Hi, Everyone!
We had to get up early to catch the plane in Kauai to go to Maui. By the time we got there, it was lunchtime and everybody was hungry. So we stopped at Beach Bums in Maalaea Harbor to have lunch. Moose-san and I really liked the fried zucchini. Grandma says liking fried zucchini runs in the family!After that, we drove to where we were staying at Kahana Reef. We took a walk on the beach next door and Moose-san and I found a coconut! I was a good helper and made sure Moose-san paid attention to the danger sign, since we were staying right on the shore. We watched whales with Joe-san and Nancy-san until sunset. Nancy-san made us a special place to sleep!
On Sunday, we drove to Lahaina so Moose-san could see the town square. We had fun climbing on the banyan tree: look how big it is! The tree puts down aerial roots from its branches and shades the entire park. I took Moose-san to my favorite shave ice store. The server was very friendly and showed us how shave ice is made. The daily special flavor was yummy!
On Monday, Grandma and Joe-san snorkeled at the beach next door, but there weren’t many fish to see. Then we had a yummy lunch at Star Noodle. Moose-san helped me hold my chopsticks. We make a good team for eating! We especially liked the malasadas (Portuguese doughnuts) for dessert!
Tuesday, there were rain showers around in the morning, so we had a pretty rainbow. Then we took a walk on the Kapalua Coastal Trail, farther north on West Maui. The lava there is so jagged it looks like dragon teeth!
Wednesday, we went to Black Rock at Ka’anapali Beach, so Joe-san and Grandma could snorkel at a place with more fish. There were lots of other people there doing the same thing! We had to park at the next beach north and walk on the beach path. Moose-san and I played in the sand and sat on the rocks, then we sat in our special beach chair. Grandpa didn’t mind bringing it for us because is has straps like a backpack!
Wednesday afternoon was cloudy and windy, so we drove to the north coast of West Maui to see the blowhole there. It’s bigger than Spouting Horn! It was so windy that Grandma had to hold on to me and Moose-san so we didn’t blow away! I was a good helper and reminded Moose-san that the blowhole could be dangerous. On the way back, we stopped at Uncle Steven and Aunt Kara’s favorite snorkel spot. Grandma and Grandpa thought there would be high surf there because of the wind, but it was nice and calm, instead! When we got back to Kahana Reef, Moose-san and I helped Grandma serve a snack of goat cheese and bread — the last of what we bought in Kauai. At dinner, Joe-san got stickers that say “Practice Aloha”. Moose-san and I aren’t quite sure how to do that, but we’re going to try!
Thursday was our last day on Maui. It was too cold and windy to drive up to the top of Haleakala, so I couldn’t show Moose-san what that looks like. But I did get to show him I’ao valley. Moose-san tried to climb the stairs to the viewpoint for I’ao needle, but he is just too small to do it. I was a good helper and pulled him up! After that, I showed Moose-san my favorite leaf for taking a nap when the sun is out and my favorite rock for sitting by the stream. I’ao valley is a pretty place, even when the sun isn’t shining!
We had lunch at Kula Lodge, where we could see the entire central Maui valley from south coast to north coast. The chicken pesto pizza was yummy!
After lunch, we went to Kula Botanical Gardens, so I could introduce Moose-san to all my friends there. We had more steps to climb! First, we visited my koi fish friends, then my plant friends. Moose-san remembered our banksia and protea friends from San Francisco and made lots more friends here. The first tiki we met was very friendly, but the second one wasn’t! I had to save Moose-san from becoming a tiki snack!
Moose-san and I helped Grandma shop for another koa wood Christmas ornament in Pa’ia and made friends with two sea big turtles carved out of wood. Because we were taking an overnight flight, Grandma and Nancy-san let Moose-san and me stay up late and go to dinner at Haile-imaile General Store. I dressed up to go, and I got to meet the chef-owner, Beverly Gannon! She is very famous among good food lovers, but she is very friendly to little lions like me. Her food is extra yummy!
The flights back were VERY long! When we got to Kahului airport after dinner, the self-check-in stations were out of order, so the lines for check-in got very long. Then there was another long line for security! In Denver and Chicago we met people who had been stranded overnight because of bad weather. We were lucky that our final flight to Rochester was only delayed two hours, but Moose-san and I were very tired by the time we got on. Then there were shifting high winds in Rochester that made landing more exciting than Grandma or Grandpa like!
When I woke up on Saturday morning, there was new snow on the ground! Grandma reminded me that I did see my shadow on Groundhog Day three weeks ago, so we still had three more weeks of winter to go. I’m going to read Beverly Gannon cookbooks to keep my warm memories of Hawaii until we get spring here!
It’s less than a week until Grandma and Grandpa’s travel dinner, so we’re all going to be very busy getting ready this week!
Love,
Lion-san
Lucky Lion and Moose. La Vache is very jealous.
Delightful and great pictures! I recognized some of the places you went.