Blue Hawaii

Quote: The first leg of our trip was a week in Maui.Words can't begin to describe Maui. It was well worth the 8 hour flight from Dallas to Kahului. One of the first sights to great you as you land is the incredibly blue shoreline, only to have your gaze displaced by a 10,000 foot volcano. A fertile valley is cradled by Haleakala on the east and the West Maui Mountain on the west. Waving stalks of sugarcane hurried us on our way along the western coast to Lahaina and Kaanapali Beach. From the verdant cane and pineapple fields, you rapidly approach desertlike climes. The leeward side of the island (west) receives 10-12" of rainfall per year, and it shows. The mountains are dusty, harsh, with sparce vegetation. The complete antithesis of what you saw when you arrived. You think to yourself, "Is this Paradise?" And the answer is "Yes!" The resorts make your forget that 20 yards from their property line, the grass is brown, not green. You really can't go wrong anywhere you stay in Maui. Kaanapali is the center of a lot of action, definitely tourist. Beware, parking in Lahaina is at a premium, be prepared to drive around and take note of the "public parking" signs. They aren't free. The best mode of transportation is a rental car. You're free to do as you will and can go the same places that the tours take you. True you get a little bit more on the tours, but this way you're on your own schedule. It's definitely not the mainland, in some areas the speed limits on the highway is 45 and while no one travels at the limit, be aware that the roads are well patroled. The resorts we visited were lush, well maintained and had easy beach access. We stayed at the Embassy Vacation Resort (formerly the Embassy Suites). The moment we stepped out of the vehicle, we knew we'd have a great time. The valet staff was friendly, informative, and prompt with getting our car. The front desk staff was very nice. Typically, the timeshare units do not have ocean view but we were given an upgrade at no charge, which we gladly took. We checked out the concierge service and was pleasantly surprised to find out that if we would attend the Embassy Timeshare presentation, we could get $100 each off the activity of our choice. In other words, we got our boat trip to Molokini free and a $50 credit on our ending hotel bill. It was worth the 1 hour presentation. I think we had an advantage because we are already timeshare owners and knew the sales pitch. Some must sees/dos in Maui are: Haleakala, Road to Hana, a Helicopter Tour, beach hopping, and dining out. The food in Maui is fantastic. My companion and I are not big fish eaters here at home, but in Hawaii, we had fish nearly every day. Ahi, Mahi Mahi, Swordfish, Opah, Ono. The variety and tastes are incredible. It doesn't matter what you want to do in Maui, there is something for everyone. The second leg of our Hawaiian vacation was Oahu. If you're tired of rest and relaxation, head to the island of Oahu. A 20 minute plane ride and viola! you are in the big city of Honolulu. Concrete, high rises, people and traffic...it all adds to the flavor that is Waikiki. From our hotel, we could see the bustling crowds walking the stores, and the surfers riding the waves at Waikiki. The beach is beautiful, but can be very crowded. Our Saturday was spent touring the island by rental car. We paid homage to those who fought and died at Pearl Harbor. You cannot go to Hawaii and not go to Pearl Harbor once. There is no cost to get into the museum or to see the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial; however, you can give donations. If you've never thought of WWII in terms of the lives lost, both military and civilian, the film you see before departing to the memorial will set you straight. 55 million people lost their lives in WWII. From Pearl Harbor, we drove to the North Shore with a small detour to the Dole Pineapple Plantation. It's worth the $9 for the train and stroll through the gardens. If you've never appreciated a pineapple before, bear in mind it takes one plant 20 months to bear a pineapple, and another 15-18 months to bear a second. The North Shore is a place of legends. 30 foot waves, riding the Banzai Pipeline...Waimea Bay. Dude!! It's righteous. Although the swell in summer is sadly lacking, it was fun to see all the surfers out there. If you get to Oahu, you must go to Haleiwa and have a burger or the mahi sandwich at Kua Aina Sandwich Shop. It's a hole in the wall, but it's got the BEST burgers (I've ever had) and sandwiches! As for beaches, get away from Waikiki. Kailua is spectacular. A long shore of white sand and fairly gentle turquoise waters makes for a great day. Pack a picnic lunch, plenty of sunscreen and you've got it made. The last point of interest we visited in Oahu is Hanauma Bay. It's a must do for snorkeling. It is very gentle and protected, but you have to get there very early or very late. It's crowded. Hawaii is simply amazing. Once you've been, you'll want to go back!!