Please Pray For Maui
/Of all the Hawaiian Islands, Maui has always held a special place in my heart. Each time we took the kids when they were younger, we used Ron’s frequent flyer miles (he had a lot of them) and didn’t have to pay anything for our airfare. We got a good deal on hotels/condos/rental cars, ate breakfast at the Condo, and a sandwich lunch out of a cooler we got from Costco with fresh Hawaiian fruit from the farmer’s market. We generally only ate out once a day and that was for dinner. These vacations did not cost what they do today. The impact of the recent fires is heart breaking, and we are praying for all those who have lost so much. It has caused us to pull our pictures out, and cherish the memories we have of this island paradise.
The first time we went to Maui, Steph was only about six or seven. Ty and Errin were babies in diapers playing in the sand on Kaanapali Beach, I’m guessing it was 1992. I will never forget the fragrant smell as we stepped off the plane into the open air at the airport! The smell of Hawaiian flowers is heavenly!!! In addition to spending daily time at Ka’anapali Beach right out from our hotel, we took many walks on Front Street in Lahaina, and made lots of memories.
Walking in and out of “Hilo Hattie’s” collecting the free shell lei’s for Steph to take back to each of her classmates at school, treats from the ABC store, enjoying the shade under the historical old Banyon Tree, eating at the “Hard Rock” café and collecting a guitar pin, going on a whale watch boat tour from Lahaina Harbor, touring to the pineapple plantation on the little train, watching Steph learn to make printed fabric with leaves from the trees at the Ka’anapali Beach Hotel from a sweet little Hawaiian Grandma, along with a skirt made from native leaves, having our pictures taken with the colorful Macaw birds a man had on Front Street – Errin was not a fan of the birds :).
It was hard with little ones, and Ron wasn’t there as it was a girl’s trip with my sister, her two kids, and my mother. But we had a good time, and I could hardly wait for Ron to experience it all.
It took us awhile to get back, the next time was in 2004 just after Steph graduated from high school. Once again we spent most of our days at the beach, this time on the other side of Black Rock at “Airplane Beach” – or Kahekili Beach Park. This beach is popular with locals and tourists alike, and for good reason. The reef is nice and the fish are bright and brilliant. There are also sea turtles, and the parking is free. Back in the 1960’s, Kahekili Beach was the only place you could land a plane on Maui’s west side, hence the nickname, “Airplane Beach”. Today there is a small airport in Kapalua. There is a hotel there you can walk a few short steps to and get a yummy fruity umbrella drink.
We loved watching the surfers just out from the harbor on Front Street, shopping until we couldn’t walk any longer, and eating at “Cheeseburger in Paradise” as we watched the sun set. Ron literally wore his “Cheeseburger in Paradise” shirt to rags he loved that thing so much! Not that it was the nicest t-shirt in the world, but the memories it represented will last forever! We went to a really cheesy luau on the beach, and bought over-priced drinks that came in hollowed out pineapples for each of us, it was worth every dollar! Even the Hawaiian singer in the tight white Don Ho type pants and shoes made us laugh! The kids loved the hula and fire dancers, even though the food wasn’t great and we were packed in tighter than a church dinner we made memories, and our trip was filled with LIGHT!
We did another whale watch snorkel trip this time with the “Pacific Whale Foundation”. Poor Steph fed the fish off the back of the boat the entire trip, but it was memorable!
The kids played by the big anchor at Whaler’s Village with the old sailing ship in the ocean behind us, and just being together in one of the most beautiful places on earth, it was magical. Even the trip to Costco was a must do tourist attraction!!! We fell in love with Hawaiian fruit juices, especially POG - Passion Fruit, Orange, and Guava. We bought way too much at Costco, and this was before suitcases had a weight limit. I stuffed every single can we had left in each of our bags and brought them home!!! We enjoyed the taste of Hawaii for weeks after we got back!
We each got a kukui nut bracelet, and we all wore them the entire trip. I still have mine hanging in our bedroom!
Why is it that each time we get the opportunity to go to Hawaii, as the time nears to come home, we are seriously trying to think of a way to stay a few more days or maybe months?!!!! It truly is paradise! We thoroughly enjoyed our time on Kauai a few months ago with all our kids and grands, but in light of the tragedy on Maui, my heart and prayers have been with those poor people who have lost everything. We will never forget the Spirit of Aloha we felt while we were there! LIGHT radiates from the people who have lived there for generations!
They love their beloved island, and they love their history, and so do we! What a blessing it has been to experience it together as a family!!! Who would have ever thought something like this could even happen?!!! So as Maui works to recover and rebuild, may they be blessed with LIGHT and LOVE and HOPE! May the sun shine again on those kind Hawaiian people, God bless those who have lost so much! Please pray for Maui, and if possible donate what you can to help. There are many legitimate sites to choose from. They have been inundated with physical items, and are now in desperate need of monetary donations to help rebuild.
Love Ya, Les :)