Week 241 - Planes, Trains & Automobiles - 03-27-2011
Actually, Trains, Buses, Planes and Automobiles to Maui, Hawaii
After a few years of the rigors of full-time motorhome travel, it was time for a little rest. So, joined by Ellen's brother Art and his wife Kelli, we headed from San Jose, California to Maui.
We start off with the $2.00 Light Rail system in San Jose, caught the free bus to the airport and wait for our Alaskan Airlines plane to be readied.
The flight was great and in just 4 and 1/2 hours we jump into the shuttle bus to get to our rental car in Maui.
These rental car agents are fast. In no time, we headed off the 24 miles to Kaanapali Beach to the Marriott Maui Ocean Beach resort.
After a greeting and a lei, Art and Kelli relax at the Longboards restaurant.
It's hard to beat sitting at the outdoor restaurant in the warm weather viewing the beautiful sunsets.
The Marriott has a 1-acre pool with waterfalls, a slide, hot spas and chairs to relax and enjoy the sun. Like most of the western US, we had quite a bit of wind, but it was warm and pleasant.
1) Off on our first travel adventure around the northwest tip of the island. The road is narrow but we managed to miss Uncle Lawrence as he whizzed by in his 1-ton stake truck. 2) From the road you could look down upon Honalua Bay and snorkelers. Off in the distance is Napili.
These lucky snorkelers were among the dolphins and hoping to get a closer look.
1) Kelli and Ellen stop at the closed snack "shack" above Honokohau Bay. 2) The church is down at sea level. Our friend Joe, you'll meet him soon, lives here and stayed up in the wee hours of the night to see what the Japan tsunami would do to this area. But, it did no damage. The only area on the island that was affected was at Kahului where the airport is.
1) Here's Joe in the black shirt. We stopped at Julie's, who boasts the "Best Banana Bread on the Planet". The samples were very good, so we bought two loaves. Julie was gone this day, but Janet gladly helped us.
Joe was walking to Kahului and had his thumb out, so we picked him up. Joe spends time in Minnesota and in Maui. We thought he was walking to the airport, which is 15 miles away. As it turned out, he was just walking to town to get a Starbuck's coffee. And then he would walk back home! Since Joe knew the island he had us stop at Christine's art gallery and at Curley's road side stand, which is owned by Pakuala, one of Joe's 28 siblings! Long story.
We all conceded to sit through a Marriott time-share sales presentation. No worries, Marriott has a reputation for being low key and it was fun to see the newest time share units. As a reward we got a free sunset whale watching cruise on the Teralani 3. Note that even with the rainbow behind Ellen, we had absolutely fabulous weather out on the water.
Our entourage checks out to see if there might be a whale in the water.
And indeed there was. We do believe that there was a large humpback whale connected to that tail.
While we never saw the whales breach the water, we saw dozens of spoutings and whales in groups of two or three chasing each other. Well, actually the guys were chasing the girls, as usual.
Beautiful weather on the boat and still an amazing sunset.
1) The Whaler's Village has shops and free hula shows. 2) The para-surfers were out on the way to the Road to Hana.
Visiting Maui is not complete without taking the Road to Hana. Plan for at least eight hours as there over 600 hairpin turns and more than 50 one-lane bridges. Your average speed will be about 20 mph and its 44 miles to Hana. And you may want to go past Hana to the Seven Sacred Pools, of which there are more than seven. And there is nothing sacred about them, but the name draws tourists.
Our first stop at Mile 2 we took the one mile hike to Twin Falls.
Art helps his beautiful bride over the plank and watches to make sure his sister can navigate the rocky creek bottom leading to the falls.
This flower is about four inches across but the leaf on the right of almost two feet!
Oops, this out of place photo, shows you Honokohau Bay and the location of the "Best Banana Bread on the Planet".
Now, back on the Road to Hana. Here is one of the over 50 one-lane bridges and one of the numerous waterfalls. Some falls can be seen from the road and some you must walk to.
The Pa'iloa Bay is at the Wainapanapa State Park at mile marker 32. This bay has a black sand beach, caves, gigantic waves and blow holes in the lava rock shore.
The sign said "Danger, do not go near the blow holes", so Art headed right out between two of the best.
The waves continually covered the rock on the far side of the bay and created awesome waterfalls.
This lava bridge could take you out to the waves. Even Art didn't go there as we would have had to scrape him off the rock.
Want another trip full of hair pin turns? The trip to the dormant Haleakala Volcano is for you. This trip will take at least six hours. And you will go from 80 degree weather to the 50's or less. The formations are gorgeous and you can see three other Hawaiian islands from its peak. The last eruption was in 1790.
Ah, finally a little down time. Pete prepares the BBQ as Kelli and Art relax. Ellen's is off somewhere eating all the butter for the garlic bread.
Never a bad photo on Maui.
Oh no, our last day! But the church service at Leilani's restaurant was just the way to finish the week. In fact you can share this experience with us in a slide show with music by clicking on
Maui Calvary Chapel
Relaxed and ready to rumble, we are back on the mainland, ready to bring you more of the best of the USA.
Be blessed and have a great week.
Love, Pete and Ellen
Photos from Mar 2011
The Full Time Motorhome Living Guide
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