Hawaii 3 - rain, cancellations, beaches etc

The last few days we had a lot of rain.We were supposed to go to a luau which is a show with a big buffet. We arrived, but it started raining, so we had to leave because the kids got cold. We got a rain check for another day. We want to our 'local' place at whaler's village (Hula Grill, I'm not kidding) and had dinner then tucked the kids in. 

The day after, still rain. Went to the beach anyway (it wasn't really cold and well, we are Danes!) We found a dead sea turtle - Eric was really upset because of that.

Silke went dipping with me, and Eric played in the sand. That evening we were supposed to go on a small sunset dinner cruise, but that was canceled due to the rain. We got a refund. We did get to see a nice sunset though. 

Day after, rain again. We tried to make it to a park, but there was a really bad traffic jam, so we gave up and took the kids to the pool which they enjoyed. We did a bit of shopping too.
Silke got to choose a nice dress, Eric a shirt with shorts.
Eric in his new clothes, pushing the button of an interesting mailbox

 We were supposed to go to the Luau where we got the rain-check, but it was canceled due to rain. We got a refund.. A bit annoying but well, that's how it is..
That was our last evening so we splurged on a nicer dinner in the indoor dining room at our local restaurant in Whale Warf. The kids even got to get a milk shake (their first!) as dessert..

The day after we packed, and on the road to the airport we made the trip to the park (it was right next to the airport) that we wanted to do the day before. Very lush, green and beautiful, however it did rain a lot..

 This is called 'the needle'

Hawaii 2 - the road to Hana

Saturday the 25th of January, we took the road to Hana. It is an 'out of this world' scenic drive, around the coastal line to Hana. Maui is not that big so if you drive without stops, the trip is 3 hours, tops. However the road winds quite a lot (understatement) and a lot of people told us we would get carsick. Eric threw up once, fortunately not in the car, otherwise nothing.

Look - the drive from Lahaina (to the left, on West Maui) to Hana (to the right, East Maui). It's really not that far since Maui is a small island. We left fairly early in the morning to get back before dark (no-one, not even Claus, wanted to drive on those roads in the dark..) around 7 AM.
Our first stop was relatively early, at the twin falls. It was a small hike, around 1 mile - so we believed the kids could do it. And so they did, running and jumping, spending some energy.. Lucia slept and ate on me, in the carrier. The kids got to share a huge coconut with 2 straws.

 Claus and the kids at twin falls - I didn't want to balance out on the rocks with Lucia in the carrier

Then we took a really long drive, because all the kids fell asleep. We stopped at a nice viewpoint where Claus and I took some nice pictures and enjoyed the view for a couple of minutes.

We drove on and around the time the kids woke up we stopped at a nice, sandy beach, where we stayed for around 1½ hour.
Eric played in the sand, and Silke frolicked in the waves. For some reason, Eric is afraid of ocean waves, so we never got him to go in the ocean while on Maui. Fortunately he loved the pools at the hotel..

On we went, and took a relatively short stop at the seven sacred pools. It was a short walk and a short hike. Here are the pics.

   

We made it to Hana, a relatively small, peaceful village on East Maui. To make it back that same day we turned around (you can't go the whole way around since there is a piece with very bad road conditions, where your insurance won't cover anything..)- we had only planned one stop on the way back, the black sand beach. We stopped and walked to the black sand beach, a rather steep descent in a lush landscape to a small beach with black sand. The plan was to stay for ½ hour, then turn back. Of course, just as we had made it down, both kids needed the restroom, so back up it was.. and then we drove back. The road is really narrow - many places there's only room for one car, so if people are passing each other, they have to give room for one another. And there is MANY turns, and many narrow turns. Claus drove the whole way for which I will be eternally grateful (as you all know I don't really like driving..) We got out of the narrow-winding-road part just before dark, and could drive the rest of the way in more normal conditions.

Black sand beach:

Hawaii 1 - Elvis, underwater tour etc...

The fligth from SD was uneventful, fortunately. It was a fairly short fligth, around 6 hours, and direct -that's why we chose it! We had to get up early though since it left at 7 AM.

Upon arrival we picked up our rental car and went to the outrigger Aina Nalu in Lahaina, on the island of Maui. Maui should be good for families with kids, and it sure was! The hotel -it's a nice place - however, when they write 'garden view' they mean 'parking lot view', although there are some plants..
Maui is very beautiful - lush and green and tropical, very different from the dry San Diego with the eternal sunshine..(yep, honestly, drove us bonkers after a while..) Nature is extremely beautiful on Maui- some of the most beautiful green places I've been is the Wayanads in Kerala, India, and Tikal in Guatemala..And now Maui! 

It was rather small - but Hawaii is expensive and space costs so that was to be expected. There was a small kichen, with a microwave, a small stovetop, fridge and freezer. When you have 3 little kids it's nice to be able to cook, and not have to go out for breakfast (nightmare).
It was a small hotel room and the big kids slept on a sofa-bed.

 Here we are at whale wharf, were we had some of the best fish and chips I've ever had. They do a really good ceviche too! The kids were very fascinated by the small umbrellas.

The kids also got a hula-lesson

We found out by chance that they have one of the very good Elvis impersonators (Darren Lee) doing a show . (to see pictures and listen to a sample click on the link) It was pretty close we decided to go (especially since we could get a discount and Lucia was free..)

It was good. Really good! I think he was even better than Elvis (not that I would know, considering that Elvis died before I turned 6 months) but my, it really was an awesome show. He changed outfits 7 times. I counted. Lucia slept and ate the whole way through (I protected her ears). Silke fell asleep during the second song, teddy bear, while cuddling her - teddy bear.. Eric actually lasted almost the whole show through - he fell asleep during the last song! Suddenly we had to get to the car with 2 sleeping bigger kids and a baby in a carrier. No mean feat I tell you but fortunately, I married superman so we made it..

Friday morning we went on an underwater tour with reefdancer. It's a boat with a glass bottom so you are submerged in water (encased in glass though!). It was ok. They have divers underwater who shows you things like starfish etc. However it was less pretty than advertised (isn't it often?) so I would say it was so-so.. Kids seemed to like it though.
Diver showing us a starfish

 Eric on the boat

That was the first 2 days - we also did several trips to the pool. There was 2 of them, one salt water and one with chlorine. The kids were impossible to get up.One of us took the bigger kids, the other one took care of baby Lucia who was still too small for the pool - she turned 6 months while at Hawaii.

The salt water pool - there's a spa behind it, with bubbles and hot water, kids loved it..

Baby Lucia, 6 months!