Hawaiin decadence

Everything is pretty in Kaanapuli Beach.  The builders have done a good job of complimenting the natural beauty of their surroundings.

Our balcony over looked this koi pond, and between the waterfalls and the sound of the ocean, I slept with a smile on my face all week.

Well, it felt like it to me, but in reality, I probably slept like I always do, with my mouth wide open and drooling while snoors boomed out of me. My poor husband had to sleep with ear plugs and missed the sounds of the ocean.

This is a closeup  of the side walk at Mama's Fish House. 

I wish I'd taken more photos there, but I was just too overwhelmed.  It was our first stop after the airport and I was doing a Dorothy, leaving gray, dull, boring, COLD Kansas and stepping into a world of technicolor explosions of tropical scents, sounds of the waves, and bright flowers. I was googly eyed and gawking at everything, just like Dorothy when she stepped into Oz.

Our flight was much better than hers, though.  We came in on a nice, big, new jet, with a tv at every seat, and unlimited movies.  Lots of leg room, comfy seats, and pretty good food too.  Much better than a spinning house and squashed witch.

(And much better than our flight home on an old, crowded plane with no tvs to enchant me. It's bad enough to have to leave paradise, seems like United could provide a better way to get home, I felt doubly bad about leaving when I stepped into our transportation)

While Mama's Fish House was some of the best food I have ever had in my life, and such a perfect welcome to Maui, this little roadside stand that we visited later in the week was a stand out too. 

We sat in folding chairs, shared $5 worth of tacos, and talked with a local guy who had a fat little chihuahua with him.  Very entertaining and interesting.

I was pretty happy with walks on the beach, crafty things to do, Kona coffee on the balcony, and sunsets to watch.  The whale watching trips and decadent dining were luxury bonuses that were so nice, they kind of threw me and my midwestern miserliness careful ways for a loop.  Oh, but I revelled in them and over looked that little voice that spoke up when I saw price tags.

I hear that we missed the worst cold snap in decades while we were away.   Staying warm while pipes froze at home was worth any cost.

And getting away from the gray bleary skies and icy sidewalks in January recharged my soul and will help me get through the rest of the season of gloom here in Kansas.  I'm not much of a winter person, and a getaway was just what I needed to deal with some awful family issues that greeted us on our return.

We had some amazing meals while we were there, the restaurant we went to on Terry's birthday, served all fresh veggies raised on its own organic farm, and fish from the nearby shore. (What a place to have a birthday, huh?)

While dining, we watched the performers warming up for the luau next door.

Here is a birthday card I made for her on my finger painting ap.

We did some hiking too, not as much this time as I had thought we might, but enough to see some lovely sites. 

Lovely, indeed. 

I sure miss it!