Aloha from Hawaii

by Liz Dowling

My youngest is fleeing the nest this fall to go to college 🙁

P1060671  P1060672
Since this was the last high school spring break in our house, we went big.

P1060648
Hawaii bound!

IMG_4045
Five moms and senior daughters banded together and picked Maui as our destination.

P1060629
More specifically, the Makena Beach and Golf Resort in South Maui.

P1060640  P1060625
Our cab driver D.K. showed us Oprah’s private road that ends (gated) right across from our hotel.  Celebrities in the hood!

P1060623
Grace and I reaped the benefits of highly organized moms on this trip.  I usually drift towards the beach chair and a paperback and would never have seen all of the incredible things if they hadn’t planned them.

2015-03-31 05.56.24 DSCN0990
A small group went to watch the sunrise at the Haleakala Crater the first morning.

2015-03-31 06.15.00 2015-03-31 07.48.01
Grace and I drew the line at the 3:00 am wake-up call.  But I got to use their pictures!

On top of Haieakala Crater

On top of Haleakala Crater, 10,000 feet

A Luau is a must if you are in Hawaii and the Old Lahaina Luau is fabulous.

P1060676 IMG_3527
It takes place in Old Lahaina (Lahaina was the original capital of Hawaii), right on the water.

Luau Girls!

Luau Girls!

P1060681 P1060690
The food is delicious.  Entertainment is great.  Mai Tais ice cold.  Go.

IMG_3530
The Humpback whales were in season while we were in Maui and we hit the high seas with Captain Joel of Ultimate Whale Watch to see them.

Captain Joel and his mate!

Captain Joel and his mate!

IMG_6178 IMG_6152
Mom and baby.

IMG_6213 IMG_6194
We saw humpback babies, mothers and their escorts in Lanai Bay.

Baby Breaching

Baby Breaching.  Lanai island in the background.

 2015-04-01 10.33.23 P1060696

We sang ABBA on the boat (for some strange reason) and the babies kept breaching to check us out.  We were not complaining!

IMG_3564 P1060707 IMG_3485
Make sure to book with Joel in Lahaina Harbor, Slip 17 (plastic whale in photo above).

IMG_1246
Waterfalls were also on the bucket list.  Four of us took off on the road to Hana to find some.

P1060661 DSCN1177
We pulled over at Twin Falls and walked the mile in to find our waterfall.  It did not disappoint!

P1060645
I did squeeze in sufficient beach time and late afternoons by the pool with my fellow ladies.

2015-04-01 16.48.07
Our hotel had a stunning beach and lots of snorkeling equipment at hand.

DSCN1229 DSCN1228
Makena Beach

Makena hotel at the base of the volcano

Makena hotel at the base of the volcano

The ten of us ventured out, Starbucks in hand, one morning for a 7 am guided kayak and snorkeling tour.

2015-04-03 07.38.08
Out into the open ocean we went.

2015-04-03 07.41.45
Our guide anchored in two places and we snorkeled with fish, turtles and a giant stingray.

2015-04-03 07.46.07 2015-04-03 07.41.36
2015-04-03 07.29.55
Ok, enough with all of the activity.  We ate at some great restaurants; Monkey Pod and Cafe O’Lei to name a few.

DSCN1181
There is no better Mai Tai than a Hawaiian Mai Tai and lets talk about the coffee…

DSCN1203
It was a memorable and bittersweet trip with our adorable girls.  They actually liked hanging out with us and for that reason alone, I will cherish this trip.

IMG_3488
the wry home

(photo credit: Diane, Kristin, Sue and Captain Joel)


You may also like

8 comments

Diane Beveridge April 16, 2015 - 12:01 pm

Loved the description and the memories! Well done, Liz. When can we go back??????

Elizabeth Dowling April 16, 2015 - 3:01 pm

Lets go back asap!

CalGal April 16, 2015 - 1:24 pm

May we all live vicariously through these beautiful pictures and there priceless descriptions!

Elizabeth Dowling April 16, 2015 - 3:02 pm

Thank you so much!

Jennifer Orvis Cline April 17, 2015 - 12:44 am

Love your pictures. When living on Oahu in Lanikai, we often hopped to Lahaina area – Ka’anapali – and loved all that you mention…especially the road to Hana!

Elizabeth Dowling April 17, 2015 - 8:59 am

It was so beautiful, wish we could have done the whole road to Hana. Next time!

Melinda Sweet April 17, 2015 - 12:14 pm

So lovely- all those sweet faces and beautiful places. Great tips. Headed there myself tomorrow!
Melinda

Anonymous April 19, 2015 - 9:09 pm

What a great trip! Such a special time w your girl and her pals – well done you all! Soooo much better and memorable than Atlantis!

Comments are closed.