Whirlwind Tour of Maui - Day 1

Last weekend I went to Maui for my sister’s college graduation. My wonderful Mom traveled all the way from Michigan to join us there too. Leann - my sister - got her degree from the University of Hawaii through a new extension program that allows people on Maui to earn their Bachelors and Masters degrees on the island.

Leann has lived on Maui for five years, and has studied the Hawaiian culture and language. She gave us the most amazing tour of the island in those four days. We got to see much of the island that I don’t think most people see when they go there for vacation.

Day 1 - Thursday

The first thing after picking me up from the airport, we went to “kite beach”. There you can see some amazing Kite Surfers - a sport that I’ve been thinking about picking up. A couple of my friends are into it and now I can see why. These guys would start on the beach - get wind in their kite and then run to the water, strap the board on their feet and take off. Catching a gust of wind with a wave and they could get 20 feet in the air! It was amazing and I’d love to try it someday.

Then we picked up my Mom from the airport, and went to see Leann’s place. On the way we stopped at the Stopwatch in Makawao (Ma-ka-wow) for appetizers (PuPus in Hawaiian) and a cold beer.

After visiting Leann’s cool place in Haiku (literally in the jungle!) her friends Alaina and Ralph hooked us up with a Luau at the Maui Prince Hotel in Wailea (Why-lay-ah).

Watching the sun set over the ocean was beautiful. There was even a wedding on the beach.

What an exciting first day on Maui!

Day 2 >>