Back on American Soil but not Quite ......

Hawaii is, in some ways, very much America- Costco, Walmart, Walgreens, Outback, you get the picture.  But at the same time, it is also very tropical and lush, and you don't feel like this is America.  Everything but pineapple, bananas, shaved ice, flowers, macadamia nuts, and local fish are imported!!  As a result, everything is expensive.  The local fish and seafood are fresh and plentiful, and we took full advantage of their availability!

USS Arizona Memorial

We had organized a long layover in Honolulu, between our flight from Tokyo until our flight to Maui, in order to take advantage of visiting Pearl Harbor (thank you Eitan for helping us secure those hard-to-get tickets in advance!).  The museums there were quite good at explaining the various aspects of the attack, and we took a Navy launch boat out to the USS Arizona Memorial.  Unfortunately, we were unable to get on to the Memorial itself as a structural crack was identified on the boat pier deeming it unsafe, hence no visitors were permitted.  I never knew the Memorial was built directly over the sunken Arizona.  I thought it was a memorial at the site where the ship was attacked, but assumed it was raised and salvaged after removing the fallen soldiers.  It was not, and it serves as a sacred burial site.  Very moving and I know my Dad, who was a World War II Veteran, would have been so pleased that we took the time to visit the site.  He was a very proud Veteran.

Maui is just beautiful with so many different landscapes and ecosystems on a relatively small island:  lush tropical rainforests, volcanic rock cliffs, black, white, and red sand beaches, and the arid Mount Haleakala (an extinct volcano that forms more than 75% of the island, and which we drove to the summit at 10,023 ft. above sea level).  

view from our condo balcony

We stayed at an airbnb in Kihei, and drove around in our rental car to the black sand beach in Makena, hiked the rugged Kapalua Coast Trail in Kapalua, visited the “hippie town” of Paia, and strolled the streets of quaint Lahaina, where we also enjoyed a Hawaiian Luau one evening on the beach.  We also spent the day driving “the Road to Hana” which is considered one of the most scenic roads in the world.  This 52-mile drive out to Hana is also a top global contender for the road with most turns and curves (617 curves, and 56 single lane bridges).  We drove through rain forests and stopped often to see waterfalls and pools, scenic overlooks, blow holes, lava tubes, steep cliffs along the ocean, black sand and pebble beaches, and of course purchase the “hot, just from the oven“ banana bread and fresh pineapple smoothie at the Halfway to Hana Roadside stand.  We survived the Road to Hana!

just before sunset (everyday!!)	orchid lei and mai tai....	my view at the beach
top of Mt. Haleakala	Mt. Haleakala was up there...air in short supply	on the Kapalua Trail
on the way to Hana	swimming hole and waterfall on the way to Hana	lava tube on the way to Hana

Observatory near top of Mt. Haleakala

Beautiful bamboo grove

Waterfalls on way to Hana

There was this amazing Banyan Tree on the main town square in Lahaina that was absolutely huge, forming several additional trunks from the trailers of the original tree.....

Maui was also a time to just relax, sit at the beach, or ride the waves on the boogie board so kindly supplied by our condo owner (I watched others, figured out the “system,” then went out there and gave it a shot).  We booked a Hawaiian Luau (complete with beautiful orchid leis that I thought we would get earlier when we stepped off the plane- what's up with that?), and enjoyed morning coffee and breakfast in our PJs on the balcony (something we hadn’t done since Australia).   

Beachfront, Luau, Tiki Statue..Hawaii!!

Luau Entertainment

Coffee, in PJs, on balcony, overlooking ocean!

Hawaii was also a time to decompress from our great adventure.  By this point, we had gotten on each other's nerves and craved interaction with people other than ourselves.  We were tired, anxious as to the next stage in our lives, stressed to find a temporary home in Tulum until our condo was completed, and questioning our relationship- we were together for the first time 24/7 for six months, non-stop!  

Putting that temporarily aside, we didn't let it affect our appetites.  We tried Hawaiian shaved ice (doesn’t hold a candle to South Philly Italian Ice!), local banana breads, and ate our hearts out on fresh tuna, Mahi Mahi, Opa, and shrimp.  Only a few days left before we arrive in Denver and meet up with Arik and Charlotte to celebrate her graduation from Grad School.  From there, it's back to New Jersey to spend time with Eitan in his new condo, do the rounds with doctor visits, and then head back down to Tulum to meet up with Mike, Gaby, and Mia, and wait for our condo to be completed and move in.
  
We're ready....

 

Out and about in Hawaii