11 Day Hawaii Vacation--Maui and the Big Island

Unit 134, on the ground floor facing the ocean, was the perfect place for my brother and I to finish our 11-day February Hawaiian vacation. It was also a great place to host a small wedding reception for friends!

Upon our arrival, we opened the sliding glass door to see (and hear!) a whale tail slapping the ocean surface. We ran to the beach to get a closer look. We witnessed that whale do the tail-slap at least 15 times. What a great way to start the week on Maui! Having a unit on the ground floor allowed us to race out to the beach when there were whale sightings, but we would have had a better view from an upper floor.

The unit is very comfortable with 2 master suites. Each has it’s own bathroom with shower. One bedroom has a large picture window facing the ocean. The other has a slider that opens onto a grassy area with a view of the water. The unit has hardwood (or Pergo) flooring throughout. The living room/dining room area is quite spacious. The kitchen is small, but adequate for vacationing. Internet access is available.

There is a pool and a children's pool as well as a Jacuzzi on the premises. Gas BBQs are in the common area between the two buildings. There are coin-operated laundry rooms on several floors. Parking stalls are designated. There is no maid service.

We’d come to Maui to attend the sunset beach wedding of friends. When we heard that the bride and groom were going to host the reception for 17 guests in their 1-bedroom apartment upstairs, we offered the use of our unit instead. Our unit was larger, and the smokers in the group could easily step out the slider to the grassy area away from the party.

The cake was baked, assembled and frosted in our little kitchen. We used simple decorations of tropical flowers and votive candles. It was a lovely, small reception. Everyone was very impressed with our rental unit. It was a pretty good price for a great condo.

Kauhale Makai condos can be rented through Alii Resorts. The company was very nice, checking in the next morning to make sure everything was okay. Their office is nearby, and they invited us to come down and use their computer and printer to print out our boarding passes. If you’re not looking for luxury, but want a great location, and clean unit, Kauhale Makai just might be the place for you.

As we checked in we were told that our fairway view room had been upgraded to ocean view. A great start to the vacation! If what we had was "ocean view," I'd really love to see what "ocean front" is. We had a spectacular view with nothing between us and the ocean but black lava.

We were very pleased with the unit, #3202. We had 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. The living area faced the ocean and the bedrooms had garden views. A stackable washer/dryer in the unit was very handy. The property has Wi-Fi, but it was difficult to connect in this unit. I had to open the front door and sit in the entry facing outside to get and keep connected.

The biggest bedroom had a queen bed and a bathroom en suite. The second bedroom has 2 twins, with a bathroom across the hall. I wasn't thrilled to be sleeping in a twin bed, but it turned out to be plenty comfortable.

The lanai is terrific, with table and chairs, and wet bar. This particular unit does have a/c, but it costs extra to use it. It was very stuffy when we first arrived, but by the evening the breeze was plenty of cooling and we never felt we needed a/c.

There are 3 pools on the property, 2 tennis courts, and a small restaurant serving lunch and dinner. We were too busy sightseeing to utilize any of those.

One of the things we enjoyed the most about this unit was the view of the Sheraton Keauhou Resort across the bay. At night, the Sheraton had a spotlight trained out on the water and we could watch the waves CRASH onto the rocks below the resort. Wow!

A hot, fresh malasada is one of the great pleasures of Hawaii. Tex's was recommended by our Kama'aina (old-timer, local) friends. On our way back to Kona from Hilo, we stopped at Tex Drive In in Honokaa for malasadas. What a treat! It was busy, even quite late in the evening. Diners can watch the fresh malasadas being made through a window inside the dining area.

Not just warm, these hot malasadas are well worth a stop!

Mister Bell's is on the way to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park if you're coming from Kona. It was lunch time and we were hungry and it was the only thing we'd seen for miles, so we stopped.

Mistake! It was a dive and the food was very mediocre. I had a teriyaki beef plate and was very disappointed in the flavor. Service was also mediocre, even though there were only a couple of other tables occupied. The dessert menu was tempting, but the entrée was so unappetizing, we decided not to bother.

The Volcano House restaurant is the only dining option within the park, and is a little pricey if you're with a large group. My brother and I thoroughly enjoyed our experience here. A nice, quiet dinner overlooking the volcanic crater.

The menu is pretty limited with several seafood options, but we both found steak entrées to enjoy. The salad was fresh and so was the bread. Service was fabulous.

If you're staying at the Volcano House Hotel, it would be great to dress up for a nice dinner at the restaurant. But if you're visiting the volcano for a day, you're not going to be dressed up and that's just fine, too.

Finally! A teriyaki burger worth eating! I love teriyaki flavor, but sometimes it's too spicy for me. This was the sweet teriyaki I'd been craving. A side of macaroni salad is a staple in Hawaii and this salad didn't disappoint.

The atmosphere of outdoor dining here at Kona Canoe Club is exactly what I look for when in Hawaii. An ocean view with a gentle tradewind blowing is almost too wonderful to bear.

Kai at the Sheraton Keauhou Resort hosts a very nice buffet. Expensive ($45 per adult), but we were willing to have one really nice meal on the Big Island.

Saturday nights a Seafood Buffet is offered. Neither my brother or I like seafood, but there were plenty of other choices. We had plenty to eat and the view is beautiful. Service was wonderful.

Before or after dinner, be sure to walk the grounds of the resort. Weddings are often held here, and we were able to watch a bride and groom have their photos taken at sunset. We also saw the wedding reception set-up. So romantic!

The Pacific Whale Foundation hosts a 2-week humpback whale celebration every February. We happened to be there for the Whale Day Celebration in Kihei's Kalama Park.

Free shuttles run from a nearby shopping center to the park throughout the day. A parade starts off the festival, and food and vendor booths and entertainment keep you busy. The festival is free, but tickets are required to purchase food items. The line for shave ice was particularly long on this very warm February Saturday.

The most interesting vendor booth was more like entertainment for us. It was a new-age invention where a guy sat on one end of a rotating see-saw type contraption playing a keyboard, while a customer relaxed on a hammock on the other end with headphones on. There were crystals and chanting and bongos to complete the kooky scene.

I wouldn't plan a trip around this particular day, but some of the other events throughout the festival would be worthwhile on a visit during whale season. Check the Pacific Whale Foundation's website for details.

When traveling during whale season, a whale-watching tour is a MUST. After some research, we chose the Pacific Whale Foundation's whale-watching tour, leaving from Lahaina Harbor.

The tour group gathers at their Lahaina store, then moves to the banyan-lined courtyard near the harbor. After a briefing from staff, we boarded the double-decker boat.

This was a first for my brother and he thought it was fantastic. I have been on more spectacular whale-watching trips in the past. The staff is great. So knowledgeable and friendly. We did see a couple of breaches and some tail slapping, but it was sometimes hard to see through the crowd at the rail.

Next time, I'll go through a company with smaller tours, perhaps on a zodiac rather than a large boat. I recommend this tour on the basis that the company is well-known, the process is streamlined and the staff is terrific. With whale-watching, you're going to get what the whales are willing to display that day. On a smaller boat, however, you can move faster to where the whales are.

On the Big Island, a visit to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park cannot be missed! As the newest island in the chain, Hawaii is still being added to by the active Kilauea volcano. The park can be adequately seen in a few hours, or explored over a few days. The park's website and the visitor center give advice on the best way to see the sites depending on the time you have allotted.

Having lived on the Big Island when I was a small child, I remember always taking visitors to the volcano. The most interesting sites for me are the steam vents, the Halema'u mau Crater, the Kilauea Caldera and the Thurston Lava Tubes. A visit to the museum is very informative.

The vegetation at the volcano is quite different. My favorite tree is the Ohia, with its red puff of Lehua flower. Hawaii is full of mystical stories, including the legend of Ohi'a and Lehua.

Take a sweater or sweatshirt as it's often overcast and cool. A visit to the volcano is a fascinating look into the creation of land. It's amazing, eerie, and totally cool!

Built in 1838, Hulihe'e Palace was originally built for Governor John Adams Kuakini. It eventually became a royal retreat for Hawaii's monarchs.

The home is built of lava rock and timber from local trees. A visit to the palace is an interesting look into Hawaii's royal past.

The October 2006 earthquake damaged much of the palace and we were only allowed to view a small portion of the downstairs part of the palace. The entire upstairs was closed for repairs. We were able to view a video of the history of the palace and see a few artifacts that had been brought from other rooms. Even in the room we were in, earthquake damage was very evident.

As a child I lived on the Big Island of Hawaii, in a small town called Hakalau. It was idyllic; a view of the ocean, friends of many nationalities, plumeria trees in the front yard with which to make leis for May Day and other special occasions, eating Lilikoi & Mountain Apple and walks to school and the spooky, unkempt graveyard "down camp."

My father worked for Hakalau Sugar Plantation, and later for Pepeekeo Sugar. We lived in one of the large plantation houses as my dad was a supervisor. While some of my friend's father also worked for the sugar company, they lived in much smaller, wooden homes.

I had friends who were Hawaiian, Filipino, Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, and a few haoles, like me. As I was young, I didn't encounter the prejudice against haoles (whites) like my brother did. He was 10 years older than me and in high school. As a pale, freckled, buck-toothed haole, he was attacked often at school. I tan quickly and picked up the pidgen accent easily and only encountered problems with older kids.

The last time I visited Hakalau, the only thing left of my home was the concrete front steps and overgrown vegetation. On this return visit with my brother, there was nothing left except possibly a ti plant. Even the fabulous plumeria trees were gone. A new development is being built with beautiful homes. All of my friends' homes are gone and the roads that led to houses both "up camp" and "down camp" have been obliterated.

The tiny post office is still there. When I was little it seemed like it was a little bit of a walk to go pick up our mail. As an adult, I can see we were almost directly across the street! My brother and I drove all the way to the end of the road and down the old mill road to Hakalau Bay. It's a beautiful drive that I highly recommend for the lush vegetation. It goes down to the water on a somewhat narrow, winding road.

We then took a drive across the highway to where my elementary school was. The school was shut down before I moved away and I was bused to Kalanianaole School, closer to Hilo. But I still remember attending Hakalau Elementary, and going to "Summer Fun" classes when school was out.

We visited and reminisced with my "Auntie Dot," who lived next door to us in Hakalau and now lives in Pepeekeo. We stopped at our favorite spots, including Kolekole Beach Park and Akaka Falls. I miss the simple time of growing up in such a small and lovely place.

My brother and I spent a Sunday driving the Hilo side of the Big Island, visiting our old stomping grounds.

From Kona, we drove north to our first stop--Waimea and Parker Ranch. After a pause to pick up some souvenir BBQ sauce and beef jerkey at the Parker Ranch Store, we continued on to Waipio Valley. The lookout here is beautiful and worth a stop.

One of my favorite field trips as a child was to Laupahoehoe. Here, in 1946, a tidal wave destroyed a school and killed 24 students and teachers. There seems to be a peaceful spirit about this place and the lava formations against the sea are beautiful.

Continuing on, we stopped in Hakalau, as described in another journal entry. Then we went to our favorite luau spot, Kolekole Beach Park. There are a lot of memories of big luaus here celebrating birthdays, weddings, and visitors.

Next stop, Akaka Falls. I visited the falls so many times as a child, I couldn't begin to count, yet I never got tired of it: jungle vegetation and beautiful waterfalls. It's a bit of a workout on a narrow trail, but not too difficult. A must-see when on the Hilo side!

Finally in Hilo, we had lunch at Ken's Pancake House, a favorite when we lived here 40 years ago. It's still a hangout for the locals and has reliably decent food.

We drove past Hilo High School, which my brother attended, then up to Rainbow Falls. The falls were unusually skimpy as there had not been as much rain as usual.

A walk along Banyan Drive, Liliuokalani Park and a quick stop at the Kamehameha the Great statue completed our reminiscing tour of Hilo.

Don't neglect a visit to the lush, green, Hilo side of the Big Island. Many places there will bring you close to the undeveloped treasures of Hawaii.

I love Kona. I've always loved Kona, even as a child when I lived on the Hilo side of the Big Island. Kona is drier and not as lush, but it's always been one of my favorite spots on earth.

We had a long day visiting the volcano and points south from Kona. The history of Puu Honua O Honaunau is fascinating to me and I love visiting this place. One can very much get the feel of ancient Hawaii when viewing the heiau (temple) sites and the royal fishpond.

We had heard that the snorkeling was great near here so pulled out our gear and headed over. This is not for the nervous snorkeler. Entry is from rough lava and there are waves. I've been snorkeling a lot and had no trouble. My brother hadn't been in years and had to pass on this site. It was fabulous, probably one of the best sites I've been to if what you are looking for is quantity of sea life.

The next stop was Hookena Beach Park. We had a beach house here in the late 1960s. In past years it's been a rough neighborhood of locals. Now it's been cleaned up and is a State Park. We so enjoyed remembering our times at this beach. The triple bunk beds with geckos climbing above our heads. The fish hook embedded in my forehead. The black and white mama cat that used to visit us. Poking around the tide pools. Even waiting for a tsunami warning after an earthquake in Japan.

We drove down to the very small town of Miloli'i, where we used to own a piece of property. Then it was just a piece of land covered in a'a' lava and there's still not much more than that. It's a beautiful drive down to the water, though!

South Point is the southernmost tip of the United States. It's often extremely windy and one needs to be careful when standing at the edge of the cliff in those conditions. This day was moderately windy. We watched scuba divers use the structures at the cliff's edge to raise their gear from the sea after a dive. It was amazing, realizing they'd lowered their gear on ropes, climbed down the cliff to the water and repeated the process getting back up. It seemed way dangerous to me!

A stop in Punalu'u at the Bake Shop was great for a snack and purchasing souvenir shortbread cookies before heading to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Our visit to the volcano is described in another journal entry.

You CAN drive all the way around the island in one day, but you'll miss a lot of great places. Take your time and do it right!

Attending a sunset wedding on the beach was one of the greatest experiences I had on this vacation.

The ceremony was held at Poolenalena Beach, south of Makena. To reach the area of the beach where this wedding was to take place required a walk along a narrow path and a short climb down lava rocks.

The minister began at sunset by blowing on his conch shell. He chanted in Hawaiian and then performed the ceremony. The bride and groom stood within a circle formed with native flowers and branches. After he pronounced them man and wife, He blew the conch shell again and we all watched the sun finish its decent. Conch shells could be heard all up and down the beach as other ceremonies were concluded. This was, after all, Valentine's Day!