The good: The trip started off right, with an upgrade to first class for the 6 hour flight to Kahalui, Maui. Yes!
The challenge: First Class on Alaska provides you with one of their "digi-players," allowing you to watch movies the whole way. That may seem good, but the movie I chose to watch was "Marley and Me." I was crying so hard I made a spectacle of myself there in seat 1F. I'm such a sap.
The good: My little place in Hamoa - just past Hana (seen only in pictures on the Interwebs) was surprisingly wonderful. It was so quiet, very sweet, and only a little funky (tropics-affected bathroom fixtures, mostly). I could hear the constant surf from my bed all night, and then was awakened by melodious birdsong in the morning. It was also a 2 1/2 minute was to Hamoa Beach, where I went both mornings to watch the sunrise. I had the place all to myself (save the crabs and birds and waves and plumeria flowers).
The challenge: I didn't know, until I was driving out to Oheo Gulch to camp at Haleakala NP that recent rains had washed out a bridge, closing the road completely, and totally preventing any access to the Park. I then entered a vortex of Hawaiian State and County Park bureaucracy that ended up with me driving all the way back to Kahalui. I thought I could camp at Hosmer Grove campground in the NP, but when I got there (it's at 7000 feet on the side of the volcano), it was cold and rainy. I came to Hawaii to camp where it was warm! I could have camped in the cold and rain at home. So I ended up getting a room at the Maui Seaside Inn, owned by a native Hawaiian family.
The good: Because I'm staying in town, I got to have a fabulous Hot Pot at Fresh Mint in Paia. YUM. And now I'm sitting in the Green Banana Cafe drinking a Wild Coconut Chai, listening to an unbelievably good young flamenco guitarist -- self taught. What a treat.
The challenge: I think I'm done with challenges for today.
Hey there! Kenny sent me the link to your blog, so I'm just catching up. Your photos are gorgeous! I had to write and let you know that Caleb and I also bawled during Marley and Me, and Caleb actually cried a bit in the evenings for a few days after we saw the movie. I liked you already, but I like you even more now that I know what a softie you are!
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