensatory drink in hand, I vowed to embark on a new line of research along the lines of Kal in Kauai: developing a plan for budget-conscious pampering in paradise that could be loosely entitled "Decadence on a Dime."
Alas, my stoic thoughts didn't stick around longer than my last mai tai. PAP decided our final full night of vacation warranted a romantic view. I had originally made reservations at Sarento's over a month before, then nearly canceled them after I heard a couple of bad reviews. In the end, we decided to chance it, figuring the sunset view would be worth it. I am SO glad we did. The service was almost as good as Nick's, the food and location were even better, and it was a satisfying $30 less ($60 less than Mama's).
There was some unexpected entertainment that evening. An exceedingly gracious young man was inviting Sarento's guests onto the lawn for sunset portraits. Although dressed in a polo & khakis, his pale page-boy hair, formal speech and extravagant manners were like a character from a long-gone century. When he bowed low and extended a hand, I could just envision a red carpet rolling out. It crossed my mind that he had been imported from the Excalibur in Las Vegas, but he was an excellent photographer.
Despite feeling like tacky tourists, we allowed our picture to be taken and were surprised out how very nice it turned out. The sunset also cooperated by being more gorgeous than usual. The backdrop of palm trees silhouetted against an orange-yellow sky looks positively fake. We happily forked out $20 for the 5x7 because it's the only one we have of all of us together during the whole trip.
Aye, foiled again by those clever Maui Marketers.
Jul 11th, 2004, 03:36 PM
#26
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Ahhh, so many trips to Hawaii....so few spa lomi lomi's!
Seems I always plan to have the day at the spa with my husband, but once you get there and get local, you just don't NEED one....so what's the point.
Of all our trips we have only spent one day with 2 hr massages at GW in Maui. I would highly recommend this spa to anyone visiting. A class of its own.
May we someday be there long enough to need a massage!!! Great report!!!
Seems I always plan to have the day at the spa with my husband, but once you get there and get local, you just don't NEED one....so what's the point.
Of all our trips we have only spent one day with 2 hr massages at GW in Maui. I would highly recommend this spa to anyone visiting. A class of its own.
May we someday be there long enough to need a massage!!! Great report!!!
Jul 11th, 2004, 10:37 PM
#27
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I vote we all chip in to send SAP BACK to Hawaii for more experiences to write to us about! Great reports! We can all save many bucks just living vicariously through her! I want to photograph MY kids against a mango sky... Sigh! Thanks SAP. Thanks for the Lava Flow recipe as well. 5 more days 'til paradise!
Jul 12th, 2004, 02:05 PM
#28
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Send me back? Oo-oo-oo, sounds like a great plan! I'll just, uh, leave PAP at home w/the kids. . .
Day 8 - Haleakala High and a Funky Goodbye
"Check-out" can be such a sad word, no wonder we use it as a euphemism for death.
I had optimistically planned to pack most of our stuff early, go snorkeling one last time and then come back to the room to shower before we left Wailea. The packing, unfortunately, took way longer than anticipated after I discovered the kids had been throwing their stuff into a large pile in the closet all week. Of course, I didn't hesitate to let them know -- repeatedly -- that this was the reason we couldn't say goodbye to the beach.
When PAP headed over to the front desk, the rest of us managed to sneak down to the grounds for another look. We stopped to watch a native Hawaiian weaving palm frond baskets on the lawn and, after we had admired his work for awhile, he started "talking story." I had frequently heard this term before, but this was my first experience w/the real thing. It really isn't just what we call small talk, but seems more like a social art form -- like bartering in the Middle East.
As he bent & twisted the fresh leaves, he told us how his mother made a basket for each of her nine kids when they were born and then another when they got married. He keeps mementos and little treasures in his baskets: ticket stubs, his first driver's license, a dried flower from his wedding lei. Every year, he adds another palm frond flower to the outside of each basket to mark time.
I was thoroughly charmed by this man and his Hawaiian hope chests, but my things were packed and I could see PAP gesturing to me from the lobby. Here was a natural, native product I had actually witnessed being made by a native who had shared a little of his personal history with me -- none of this made in China on an assembly line thing - and wouldn't you know, I hadn't even brought my purse. He said he'd be in Hana next year, though, so now I have another reason to go back.
We enjoyed the perfect breakfast for our last morning in paradise. Driving through Kihei, we pulled into the Rainbow Mall to get shave ice from the Espresso Shack across from Kam III. Let me tell you, this was the best shave ice I've ever had -- even better than Jo'Jo's in Kauai. The servings were so big, the kids couldn't even finish. Naturally, I'd ordered the best flavor combo: vanilla ice cream on the bottom, mango syrup over the ice and coconut cream on top. JP's sour apple was downright gross, but the blue vanilla PAP and MS had was pretty good. I was disappointed they only had vanilla ice cream, but they give you two scoops w/lots of ice.
On the way upcountry to Haleakala, we stopped at Komoda Bakery in Makawao for the second half of breakfast: malasadas. The selection was almost completely gone. I imagine large groups come down from the sunrise tours and raid the place before noon. We bought the remaining few lilikoi and guava-filled kinds. PAP sampled a glazed donut, which didn't impress him, but we all really liked the malasadas. The lilikoi was most ono.
Haleakala Road is winding, but I had given JP a dose of Dramamine. There were gorgeous views in 3 directions (north, west and south). We were surprised to still see bikers coming down the mountain at 1:00 p.m. Could these guys have been there since sunrise? Within just a few miles, we were enclosed in fog and could barely see the road in front of us. I was a little worried at this point that the whole peak would be socked in & it would be a wasted trip. You have no way of knowing if you're driving through a cloud halo or an entire cap.
Once we climbed above the cloud layer, though, it was a spectacular sight. PAP kept saying, "I'm so glad you talked me into this." Already planning our next trip, I wasted no time in following up with, "Now, imagine how great it is at sunrise?"
There were very few people at the visitor centers or summit and it wasn't even cold, which I imagine is a far cry from the early a.m. scenario. We were fine at 60 degrees just pulling on a sweatshirt, but I think the wind chill up there is the biggest weather factor. PAP was enchanted with the colors of the crater and took a lot of pics w/both cameras. In the meantime, I was drooling over the views of the BI's 2 volcanoes rising up from the waters in the south.
MS and I wanted to walk down Sliding Sands trail part way for some better interior views, but there were horse droppings covering the entire path My toes curled right up into my Tevas at the thought of mucking my way down there w/out boots. I'd recommend a tour on someone else's hooves for that little adventure.
IMO, the tastiest views of Maui were on the way back down the volcano. An entire half of the island (head and shoulders) is spread out before you. Both Ma'alaea and Kahului Bays are visible in one awesome panoramic view, but good luck getting them into the same photograph.
We arrived in Kahului much earlier than anticipated, so we drove to Kanaha Beach Park to see the kitesurfers. Watching them put on all the gear & get their kites started was kind of cool. PAP took a lot of pics of them doing tricks in the water.
Dinner at Manana Garage was a funky way to end the trip The decor looks like it was brainstormed by a group of college guys sitting at a bar drinking tequila shots. Among other colorful features, the handles to the big, orange entry doors are gas pumps; the napkin holders are hose clamps and the waitress station looks like a large tool chest. The food was really quite good - sort of a fusion of Mexican, Cuban and local Hawaiian. The prices are a little high for that type of cuisine, but not alarmingly so.
The real winners of our meal were the lilikoi margarita, a delicious mound of pulled adobo pork and the Manana Garage signature dessert: a strange but excellent sweet potato/vanilla ice cream sandwich drizzled w/caramel (the sweet potato was in the cookie crust & tasted more like pumpkin). Like the whole vacation, it was better than expected and left you wanting more.
Aloha!
Day 8 - Haleakala High and a Funky Goodbye
"Check-out" can be such a sad word, no wonder we use it as a euphemism for death.
I had optimistically planned to pack most of our stuff early, go snorkeling one last time and then come back to the room to shower before we left Wailea. The packing, unfortunately, took way longer than anticipated after I discovered the kids had been throwing their stuff into a large pile in the closet all week. Of course, I didn't hesitate to let them know -- repeatedly -- that this was the reason we couldn't say goodbye to the beach.
When PAP headed over to the front desk, the rest of us managed to sneak down to the grounds for another look. We stopped to watch a native Hawaiian weaving palm frond baskets on the lawn and, after we had admired his work for awhile, he started "talking story." I had frequently heard this term before, but this was my first experience w/the real thing. It really isn't just what we call small talk, but seems more like a social art form -- like bartering in the Middle East.
As he bent & twisted the fresh leaves, he told us how his mother made a basket for each of her nine kids when they were born and then another when they got married. He keeps mementos and little treasures in his baskets: ticket stubs, his first driver's license, a dried flower from his wedding lei. Every year, he adds another palm frond flower to the outside of each basket to mark time.
I was thoroughly charmed by this man and his Hawaiian hope chests, but my things were packed and I could see PAP gesturing to me from the lobby. Here was a natural, native product I had actually witnessed being made by a native who had shared a little of his personal history with me -- none of this made in China on an assembly line thing - and wouldn't you know, I hadn't even brought my purse. He said he'd be in Hana next year, though, so now I have another reason to go back.
We enjoyed the perfect breakfast for our last morning in paradise. Driving through Kihei, we pulled into the Rainbow Mall to get shave ice from the Espresso Shack across from Kam III. Let me tell you, this was the best shave ice I've ever had -- even better than Jo'Jo's in Kauai. The servings were so big, the kids couldn't even finish. Naturally, I'd ordered the best flavor combo: vanilla ice cream on the bottom, mango syrup over the ice and coconut cream on top. JP's sour apple was downright gross, but the blue vanilla PAP and MS had was pretty good. I was disappointed they only had vanilla ice cream, but they give you two scoops w/lots of ice.
On the way upcountry to Haleakala, we stopped at Komoda Bakery in Makawao for the second half of breakfast: malasadas. The selection was almost completely gone. I imagine large groups come down from the sunrise tours and raid the place before noon. We bought the remaining few lilikoi and guava-filled kinds. PAP sampled a glazed donut, which didn't impress him, but we all really liked the malasadas. The lilikoi was most ono.
Haleakala Road is winding, but I had given JP a dose of Dramamine. There were gorgeous views in 3 directions (north, west and south). We were surprised to still see bikers coming down the mountain at 1:00 p.m. Could these guys have been there since sunrise? Within just a few miles, we were enclosed in fog and could barely see the road in front of us. I was a little worried at this point that the whole peak would be socked in & it would be a wasted trip. You have no way of knowing if you're driving through a cloud halo or an entire cap.
Once we climbed above the cloud layer, though, it was a spectacular sight. PAP kept saying, "I'm so glad you talked me into this." Already planning our next trip, I wasted no time in following up with, "Now, imagine how great it is at sunrise?"
There were very few people at the visitor centers or summit and it wasn't even cold, which I imagine is a far cry from the early a.m. scenario. We were fine at 60 degrees just pulling on a sweatshirt, but I think the wind chill up there is the biggest weather factor. PAP was enchanted with the colors of the crater and took a lot of pics w/both cameras. In the meantime, I was drooling over the views of the BI's 2 volcanoes rising up from the waters in the south.
MS and I wanted to walk down Sliding Sands trail part way for some better interior views, but there were horse droppings covering the entire path My toes curled right up into my Tevas at the thought of mucking my way down there w/out boots. I'd recommend a tour on someone else's hooves for that little adventure.
IMO, the tastiest views of Maui were on the way back down the volcano. An entire half of the island (head and shoulders) is spread out before you. Both Ma'alaea and Kahului Bays are visible in one awesome panoramic view, but good luck getting them into the same photograph.
We arrived in Kahului much earlier than anticipated, so we drove to Kanaha Beach Park to see the kitesurfers. Watching them put on all the gear & get their kites started was kind of cool. PAP took a lot of pics of them doing tricks in the water.
Dinner at Manana Garage was a funky way to end the trip The decor looks like it was brainstormed by a group of college guys sitting at a bar drinking tequila shots. Among other colorful features, the handles to the big, orange entry doors are gas pumps; the napkin holders are hose clamps and the waitress station looks like a large tool chest. The food was really quite good - sort of a fusion of Mexican, Cuban and local Hawaiian. The prices are a little high for that type of cuisine, but not alarmingly so.
The real winners of our meal were the lilikoi margarita, a delicious mound of pulled adobo pork and the Manana Garage signature dessert: a strange but excellent sweet potato/vanilla ice cream sandwich drizzled w/caramel (the sweet potato was in the cookie crust & tasted more like pumpkin). Like the whole vacation, it was better than expected and left you wanting more.
Aloha!
Jul 12th, 2004, 02:14 PM
#29
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Sap, did you have those unbelievable pink, blue and white clouds when you drove back down Haleakala? They were amazing when we drove down late one afternoon.... it's such a memory that my sister just gave us a beautiful vase with those blue, pink and white colors swirled in it to celebrate our 40th anniversary. (The four of us were together on that trip, and we've never forgotten how beautiful it was, late in the day, like that.) Well, thank you for taking me back!
Sigh............
Sigh............
Jul 12th, 2004, 10:44 PM
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Hi Sap, You've encouraged me to make another trip up the crater. We were terribly disappointed last year to find ourselves surrounded by fog all the way up, at the top, then all the way down. As that's our typical morning weather pattern here in Northern CA, I could have been standing in my front yard for the same view! Thanks for the great description. Aloha!
Jul 13th, 2004, 07:04 AM
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Sap: Can you please describe the Highway 31 ride back from Hana to the Tedechi Winery. How was the condition of the road (ok for regular sedan?) and did it save time going this way? Apart from the blind turns, any other plusses or minuses in going this way? I am thinking of taking it Hana, to get an early start on the Pipiwai Trail...what do you think?
Jul 13th, 2004, 01:19 PM
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Forkinmouth, the road would be fine in a sedan, but the condition really varies from one stretch to the next. The section of dirt road was actually smoother than the old paved portion. Much of it is new, though. I doubt whether it saved any time, but we took it for a different view.
Personally, I would hesitate to take it counter-clockwise. If you do that, you're on the cliff side making those blind turns. I had originally thought about doing the same thing to get to the Pipiwai Trail and Oheo Gulch early, but I wouldn't do it now. If you're a skilled, brave driver and you've had plenty of coffee that morning, you might chance it. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that gone2maui says the locals (who drive faster 'cause they know the road well) often head that way in the morning to avoid tourists.
Personally, I would hesitate to take it counter-clockwise. If you do that, you're on the cliff side making those blind turns. I had originally thought about doing the same thing to get to the Pipiwai Trail and Oheo Gulch early, but I wouldn't do it now. If you're a skilled, brave driver and you've had plenty of coffee that morning, you might chance it. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that gone2maui says the locals (who drive faster 'cause they know the road well) often head that way in the morning to avoid tourists.
Jul 13th, 2004, 02:52 PM
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I agree with sap, I also thought that the badly paved section was worse then the dirt road section. You can hardly go faster than 15-20 mph because of the bumpy road. But it was fine if you take it slow.
We did cross paths with a few 'crazy' locals who were driving really fast on the other side (counter clockwise).
We did cross paths with a few 'crazy' locals who were driving really fast on the other side (counter clockwise).
Jul 13th, 2004, 05:57 PM
#35
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I don't really think that you would get much of a head start at Pipiwai anyway. It takes about the same time to get to Kipahulu from either direction, and, if get behind a ranch vehicle in the morning it can really slow you down. DH added close to an hour to his drive to Kaupo once recent morning because he got stuck behind a ranch truck hauling cinder blocks. There was just no way to get around him!
