Wednesday, March 25
Today I embarked on my first visit to the island of Maui. My family and I left early in the morning to the Sacramento International Airport. Though tiring, the trip there was exciting. There has always been something about airports and boarding the plane that electrifies me, and unlike most people I love the journey. It was amazing to be able to look at the islands from a different point of view and see how lush it was, while surrounded by astonishing clear, blue waters. We arrived with hours to spare due to the time change. The first piece of business needing to be taken care of, was stopping by the first ever Krispy Kreme drive through I have ever seen, and ordering two dozen donuts of course. We then drove our rental car over to where we were staying, The Weston. We were instantly greeted and given shell necklaces, flowers (the ones that are placed in your hair, above your ear), and water with fruit in it. This hotel had one of the most beautiful lobbies I had ever seen! There was a waterfall that filled up a large and vibrantly decorated Koi pond that was also home to swans, and flamingos. The rest of the day was spent relaxing at the hotel.
Thursday, March 26
The day started off wonderfully because I was able to sleep in just enough to not be tired, but not so much that I was missing out. Today we had no plans till dinner, which meant no busy schedule to stop me from absorbing the beauty of what was around me. The hotel had an energetic atmosphere that made it fun to explore. Near the lobby they had vendors and shops and even a Starbucks. There were also multiple activities to do, which of course cost extra, but that’s okay. On the trip we went with another family, and I am so glad we did because the two kids, Meg and Jack, made this trip an adventure. Both were a few years younger then me, but I’ve always enjoyed their company- they make it interesting. We were wild, and I felt bad for all of those around us! We went back and forth between different pools at the hotel that had waterfalls, caves with hidden Jacuzzis, water basketball, slides, and our favorite, the volleyball net. There was some serious competition at the volleyball net and in the end we all won a little and lost a little. Then we moved over to the beach, which was directly in front of the hotel. The water was warm and clear. We spent that time diving through waves and looking for coral. Then came the most relaxing part of the day that ended up bringing about a very painful night. We rented a little cabana on the beach that had comfy recliner beds, and complementary water and pineapple. It was nice to lie down, but that time spent lying down in the sun combined with being in the water all day, resulted in one of the worst sun burns I have ever had. It was bright red and covered my whole body. The rest of the trip I was nicknamed lobster. That night we went to a luau at the hotel and it was beautiful because it was right before the sun set. While waiting for the show, we were served dinner and got to walk around vendor tables. One of the vendors was a man who makes tiki’s. He had a variety on display and carved them in front of us too. My sister and I each picked one out, and the man specialized it for us. He engraved our names, the name of the tiki, the date, and told us what ours stood for (which is based upon the shape of the eyes). Then the show began, and we got front row seats. There were beautiful dances that included stories, tree climbing, and fire. The night was full of entertainment, humor, and a dazzling setting.
Friday, March 27
That morning we headed over to the beach ready to go snorkeling. We hopped on a boat with a dozen other people and headed towards a different part of the island. On the way there we whale watched due to the abundant amount of whales in the area. We saw about a dozen whales but they had yet to come up to the boat like we hoped. Then we anchored the boat a little ways out from shore. Then we jumped off the boat and were able to explore anywhere on our own. The snorkeling was extremely exciting because it was like I was in a different world. There were many schools of fish and vibrant coral reefs. But the best parts were the sea turtles. I saw five in total and one even swam up to us. It was the coolest thing I have ever experienced because one minute I’m snorkeling and the next I see it moving towards me. Then once it comes within touching distance it stops. I floated side by side with it for at least ten minutes. It was magical! Then to top it off, while we were on our way back to the hotel, we finally saw the whale we had been waiting for. On the boat there’s a netting you can lay on and see the water underneath you. While looking down, out of nowhere comes a huge whale that swims directly underneath the boat. I left the boat happy as can be.
Saturday, March 28
Today was our moving day. In the morning we packed up and checked out of The Weston because we were switching over to a condo. After loading up the car we decided to spend the day at Lahaina. Lahaina is an area that has a whole bunch of cute shops and restaurants all along the beach. We went shopping for souvenirs to bring home to friends and family, and enjoyed the treats they had to offer such as ice cream and snow cones. I enjoyed looking at everything and fell in love with this adorable bath salt shop were you get to customize bath salt containers, and it smelt amazing. Before leaving I got a henna tattoo of a turtle, inspired by my friend I met the previous day. Then we headed to the condo place called Honua Kai. The hotel was beach front and beautiful, but lacked the same energy. But the huge, basically apartment we stayed in, made up for that. We first stopped at Twin Falls, and then went to Black Sand Beach. Finally we made my favorite stop at a waterfall pool right off the road. It was there that I climbed up to the top and jumped off the waterfall. That moment was so thrilling that I decided to experience it several more times. Each fall and impact felt amazing. Then went to the Bamboo Forest and Four pools. Though the hike was draining, long, and intense, the end result was the most beautiful place I had ever seen. After hiking, swimming, and climbing, we finally reached the last pool. The waterfall that filled the pool was huge, and the pool itself was this magnificent, lush, enclosed area with vines and flowers covering its wall. It felt like a secret hide away on a remote island. After that we decided to head back to the hotel, but of course we made another pit stop at Krispy Kreme to finish off the day.
Sunday, March 29
This was the day that left me tired, muddy beyond belief, yet fully satisfied. This was The Road to Hana. It is a road that obviously leads to a town called Hana, but it’s the journey there that everyone comes for.
Monday, March 30
Today we decided to go Zip-lining in the mountains. We Zip-lined on a total of nine courses and then ended with the zip-n-dip. That was where we went into a lake and hung out. At the lake we also got to go paddle boarding, which is a lot easier then it looks. The guides made every moment entertaining. On this trip I realized how funny, nice, and full of life the people who live on Hawaii are.
Tuesday, March 31
This was another day of relaxing before leaving. It was mostly spent in the water. Thought the day itself was pretty none eventful, I had one of the most relaxing experiences of my life. At the condo the beach was much different then the other one. You could play in the waves because it was so shallow and consisted of rock and coral. So I decided to float on out and explore. Floating in the warm water was so refreshing and peaceful. I was a long distance out but could still easily swim to touch the ground. Thanks to my goofy nose-piece goggles and snorkel, I was able to stay under water for long periods of time and visually absorb all that I was seeing. I felt like I was in Finding Nemo because everything was there: coral reefs, Sea Urchins, diverse and colorful fish, Eels, and so much more that I didn’t know the name of, but it was still breath taking!
Wednesday, April 1
Today was the end to my vacation in Maui. This may have been one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. I made memories that will never be forgotten, had experiences few do in their lifetime, and loved every moment of it.