Hi all,
On Wednesday, April 9 we arrived in Maui, Lahaina! Formed by two massive volcanoes, Maui is the second largest of the Hawaiian Islands. A popular tourist destination, Maui welcomes more than 2 million visitors a year, second only to Oahu. Lahaina is Maui’s most popular resort area and a great scenic area for whale watching. Maui’s scenic and climatic contrasts, is culminated by the spectacular Haleakala Crater, the world’s largest inactive volcano, towering over 10,000 feet above sea level. Maui’s natural splendors include the mountains, valleys, rainforest, lakes, waterfalls and beaches with jewel-colored sands.
We have visited Lahaina many times, mostly during whale watching season in the January/February timeframe. We often go to Kaanapali Beach and Whaler’s Village for shopping and sightseeing. On this visit we decided to take in some of the local Lahaina sites as we have never taken the Sugar Cane Train for about an 1 ½ ride up near Whaler’s Village. It was a very enjoyable trip as we viewed the locals, housing, store fronts nearby, saw spectacular views of the Royal Kaanapali golf course, the beautiful homes around the course, and great views of the mountains/harbors from the trip. The golf course was busy with many golfers stopping to wave at our train as it went by.
You will see in a few of the photos an “L” on the mountainside. This “L” symbolized Lahaina High School where the senior class built and maintains it. This year they will be celebrating their 40th reunion of when the “L” was initially created by hosting a bonfire at the sight.
Our favorite eatery in Lahaina is “Cool Cats” as we were recommended this hamburger joint a several years back from locals as the best hamburger in town. It truly was a great meal, as this was our late lunch/dinner treat! Not that we don’t get enough food on the ship, but it is nice to go offshore and enjoy a good hamburger with a large basket of frings (fries/onion rings). And if you have the local Maui tour book, you will find a coupon for a “free dessert – brownie/ice cream treat!” Why not, we’re on vacation and tomorrow is another day of paddle tennis and gym workouts - :)!
On April 12 we crossed the equator, on April 13 we crossed the international date line and will be in Apia and Pago Pago as we will have two April 15’s. Greg is very disappointed as his birthday is 4/16 and he was hoping to celebrate it twice as he did several years ago on a previous cruise!
Our next blog will be on April 16 following our stops in Apia and Pago Pago (Samoan Island stops). We are looking at renting a car, ATV, or scooter to sightsee, snorkel and/or possibly paddle on an outrigger canoe. Who knows what we will find and discover as our adventures continue!
Greg and Sharon Conrad
On Wednesday, April 9 we arrived in Maui, Lahaina! Formed by two massive volcanoes, Maui is the second largest of the Hawaiian Islands. A popular tourist destination, Maui welcomes more than 2 million visitors a year, second only to Oahu. Lahaina is Maui’s most popular resort area and a great scenic area for whale watching. Maui’s scenic and climatic contrasts, is culminated by the spectacular Haleakala Crater, the world’s largest inactive volcano, towering over 10,000 feet above sea level. Maui’s natural splendors include the mountains, valleys, rainforest, lakes, waterfalls and beaches with jewel-colored sands.
We have visited Lahaina many times, mostly during whale watching season in the January/February timeframe. We often go to Kaanapali Beach and Whaler’s Village for shopping and sightseeing. On this visit we decided to take in some of the local Lahaina sites as we have never taken the Sugar Cane Train for about an 1 ½ ride up near Whaler’s Village. It was a very enjoyable trip as we viewed the locals, housing, store fronts nearby, saw spectacular views of the Royal Kaanapali golf course, the beautiful homes around the course, and great views of the mountains/harbors from the trip. The golf course was busy with many golfers stopping to wave at our train as it went by.
You will see in a few of the photos an “L” on the mountainside. This “L” symbolized Lahaina High School where the senior class built and maintains it. This year they will be celebrating their 40th reunion of when the “L” was initially created by hosting a bonfire at the sight.
Our favorite eatery in Lahaina is “Cool Cats” as we were recommended this hamburger joint a several years back from locals as the best hamburger in town. It truly was a great meal, as this was our late lunch/dinner treat! Not that we don’t get enough food on the ship, but it is nice to go offshore and enjoy a good hamburger with a large basket of frings (fries/onion rings). And if you have the local Maui tour book, you will find a coupon for a “free dessert – brownie/ice cream treat!” Why not, we’re on vacation and tomorrow is another day of paddle tennis and gym workouts - :)!
On April 12 we crossed the equator, on April 13 we crossed the international date line and will be in Apia and Pago Pago as we will have two April 15’s. Greg is very disappointed as his birthday is 4/16 and he was hoping to celebrate it twice as he did several years ago on a previous cruise!
Our next blog will be on April 16 following our stops in Apia and Pago Pago (Samoan Island stops). We are looking at renting a car, ATV, or scooter to sightsee, snorkel and/or possibly paddle on an outrigger canoe. Who knows what we will find and discover as our adventures continue!
Greg and Sharon Conrad
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