Maui
Once out of the Crater we spent the weekend recooperating on the beach
(snorkeling, driving about the shorelines, playing in the waves).
The above photo is from our drive around West Maui.
My favorite evening was spent in Lahaina
(and trust me, it takes a lot to pick a favorite,
the following is from my journal)
"The conversation was warm and light as we ate and looked out at Lanai. Matt ordered a second, the third lager as time drifted on.
I discovered I'd left my pen and writing pad at his house, so Matt found a restaruant pen for me and I jotted down the following:
'Live well this life' rest in dark wood letters below a mounted fish, a neon 'budlight' sign lighting its lower edge.
Out the window at my left Linai shelters the setting sun and a battleship ignites the sky with a string of lights from bow to mast to stern.
Behind me a man plays his guitar and his voice carries over the chatter of patrons.
I look down to the sand below my window and watch as crabs crawl from their homes to the tideline and back again.
He stares out, grey cap sitting in reverse, blue eyes gazing past the horizon.He takes another drink of his lager and taps his fingers on the windowsill as the fans flick light about our table.'
(This was at 'Cheeseburger's In Paradise', and we spent 3 hours there, watching the sun set)
Another evening in Lahaina was spent at a Lua'au.
"He wore levi's and a purple Hawaiin shirt, and I had on my miniskirt and choker.
We arrived at the Old Lahaina Lu'au.
Our server was a tall native, yellow wrap with tea leaf print about his waist, tattoo's around his biceps and a long braid down his back-I didn't complain.
He placed a lei (or, as he said 'lei'd me') over my head, then led us to our seats, explaining that the shack on one side was for food, another one the bar, and that we were free to look around at the native crafts being displayed.
In the background 3 musicians played and Hula dancers performed form time to time
(it was a circular set up, with a round stage and tables in 3 levels scattered around).
Matt went for another Lava flow at the bar and came back to our seats laughing.
"Our server just asked what my wife wanted to drink."
"Your wife?"
"Yeah. I told him you're not my wife, but he still wants to know if you'd like a drink."
They uncovered the pig and dinner commenced.
Matt took a whole row of pineapple and set it on my plate (it is my all time favorite food).
There was bamboo, crab, and traditional salads; native sweet potatoe (yum), Hawaiin fried rice, guava chicken(wow), mahi mahi, banna bread, roast pork, poi and sushi.
Because it was his birthday, and becuase he's so determined that I do new things, he had me try all the fish (blek!).
He also taught me how to eat poi-as a dipping sauce, and it was pretty good.
I got up (with Matt's help, navigating a miniskirt and the large chairs was a bit difficult) for seconds and as I walked away Matt loudly voiced "Wow,. . .thirds?!?" just for the amusement of everyone at our table.
Then came desert (guava poundcake and pineapple turnover), and the hula program. The Old Lahaina lu'au covers traditional Hula's, it was quite good,. . .and Matt liked al lthe hips.
The moon hung in a thick silver sliver as it bagian to mist down on us and the dancers, making the tiki lamps flicker about.
As we walked to the car Matt gave me a stronge squeeze from the side, lifting me 1/2 off the ground and thanking me for the good time.
We walked about Lahaina again, and ventured down on the beach below Cheeseburgers in Paradise.
In my skirt I chased after a crab and caught it.
Just as I got it in my hands I heard Matt
"oh,. ..oh,. . .the sea!!'
and I stood up just as a wave wrapped about my ankles.
It was a nicle sized crab, white with sandy dots, and we both looked at it for a while.
I turned to find a place to set it down and Matt placed in on my back :0
We parused about the Lahaina sotres, trying on hats, glasses and jewelry, and making fun of each other as we went.
We stopped at Hilo Hades to buy souveneirs (it's a cheap store).
They usually greet you with shell lei's, but somehow we didn't get them.
Matt was complaining a bit about it (in a little kids voice 'I want my lei!')
when the woman started handing them out.
He grabbed my hand, turned back-kind of bouncing along and chanting 'I'm taking my wife to get leid!'
We ended up driving towards Kihei and setting up his tent on the beach
(close enough that in the middle of the night I awoke and was startled by the closeness of the tide).
The moon left a deep silver path to Linai that reminded me of my 'pathway' sotry.
We sat on the sand and stared out at the ocean, feeling the cool breeze and enjoying the silence."
It realy was a fantabulous time,. . .and the next day we went on a helicoptor ride.
The helicopter ride was wonderful,
we managed to be right next to the pilot, and saw this awesome view of waterfalls pouring out of the volcano to fall 100's of feet.
After the helicoptor ride we drove around to Hana.
I made Matt stop so I could get a picture of this horse,
and then it walked up to the car and stuck its head inside
Two weeks,. . .and I still don't think it was enough! But I had the greatest of times, especially thanks to Matt.