Lahaina, Maui

An article from Traveling Pat!
Patricia is a regular contributor to Give Love Create Happiness.  She has an adventurous spirit with a love for travel.  Follow along with Pat as her journey takes her around the world.

Today Patricia’s travels take her to Hawaii!!
Enjoy!

♥Wendy Irene

Lahaina, Maui

Floating along in our gi-normous white 96 Cadi, tropical air blowing in our faces, excitedly we made our way toward Lahaina.  On one side the ocean sparkled brightly, car pullouts appear here and there, a perfect view stop for the tourists keen to see a glimpse of whales or have a good look at distant islands. On the mountain side an ancient lava rock wall defines the old road to Lahaina, inviting us to drift back in time and imagine what it must have been like for the old Japanese fellow who travelled daily from Wailuku with his truck loaded with produce.  Quite the journey on a rough road with the dust trailing behind and air conditioning still a thing of the future.

Lahaina, once a whaler’s village, still retains the flavor of days past. After poking through the shops we climb up to the Cool Cat Café, a 50s themed diner where we luck out with a perfect view seat enabling us to not only see the water but also to gaze down at the gigantic banyan tree that shades the always interesting weekly local arts and crafts bazaar.

Next off we go to one of my favorite beaches at the Kahekili Beach Park. We wind our way on our sea- side ramble past the luxury open-air hotels, and past all the ensuing action along the way.  Talk about lots of things to do!  We pass windsurfing lessons, condo sellers, water sliders, bathing beauties, exercisers, massage therapists, paddle boarders, scuba divers, snorkelers, golfers, (breathe Pat) whale watchers, sun bathers, divers, walkers, shoppers, and runners. The area tries so hard to cater to their guests that they even have (cough cough) outside designated smoking areas. I had a twinge as I ambled past the castaway café wishing maybe I had waited a bit longer and eaten my lunch there feeling the ocean breeze and relaxing by the water.  We end up at the Hyatt hotel and pay our respects to Roger the resident Parrot, procure a wave from him and make our way back to the park.  Back in the Cadi fed up, shopped out and exercised nicely we head home.  Another fabulous day in Maui.

KOOL TIME UPCOUNTRY MAUI

Self imposed mandatory walk complete, next on the agenda is an excursion upcountry to Kula Lodge. It is 3000 feet in elevation in a lovely garden setting. I have to admit though, I felt a bit chilly way up there.  However it’s a neat place with a restaurant, chalets, a nifty market place and an art gallery featuring local artist Curtis Wilson.

Onward and upward we go and on impulse turn and head to the Alii Kula Lavender farm.  It’s nestled on the slopes of the Haleakala Crater and if I thought it was getting nippy before, add 1000 more feet and my first thought was to rush straight to the gift store and buy a sweatshirt.  Alas all they had for sale was every kind of lavender gift you could think of (they grow 45 different varieties) plus an enticing lavender and scone tea. In my mind it is a pretty “cool” spot to see.

Finally, we wind our way along the narrow road toward our last stop, the Tedeschi winery.  This time we lose some elevation, now we are down to 2000 feet and all thoughts of buying warmer clothing have vanished from my mind.  The air-conditioning comes back on and we drive through astonishingly pretty green hills reminiscent of parts of England.  The views are almost too spectacular because with that big ol car of ours too much gawking at the view can be a dangerous thing!  Anyway bellied up to the bar for the free wine samples, we tasted a refreshing chardonnay, a fruity red blend and their unique pineapple wine.  Happy as heck we head home.

An hour later we are sitting on the ocean shore, glass in hand enjoying the Maui sunset and congratulating ourselves for being so clever as to choose to come to Maui for a vacation.