Our Blissful Heaven In Paradise

We've made a promise to ourselves that we would develop a different type of attitude on our second trip to Kauai. Because of this determination, we came to cherish the quiet sunrises, the balmy sunsets, and the seclusion from the everyday life. We were given the chance to rediscover ourselves. I’m pleased to say that we’ve fulfilled our promises with heartfelt exhilaration.

Quick Tips:

The best advice I can offer you is to purchase a book from Andrew Doughty & Harriett Friedman, published by Wizard Publications, BEFORE you go on your much anticipated trip. Their guidebooks offer a sense of humor with self-experiences and truthful advice for each of the Hawaiian Islands. Their honesty brings forth a genuine knowledge of the many activities, dining choices, and especially on the islands themselves.

For more information on their guidebooks, please visit Wizard Publications. I'm sure you will find these guidebooks money well spent.

Best Way To Get Around:

The best way to get around in Kauai is by renting a car. Give yourself the freedom to explore whenever you want and wherever you want.

Word Of Warning: If you are anticipating going on these narrow, windy roads, then do yourself a favor and rent a smaller vehicle. We had the privilege of driving on this type of road in a full-sized vehicle. Let me say that, during our palm-sweating, head-soaking adventure, I was mentally kicking myself in the you-know-what for WANTING a bigger vehicle. Shame on me for doing that!! So please, save yourself some sweat (and money, too) and rent that smaller size. You'll be sooo glad you did, especially if you are on one of those that we've so lovingly nicknamed "the golf cart roads."

Best Things Nearby:
The ocean!!

PAHIO Shearwater sits on the edge of a cliff overlooking the vast ocean. You'll get a glimpse of the dazzling sunrises, sunsets, and if you're real lucky, the whales!

Shearwater is situated on the North Shore, located in the elegant heart of Princeville. Princeville offers their residents and guests a small shopping complex with its own Foodland grocery store.

The elegant Princeville Resort, with its alluring beach, is also close to the resort. And if that's not enough, you can take in the views from the nearby quaint town of Hanalei. Shearwater’s location is the perfect spot for a dream come true.

Best Things About the Resort:
The best thing about PAHIO Shearwater is the "million-dollar view" you get to encounter every single time you take a peek outside of your window or step out onto your lanai/balcony. As the saying goes, "A picture is worth a thousand words." It’s worth a lot more than that when you experience these views with your own eyes.

Resort Experience:
Imagine hearing the powerful tides crashing against the cliffs. Imagine hearing the alluring ocean pacifying you to sleep each and every single night. Simply imagine yourself being in paradise. Welcome to PAHIO Shearwater.

We’ve been involved with timeshares since 1999 and have never had an unfavorable experience. Yes, some resorts are better than others, but you learn to focus on the more positive aspects of each resort than dwell on the negatives. ‘Tis our motto, anyway.

The on-site amenities at PAHIO Shearwater are scarce. With only a small pool and a hot tub, one would immediately think this would not be a worthwhile place to stay at. Wrong. While Shearwater is short on its on-site amenities, its breathtaking views are incomparable.

We were assigned to unit no. 210, which is on the second floor (lanai) in building three. Truthfully, other than it not being a penthouse, we couldn’t have asked for a better unit. The views were outstanding!!!

All of Shearwater’s units are two bedrooms with the exception of unit no. 310, which is a three bedroom. The two-bedroom units occupy a maximum of six people. The units come with a sleeper sofa, two full-sized bathrooms, and Jacuzzi tubs. Each of these units is 1,316 square feet while the lanais are 245 square feet. They each have a spacious kitchen with Jenn-Aire ranges, dishwashers, refrigerators, a washer and dryer, a microwave and a garbage disposal.

Please keep in mind that this resort has different check-in days (Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays) and allots each of their units on specific check-in days. As it stands now, the bedrooms are configured differently. Some master bedrooms have either a king or queen-size bed. Guest bedrooms either have one queen-size bed, two double beds, or two twin beds. If certain bed types are important to you, call the resort ahead of time to make your specific request.

WARNING: Shearwater units do NOT have air-conditioning. Again, where there is a negative, there is certainly a positive. And that is… trade winds. There were some days when the wind was so powerful that we had to partially close the sliding door. Thankfully, these sliding glass doors have screens on them, which help keep "critters" out.

Other Positive Features at Shearwater:

DVD player in the living room

TV’s in both bedrooms

Vacuum cleaner with broom and dustpan

Starter packet of supplies, i.e. laundry detergent, soap, coffee, sugar, etc.

Mid-week cleaning.

Sharing amenities/activities with other PAHIO resorts

WiFi internet at the clubhouse!!!

For all of those who simply can’t be away from their internet, Shearwater now has Wifi (wireless internet) at the Clubhouse. If you do not have a wireless access card, you can still access the internet from their computer located in the clubhouse or by using the data port in the unit.

As you can see, our visit with PAHIO Shearwater has excelled our expectations. We can’t wait to see those "million dollar views" again. Mahalo & Aloha~

• Unit Type: 2 Bedroom
• Activities: Very Good
• Amenities: Very Good
• Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Excellent

JJ's Broilers is conveniently located in Lihue on the Kalapaki Beach at the Nawiliwili Harbor. If you want a place that offers a casual dining experience and oceanfront views, then JJ's Broilers is the place.

Our hostess cheerfully welcomed us, asking if we wanted to sit either inside or out on the deck. As I looked over the hostess's shoulder, I noticed the ocean view. I immediately picked the outside. After all, I wanted to soak in as much beauty as I could while I was in Kauai.

JJ's Broilers is a cozy little place that seems to focus on a "sports-pub" environment. Should you pick the inside for your dining experience, you would be greeted with TVs, a bar, and lots of sports fans cheering loudly for their favorite teams. Lets just say that I was happy we chose to eat out on the patio.

Our server immediately came to our table. She gave us our menus, told us the "special of the day," and asked what would we like to drink. This was where our server introduced us to a wonderful-tasting drink called Kauai Sunset, a tropical drink that has different varieties of alcohol and fruits. Now, I don’t drink. But when I took a sip of this drink, I could NOT smell nor taste any alcohol, just the delicious-tasting fruits. I have finally found a drink I can truly enjoy in Kauai. If you have not tried this, then you are in for a complete surprise. It’s so yummy!!

The menu choices were not extensive but were still plentiful to choose from. I decided on the Philly cheesesteak, and my husband picked the turkey sub. While waiting, I took notice of our surroundings. The deck is right next to the parking lot, which is next to the Kalapaki beach. Don't let the "parking lot views" discourage you, though. The ocean is close enough where you tend to overlook that "minor inconvenience".

When the plates were brought out, I could not believe my eyes. I knew I was going to have to request a carry-out bag, since the food on my plate was enough to feed two people. As soon as we took our first bite, we knew we were going to enjoy our meal thoroughly. The food was hot and seasoned just right. The prices were very reasonable, too. With two Kauai Sunsets, a soda, and our entrees, we spent a little over $30. (This price did not include the tip, by the way).

OUR OVERALL EXPERIENCE:

We would definitely dine at JJ's Broilers again. Our food was superb, the prices were easy on the pocketbook, and the oceanfront view was the icing on the cake.

Because of the dead batteries in our camera, we could not take any pictures of JJ's Broilers, the tropical drink, or the food. But we do have the everlasting memories. Aloha.

After spending all morning at the Princeville Hotel, our stomachs were growling with hunger. We decided to fill our tummies, and our choice was Café Hanalei, which is located inside the Princeville Hotel. Forewarning: It’s EXPENSIVE! Their breakfast buffets were priced at $24.95 per person. I almost fainted. I was ready to walk away when my husband said, "This could be a once-in-a-lifetime experience". Naturally, being the cooperative person I am, I happily agreed to his wishes.

Café Hanalei is in a wonderful location and offers beautiful views of Hanalei Bay. You have a choice to sit inside or out on the covered terrace. Since the weather was unpredictable, we requested an inside table. There were tables all throughout the café. You did have nearby neighbors, but it wasn’t too close for comfort, mind you.

Their breakfast buffet choices were extensive. There were two chefs standing by who were waiting to make your breakfast of French toast, fluffy Belgian waffles, pancakes, eggs fixed just the way you like them, bacon, sausage, toast, pastries, cereals, and so much more. Whatever your heart desired, they had.

Café Hanalei Review:

After spending $51.98 for breakfast, it kind of left a sour taste in my mouth. Although enjoyable, we would not eat here again. We feel we can get the same type of food and "taste" for a lot less. But if you want to splurge on breakfast and have glorious views, then Café Hanalei is the perfect place.

For more information on this restaurant, please visit Cafe Hanalei & Terrace on the web.

Enclosed photo came from the above-mentioned website.

While exploring Maui for a day, we’ve decided to include Maui Ocean Center into our itinerary. Maui Ocean Center is conveniently located on Ma’alaea Rd. in Wailuku and is the perfect place to unwind before continuing on with your West Maui journey. If you have never been to the Maui Ocean Center, you should work this place into your plans. They are open 365 days per year from 9am-5pm. And until 6pm in July and August.

While the Maui Ocean Center is small, it is uniquely designed and well worth the cost. Ticket prices are $20 per adult and $13 for children ages 13 and up. Seniors ages 65 and up would only pay $17 per person. There are many places online where you can get these tickets cheaper (hint, hint) without having to take a timeshare tour. Maui Ocean Center is a common place that is often included in activity packages. Or if you’re an eBayholic (like me), you can always buy your tickets there.

Maui Ocean Center is divided into two exhibits: Living Reef and Open Ocean. Everything you see at the Maui Ocean Center is alive and from Hawaii. From living corals to manta rays, you see a vast amount of sea life in these well thought out aquariums. Our favorite part at the Maui Ocean Center was the Tunnel located in the Open Ocean exhibit. You walk through a 54-foot see-through tunnel where you’re surrounded by ocean life. Can you imagine looking above and seeing sharks, manta rays, and whatever else that swims by? Can you imagine walking on the ocean water? There is a see-through floor in the Tunnel that gives you this opportunity. It gives a surreal feeling.

Should you need a souvenir or food, Maui Ocean Center has it! Buy a souvenir or two at their Maui Ocean Center Shop and a bite to eat at their Ma’alaea Seascape Restaurant. They are both located onsite and extremely convenient before you continue on with your journey.

OUR OVERALL IMPRESSION:

Maui Ocean Center provided us an opportunity to visit the underwater world in their own habitat without having to step foot into the ocean waters. It also gave us a chance to become acquainted with these beautiful sea creatures. Maui Ocean Center is where "enchantment" comes to life.

If you made it this far, then you know by now that we wanted to experience a relaxing vacation. To do this, I promised myself to not book a single activity for Kauai. We wanted to "play it by ear" so to speak. We wanted to go where the wind blew us. Believe it or not, it took us to many places.

Since we arrived at the airport at 9:30pm, we were stressed for time. First of all, it was Thanksgiving Day, or should I say, evening. Places were already closed or fixing to close pretty darn quickly. Therefore, we had to split up so one could take car of the car rental and the other could check in at the PAHIO counter. (PAHIO deserves a pat on the back for this wonderfully convenient idea!!)

Suggestion: If you can help it, arrive earlier. It's just too hectic otherwise.

Because of our late arrival, it was too late to stop at any of the grocery stores. Luckily, I packed in some breakfast items in my suitcase so we wouldn't have to make a mad dash to the grocery store for breakfast items. 'Cause this gal has got to have her breakfast in the mornings!!

Tip: It's always a good idea to pack a suitcase full of non-perishable items.
1) It helps save money.
2) It's always nice to have your own snacks and goodies just in case the grocery store doesn't carry your favorite brand or flavor.
3) It’s nice to have on hand for the hungry kids and/or adults.

We found PAHIO at the Shearwater with ease since we stayed at their sister resort, Ka’ Eo Kai, in 2002. However, if you have never been to Kauai or to the North Shore, then be forewarned, this resort could be very hard to find at night. To help better prepare you, if you look for a guard shack on the right side and see a huge fountain beyond that, then you are at the right place. Just turn right and you’ll soon see a sign that shows the street names. (Just make sure you know the street your resort is located on before you go.)

Once we arrived at Shearwater, we had a bit of trouble parking at Shearwater’s parking lot. It’s unusually designed, so it wasn’t an easy task to park the car. However, you get use to it once you learn the kinks of it. Another "minor" inconvenience - it was hard to locate our unit in the dark. We found that the landscape lighting wasn’t very bright at night. There was even another person who was trying to find his unit. When he found ours, he called out and said, "Here’s your unit!" Luckily, he found his soon enough.

We already knew we were going to be climbing up some stairs to get to our unit. We would much rather be on a higher floor so we can capture an overall view of everything than be stuck on a bottom floor behind bushes, trees, or whatever else that may hinge our views. We arrived at our "home away from home" with much anticipation. We got the camera out, left the luggage by the door, and turned the knob slowly. I couldn’t stand it any longer and had to hurry inside. I wanted to see this unit! I’ve been waiting over 1 year for this vacation and Shearwater and I just couldn’t wait any longer.

My First Impression of the Shearwater Unit

I was awestruck. The unit was lovely and certainly well-decorated. The one thing I did notice was the humidity in the unit. It was then that I was reminded that Shearwater’s units do not have air-conditioning. I turned the ceiling fans on and hurried to the sliding glass door. After all, I wanted to catch a glimpse of Kauai’s nightfall and the ocean before it got too dark to see anything.

" Oh, my goodness!!" The view from unit no. 210 was more than I had dreamed of. Now THIS was the "million-dollar view" that everyone back home was talking about. This was the moment I’ve been waiting for… a vision of Kauai’s paradise welcoming us.

What an unusual feeling to wake up in the morning and not have anything planned for the day. This was so very different from our first trip in Kauai. To set your own pace, to wake up whenever you want to without any alarm clocks buzzing at you, to finally come to terms with yourself that this is how a vacation is suppose to be. And you know what? What a great feeling it was!!

From this day forward, a sense of inner peace came over us. Here we were in Kauai’s paradise, doing what we wanted to do, when we wanted to do it and not having a care in the world. We couldn’t wait to begin our non-planned day.

We went to Shearwater’s Clubhouse and received a warm welcome. I, being the lady, received a beautiful lei. I’m sure that if it were later in the day, the men would have gotten a mai tai. But since it was early morning (thanks to our inner time clocks), they didn’t. However, coffee is readily available for anyone who passes through the clubhouse. And coffee my husband shall receive.

With my husband being an avid golfer, he wanted to take advantage of one of PAHIO activities - the nine-hole Golf Scramble. Since there is a limit of 40 golfers per game, he wanted to make sure he was one of those golfers and registered as early as possible.

PAHIO had two different Golf Scrambles available on two different days. With both games starting at 12:30pm, you had a choice to either play on Tuesday at the Mokihana Course at Kauai Lagoons for $50 or Wednesday at Princeville’s Makai Course for $55. This fee covered the cart, nine holes, and a private lesson. The person who wins first place on each team gets a $15 gift card at the Sports Shop. My husband was one of the lucky ones who placed first (yea!), and got him a really nice Princeville golf towel. A souvenir he’ll cherish, I’m sure.

After his registration was completed, we decided to get our grocery shopping out of the way. We opted to shop at Foodland in Princeville. Yes, the prices were a bit more expensive, but if you really think about it, you would be spending that extra money on gas should you want to shop at Safeway in Kapa’a. Plus, if you get the free Makai card, you can save even more money. So it made sense (to us) to shop at the Foodland in Princeville instead of driving to Kapa’a.

After putting away the groceries, we wanted to do some of the things we didn’t have time to do before on our first trip in Kauai. So we decided to go till the road ends, passing through the towns of Hanalei and Ha’ena, making Ke’e Beach our final destination (of course). After passing MANY one-lane bridges and making stops at Hanalei Lookout, Kepuhi Beach, and Tunnels Beach, we finally arrived at the end of the line, Ke’e Beach. You would think these beaches would have similar personalities being so close to one another, but each of these beaches were so very different. Kepuhi Beach was scenic, Tunnels Beach was powerful, and Ke’e Beach offered seclusion. It was an image to behold for sure.

Hence, we had a beautiful soothing interlude with Kauai on our first day.

Here it is already, the second day of our vacation. My, how time flies when you’re having fun. Today, we’ve decided to conquer the Sunny South Side of Kauai. I’ve always wanted to see the Spouting Horn, Embassy Vacation Resort in Poipu, and of course, the brand-new Marriott Waiohai Beach Club resort.

My wish is my command since I had no other plans. Sunny South Shore, here we come!! With no schedule to follow, we took our time driving to the South Side. On the way to South Shore, we decided to stop and see the ‘Opaeka’a Falls and the Wailua River Lookout, which are right across the street from one another. One thing led to another and we decided to drive all the way down on Kuamo’o Road until the road crossed under a stream. We took a pause here to enjoy the fresh air and then resumed our journey to the South Shore.

The weather was a bit unpredictable that day, with sunshine in one part (would you believe in Princeville and Kapa’a) and raining in the other part of the island (sunny South Shore). Hey, what happened to that sunshine!!!

Have you ever entered the Tree Tunnel while the weather was gloomy? If not, then let me tell you, it was SPOOKY! Lucky for us, the weather started changing again, and the "Rainy South Side" was soon becoming the famously known "Sunny South Side." For some reason, we found the Poipu and Koloa areas confusing - even with our faithful The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook on hand. Is it just us? We got turned around easily and ended up somewhere we had no intention of going. The Kauai gods must have been looking out for us closely that day because we didn’t get lost too much. (Hey, at least I’m admitting we DID get lost some.)

I wanted to see the Embassy Vacation Resort-Poipu because we came thisclose to buying a week there until they decided to exercise their right of first refusal on our week. Hrmph! No hard feelings, though. We ended up buying a week at a resort and location we love passionately, PAHIO Shearwater in Princeville. All’s well that ends well, right?

To my surprise, the EVR (Embassy Vacation Resort) was a really nice-looking resort. We did not go in to see any of the units because we didn’t want to be talked into doing a timeshare tour. We chose to walk around the resort instead. The grounds were immaculate, surrounded by beautiful landscaping. Their sand-bottomed pool was beautiful and unique. I don’t think I could swim in a "pool" with sand on the bottom. I’m sure this pool is much easier to clean than a regular pool would be and that’s their reason for having it. One negative. Instead of a beach, it has a rocky edge that leads to the ocean. However, the ocean view from this resort was serene and gorgeous. I can see why people would like to stay here. But there is one thing I’ve noticed more of here… PEOPLE. LOTS of people on this side of the island. If you’re wanting a quiet getaway, this might not be the right side of the island for you.

I had one more stop in Poipu to make and that was to see the new Marriott resort. Little did I know, you had to get out of your car and go inside the resort to view the grounds and/or units. While the entrance to the resort was charming, the "hotel" idea was a bit disconcerting. Needless to say, we didn’t stay there long. Please don’t get me wrong. I’m sure that, once inside, this resort is top of the line and out of this world. We just didn’t get an opportunity to see that.

We’re off to see the Spouting Horn!! Remember my mentioning the Kauai Gods? Well, I think they left us because we got so lost we somehow ended all the way up in Lawa’i. Losing hope, we turned around and were going to give up on seeing the Spouting Horn until we saw a sign that said Spouting Horn. We decided to try it again, but only one more time and that’s it. After all, we were HUNGRY! After 30 minutes had passed, we finally reached out destination! Truthfully, I wasn’t expecting a park-like atmosphere, but there it was, Spouting Horn doing its thing. Wouldn’t you know, our battery in our digital camera decided to go dead. Of all things!! I told my husband to lick those batteries. I had to get at least one picture of the Spouting Horn. Well, at that moment is when the Kauai Gods decided to return. I got my "one" picture of the Spouting Horn! Woohoo!

After this tiring adventure, we decided to fill our tummies. Our choice was at the JJ Broilers at the Nawiliwili Harbor. An excellent choice, too! The food was superb, and the prices were very reasonable. This was where we were introduced to a wonderfully tasting drink called Kauai Sunset- , a tropical drink that has different varieties of alcohol and fruits. Now, I don’t drink. But when I took a sip of this drink, I could NOT smell or taste any alcohol. Just the delicious tasting fruits. I have finally found a drink that I can truly enjoy in Kauai. If you have not tried this, then you are in for a complete surprise. It’s so yummy, I wish I had asked for the recipe so I could make this at home.

Because of our dead battery scenario, we could not take any pictures of JJ Broilers, the tropical drink, or the food. But we do have the memories.

As the day was turning crimson, all we could think of was getting back to the North Shore and relaxing on the lanai. Ahhh, what a perfect way to end a day in paradise.

When we take a vacation (doesn’t matter where), we like to reserve 1 day at the resort to relax. We found this gave us time to recuperate and rejuvenate. Then we would resume our normal vacation activities the following day. Since this vacation was already proving to be stress-free, we opted to visit the Princeville Hotel. During our last visit in Kauai, we only had enough time to roam the Princeville Hotel’s grounds. We never did get a chance to explore the inside of the hotel or their beach. Now was the perfect opportunity.

Once again, the weather was in its whimsical mood. We woke up to a gentle rain that stayed with us throughout the whole day. Every now and then, the sun would make its appearance and shine brightly, but then the ominous clouds would become aggressive and take over. Luckily, we were not going to be spending too much time outside today, so the rain did not spoil our plans at all.

If you have never visited the Princeville Hotel, you really should. This hotel strives on elegance and first-class service. Everywhere you turn, you see well-manicured lawns, a well-dressed staff, well cared for plants - you name it!! It’s all taken care of in a luxurious manner.

As you approach the hotel, you’ll see the stylish valets waiting to assist you. The huge glass doors are impressive and welcoming. We had one destination in mind. That was to see their beach. We’ve heard so many wonderful things about their beach that we just had to feast our eyes on it ourselves.

To Access the Beach and Pool Area:

I’m not sure if there was an easier way than this, but we had to take three different elevators to reach the pool and beach. We took an elevator from the main lobby. We noticed it only went down four floors. We got off of this particular elevator, had to walk across a little hallway, and took another elevator. This elevator went down four floors as well. We got off of the second elevator, walked across another little hallway, and had to get on another elevator!! We just knew we were going to end up somewhere else. We were wrong. This last elevator (which took us four floors down also) brought us to our destination at last!! We could see the ocean beyond the glass doors. We could also see the clouds coming in. The rain was fixing to start up again.

Instead of going directly to the beach, we decided to wait till the rain passed. There was a deli/coffee shop by the pool that was covered. This is where we sought protection from the rain.

Do you believe everything happens for a reason? If you’re wondering why I ask this, it’s because the last time we were in Hawaii, we only had a few drops of rain and that’s it. We never had the privilege of seeing overflowing waterfalls, nor did any glorifying rainbows make an appearance. Today we were fortunate enough to see not one, but TWO rainbows. Because of the rain, we were presented with these colorful creations. My point is… even the rain can bring forth beauty.

We grabbed our camera and captured those rainbows at their most glorious point. One considerate staff member came along and asked if we wanted our picture taken with the rainbows as our background. We jumped at this opportunity and thanked the kind staff for being so thoughtful and generous.

By this time, the rain had stopped and the rainbows were disappearing. We then proceeded on to our next and stop… the beach. I can now see why this beach is so favorable among visitors. The sand was soft, clear, and absolutely clean! There were lounge chairs all lined up on the beach. A little farther down the beach, there were canopies offering ocean-front spa services. How thoughtful! And of course, you have an unobstructed view of the famous Hanalei Bay. A perfect spot for some ever-lasting memories.

By this time, our growling stomachs were reminding us of their hunger. Our choice…Café Hanalei, which is located inside the Princeville Hotel

Forewarning: It’s EXPENSIVE! Their breakfast buffets were priced at $25 per person. I almost fainted. I was ready to walk away when my husband said, "This would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience". Naturally, being the cooperative person that I am, I happily agreed to his wishes.

Café Hanalei is in a wonderful location and offers beautiful views of Hanalei Bay. You have a choice to sit inside or out on the covered terrace. Since the weather was unpredictable, we requested an inside table. Their buffet choices were wide and extensive. There were two chefs standing by to make your breakfast choice: French toast, fluffy Belgium waffles, pancakes, eggs fixed just the way you like them, bacon, sausage, toast, and so much more. Whatever your heart desires, they had it.

Café Hanalei Review: Although enjoyable, we would not eat here again. We feel we can get the same type of food and "taste" for a lot less.

After spending the whole morning here, we had the opportunity to explore our surroundings and the staff. We found the staff courteous, friendly, and always ready and willing to assist you. We also felt a sense of "togetherness" within the Princeville Hotel community. If we ever decide to stay in a hotel in Kauai, Princeville Hotel would definitely be our first choice.

Because we had some Hawaiian Air frequent flyer miles, we decided to put them to good use by island-hopping over to Maui for a day. We’d never been to Maui and wanted to explore as much as we possibly could in a single day. Regrettably, we didn’t have time to do much.

First things first: we wanted to start our trip off with a full stomach. Since I had some IHOP gift certificates, we knew exactly where we wanted to eat once we landed in Kahului (OGG) Airport. I made sure to locate IHOP on a map (and even printed it out) before we came to Maui, just so we wouldn’t spend forever trying to find it. Little did we know that IHOP was part of the Maui Mall. There was no visible sign from the street, and because of this, it took us about 45 minutes to finally locate this disguised restaurant. I knew from that point forward that our day trip in Maui was going to be rushed.

For those of you who have read my Café Hanalei entry, you know how much I dislike spending money so extravagantly on meals. Well, I’m delighted to say that we had a wonderful (and affordable) breakfast at IHOP. After about an hour, we knew it was time to "hit the road".

When I planned for our trip for Maui, I knew we simply would not have time to drive the Road to Hana, nor visit the Haleakala Crater. Our only other alternative was to visit West Maui. We did exactly that with a little side trip to Kihei and Wailea cities to see a resort we were interested in. Our first impressions of Kihei were not favorable. I’m sure there will be many people who will disagree with me, but we didn’t like this location at all. The houses were run-down, and it seemed to be crime-ridden. With this reason in mind, we were no longer interested in the resort we wanted to visit. We spent 10 quick minutes there and proceeded on our journey to Wailea.

Wailea was the complete opposite of Kihei. Where as Kihei was run-down, Wailea had well-manicured lawns and beautiful houses everywhere we turned. We knew that if we ever decided to stay in Maui, Wailea would be one of the places we would like to visit.

Our next stop was to the Maui Ocean Center, which is located on Ma’alaea Road in Wailuku. If you have never been to the Maui Ocean Center, you should work this place into your plans. They are open 365 days a year from 9am to 5pm, and to 6pm in July and August. While small, it is uniquely designed and well worth the cost. Ticket prices are $20 per adult and $13 for children ages 13 and up. Seniors ages 65 and up would only pay $17 per person. There are many places online where you can get these tickets cheaper (hint, hint). The Maui Ocean Center is divided into two exhibits: Living Reef and Open Ocean. Everything you see here is alive and from Hawaii. From living corals to manta rays, you see a vast amount of sea life in these well-thought-out aquariums. Our favorite was the tunnel located in the Open Ocean exhibit. You walk through a 54-foot see-through tunnel where you’re surrounded by ocean life. It’s surreal.

Should you need a souvenir or food, Maui Ocean Center has it! Buy a souvenir or two at their Maui Ocean Center Shop and a bite to eat at their Ma’alaea Seascape Restaurant. They are both located on-site and are extremely convenient to visit before you continue on with your journey.

Our next adventure was to stop in Lahaina and visit the famous Front Street and the Banyan Tree Park. By this time, we were really hopping and knew we had to cut this part of the trip short, but we did get out of the car and took a few pictures of the places we were anxious to see.

Since I was determined to see all of West Maui, we had to pass through Ka’anapali and Kapalua without any stops. I will say this now: I made a HUGE mistake by wanting to go all the way around West Maui. I will certainly admit this without any qualms. I am also WARNING you. Why, you ask? If you want a daring adventure, then please ignore my upcoming forewarning. However, if you’re like me—someone who doesn’t like to take unnecessary risks—then please heed my warning. If you go all the way around West Maui, you will encounter very narrow and windy roads that make up Kahekili Hwy. And here I thought Colorado mountain roads were bad. That was before I came across THIS road. By the way, we’ve "lovingly" dubbed this road The Golf Cart Road because there are going to be times where you can’t see how even one, let alone two cars can drive on this road. If you’re lucky, you won’t come across a passing vehicle from the other side. But if you do, you had better hope there is enough room for one of you to pull over and allow someone to pass. This happened to us twice. Thank goodness we did not come across another vehicle while turning on a "dead man’s curve". There were so many of these "curves", I’ve lost count. I don’t know how we did it (because I closed my eyes), but we somehow managed to pass one another—SLOWLY.

But until you’ve been on it, you don’t know better. It took us over two hours to reach a two-lane road. By this time, I was stressed to the limit. My hands were sweating like crazy, I had a massive headache, and I was sick to my stomach. And I wasn’t even driving!! I can only imagine how my husband was feeling by that time. I have to commend him, though. He drove wonderfully and expertly on this "golf cart road". He was very alert (you had to be) and cautious. My sweet baby got us back to safety!

Originally, we were going to stop at some gift shops and buy some Maui souvenirs, but we didn’t have time since we were due back at the airport in less than an hour. Begrudgingly, we had to bypass our shopping excursion.

All in all, I can honestly say our trip in Maui was exhilarating. Would I visit Maui again? Yes, but only if we stayed overnight for a few days. After all, there’s still the "Road to Hana" and Haleakala Crater to see!!

Saying goodbye to Kauai is one of the hardest things we’ve ever had to do.  How can one leave a place behind where time seems to stand still?  Where people actually have a genuine smile on their faces instead of a plastered fake smile?  Where nature itself seems to capture your inner soul and never lets it go? The answer... You can’t.  You have to make a promise to yourself that one day you'll return to this beautiful world of paradise.  For those of you who’ve had the opportunity to make Kauai your home briefly, you know what it’s like.  You know how hard it is to leave this world behind.  I’m sure you (like us) make a vow to yourself that someday you will make Kauai your home permanently.  Just one day, my sweet Kauai, you’ll be my place where I can call you home.

For those of you who have never experienced Kauai, you are missing so, so much.  The lushful beauty, the glorious sunrises and sunsets, and yes, even the people.  You’ll leave a hectic world behind and enter a world of peacefulness.  All of your worries seem to dissipate immediately once you’ve set foot onto this island.  You can see the changes in a person’s face once they’ve landed in Kauai.  I know.  I’ve seen my own face change.  A sense of calmness comes over you and everyone surrounding you.  An ethereal loveliness.

Kauai, our dear Kauai.  Don’t ever lose your beauty, your enchanted world, and your heavenly paradise.  Until we meet again, Kauai.  One day... Someday...