Maui 2012

In March we decided to fly to Maui to escape the long winter in Fairbanks. We stayed at the Kaanapali Beach Hotel in Maui which in Lahiana.

We were right on the beach and right next to great shopping and restaurants at the Whalers Village. We decided not to do any tours and just explore the island on our own without a set schedule nor reservations which made the trip the most enjoyable and relaxing vacation by far! 

The first day we enjoyed the high  end shopping at the Whalers Village and the beach front restaurants with amazing food and drinks. We loved the frozen yogurt shop as well:) At night we enjoyed the sunsets and walks around the grounds and along the beach. When we just wanted to walk around we would go back to these places around the evening time. The atmosphere was so mellow and not crowded and the weather was fantastic. 

The week was filled with seeing the entire island. We drove the Hannah Highway all the way to its end. It was the craziest drive we have ever been on. The windy roads and lush foliage and waterfalls was the landscape at the beginning of the highway.

Nat and Nic at the Botanical Gardens along the Hannah Highway.

Nic being a tree hugger lol

Nat-Look at my hands!

 We walked around in the Botanical Gardens and saw so many plants and landscapes that were breath taking and alien to us being from Alaska. The most beautiful gardens we have ever seen.

Our view from the gardens.

One of the many waterfalls we passed along the Hannah Highway.

A random door we found that went into the forest.

The road turned into a dirt path the further we drove...

The landscape changing.

  As we drove up the highway the landscape drastically changed from lush and green to volcanic rock and dry until it almost felt like we were on the moon. We pulled over and walked into a canyon to look take a closer look.

Us in the Canyon.

More of the landscape.

The ocean was off to the left of the car so we got out and took a picture...

The drive along the Hannah Highway was a lot of fun. Turning corners and beeping our horn to let people around the corners know we were there was thrilling lol. We went over a ton of one way bridges honking our horn the whole way through lol! We had a relaxing evening eating our Safeway sandwich and salad out on the balcony of our hotel listening to the Hawaiian music they played every night for the guests down below and watching the sunset disappear through the trees and into the oceans horizon.

The next day we decided to walk down to LuLus bar and grill to get some drinks. Me miscalculated the mileage along the busy road so in one of the hottest days we were there we walked a while and got very sun burnt to good ole LuLus and it was well worth the trip! In Maui we learned fast that two drinks was good and three, well three really gets the laughter flowing! So burnt, tired and thirsty we got to LuLus after walking all the way down there and had a couple drinks and a shot. After sitting in the cool restaurant we decided to venture across the street to some of the surf shops. Needless to say we were laughing and Nic kept saying "Ok lets just geta  taxi back!" I kept disagreeing so onward we marched into the afternoons scorching sun laughing the entire way and talking. As we walked we came to a cement bridge and Nic said "Look at that! Hold this!" He handed me the camera and cigarettes and the lighter and he hurdled over boulders and rock until he practically plunged into the ocean trying to touch a  sea turtle, There were so many of them coming up to the rocks and once he touched one it flapped its fins hard at him and escaped. as I stood there bewildered at what I saw a local passed by on a bike and slowed down and I was laughing hysterically at the scene and said "He found a sea turtle!" The local looked as he slowly passed gave me a huge smile and said "Right On!" He probably thought we were insane but what do you expect we live in Alaska lol!





Once Nic returned after almost being attacked by a poor scared sea turtle we walked on exhilarated by the experience. We talk about it the whole way back. Once we got to the hotel we hung out out wet cash all over the room to dry since Nic remembered to take the "important things" out of his pockets just not huis wallet lol!
The next say we decided to drive along the ocean and see what we could find. Well low and behold we found a beautiful secluded beach which was ours for the whole day. We hung out there, ate lunch talked, laughed and enjoy the rays!

Our own beach for the day.

Nat being silly n Nic being burned..lol!

That evening we ate at the Whaler Village and walked around the stores. Nic bought me a Coach bag and we checked out all the shops and we met some locals and talked with them. That evening we chilled out, walked on the beach and enjoyed the cool breeze after the sun burn episode.

Ohhh presents....

LOVING my new bag!:)

The next morning was hilarious, we didn't wake up til late and had decided that we'd stay in that day and just relax. We had no plans on doing anything. Housekeeping came to fluff our pillow and we were not ready for it. As I answered the door the pressure crashed the screen on the balcony making a giant bang and housekeeping asked "are you okay? Are you SURE you don't need new towels?" I said no we are good and hurried to close the door only to find Nic trying to push the screen which had literally fallen onto the balcony back on the track! Once we semi got the screen in place and laughed hard about the scene we continued on with our leisurely day....
                                                                             

                                                     

Nic coming out from behind the curtains being the emergency maintenance man fixing the screen....

 That evening we enjoyed a walk on the beach and the sunset we have ever seen!

Epic Sunset

After watching the beautiful sunset together, Nic proposed to me that night.

Good Morning!

Taking a walk that afternoon.

The beach cove over from ours..

We watched as the Humpback whales breached out of the water..

        Great view to an awesome evening! The next day we drove and parked and hung out at one of the side parks along the main road.

                                                                                         

hanging out under the palm trees

We decided to go out that next day so we kept driving and had late luch at LuLus.....

Nic at LuLus

Delicious beer that we had at Lulus Bar and Grill.

On the last night we were there we ate at our Hotel Restaurant, and I would suggest their food. All their dishes are created by award winning executive chef Tom Muromoto. The dishes were absolutely fabulous!As we ate we got to be entertained by the hula show.

                                                                                   

Us going to dinner....

The day we had to leave we traveled to Lao Valley. In Lao Valley we visited the Botanical Gardens.

                                                                             

Lao Valley

The Gardens

                                                                           

Us by the Portuguese peace pole.

                                                                                     

             

                                             


                                                

                     After leaving the gardens we drove through town and found a really neat looking church.

  

It was kind of depressing having to leave Maui and we knew we would miss the great vibes of Hawaii.

In the Maui airport we met four wonderful women who were all friends and had met later in life, from all corners of the world. They made the  flight to Honolulu one of the most joyful and fun trips! On our flight out we stopped in Honolulu where we had drinks and bite to eat, took some pics in the photo booth together, went to many of the high end shops, bought our a matching set of Koa rings there and just waited for our flight.

But in no time I had Nic laughing...
Nat at the Honolulu Airport.

In our visit to Maui we met wonderful people, ate delicious food, saw remarkable sites and began the rest of our lives together.