We had a welcoming committee waiting when we got back from Hawaii. Sweet Sweet Sweety was happy to see us and was perched by the door asking for attention as we pulled up. (my porch needs some attention too, huh? Christmas branches? Let's just pretend they are "winter decorations" not holiday ones, okay?)
The grand fairies liked the souvenir tees they got, but I think what they really liked was the boxes and bags of macadamia nut and chocolate candies we filled a carry on up with.
Our trip was the best ever. Terry and Dale, my in-laws, were there for 3 weeks (lucky ducks) and greeted us at the airport with leis. I wore mine till it was brown and limp, and still the scent lingered on, so I kept it draped across the lamp shade in our room.
I hope we get to go back again some day. It could very well be the prettiest place in the world. Even the overly populated and tourist areas are lovely.
Its definitely varied, from dessert, to bamboo, to ocean, to rain forest. All of that on a single polka dot in the middle of the Pacific.
We participated in lots of tourist activities. Our travel buddies had been there a week before us and knew all the best places to go ahead of time, not just from that week, but from years of experience. It was nice to let go and let them plan. They were kind enough to haul us from one fantastic place to another.
Terry even took me to a swap meet for some cute little ticky tackys to take home as remembrances. And she isn't a swap meet type shopper. I think she enjoyed it too, we both made a good haul there.
The swap meet had lots of $4 tee shirts, plenty of junk, but also some nice things made by local artists, farmer's market goods, and a few vintage things. Terry surprised me with this necklace from a jewelry vendor whose work I admired. I don't know how she managed to sneak buying it with me standing right next to her! It was a sweet surprise. The stone is larimar, and it will always remind me of the ocean in Maui.
My favorite part of the whole trip was just simply being there, soaking it all in, listening to the ocean outside the balcony of our hotel.
I almost admitted to you that my most favorite part was sleeping, but I don't want everyone to know just how boring I really am.
But, dang! That was the BEST sleep of my life! Not only was the weather perfect, and the air bug free so that we could leave the sliding doors open all week, but we could listen to this fountain as well as the ocean in our dreams.
I slept 8-10 hours, and while it felt like a deep, deep, restful snoozefest, I still was aware of the sounds of the water. So soothing.
My body stayed on Kansas time, and I was up before the sun every day about 5 or 6 am. For those of you who did the math, yes, I was in bed by 8 some nights. I never see the sunrise around here, I'm never up that early on Central Time, so it was quite a treat. My mornings over looking the ocean and drinking Kona coffee were highlights of my trip. Waking up was as much fun as going to sleep.
Oh my, I am a little old lady, aren't I???? Who goes to Hawaii then talks about how good the sleepin weather is there???
The food wasn't bad either. I loaded up at a local fruit stand a couple of times.
The same fruit I buy in Kansas, was sooooo different there. The pineapples were beyond juicy and ripe, so much so that there was no core at all, we ate the whole thing. No fibery center like we have in the ones at home.
Funny, though. Roadside, the pineapples were $10, and at the Safeway they were $7. Today at Walmart in KS they were only $2. Now I have to say, the fresh in Maui ones were so good, they were worth ten bucks, but it confuses me that its cheaper to ship them across the world than to buy them straight off the bushes.
Everything there was pricey. Beyond pricey.
But the beauty was free. I loved the little touches I found, like this painted weed outside a store.
And the floral message left in the banyan tree courtyard.
Little details kept catching my eye, like this recycled glass used in planters of a parking lot. It sparkled so bright, I was drawn right to it. We were hunting back and forth, up and down for a parking spot, but instead of watching out for one and being a helpful passenger, I kept saying, "Is that GLASS?" "That is so sparkly, what on earth do you think it is?" "Maybe that is glass!"
Parking is not easy on Maui. Lot of cars and not enough spaces to put them. Plus the spots are tiny. Who drew the parking lot lines anyway? Some one who only drives a moped?
I have more photos and more to say, but I have a grand fairy visiting now and need to go scoop up my hugs. I have ten days of lost huggin time to make up for.
To be continued…..
ps- last day to enter the drawing for one of Amy's books!
Hawiaii looks so beautiful and it’s been lovely to see your pictures. Watching Hawiaii 50 is the closest I get normally.
I wouldn’t worry about your sleep being the best thing of your holiday as they’re supposed to be about rest and relaxation. 🙂
Oh, Karla, what a lovely tale of Hawaiian bliss you wove here! I just loved reading about your trip. Sleeping with all the lovely water sounds in the background must have been so very peaceful. And how fantastic to have your own family as great tour guides to take you around to all the best places!
Oh, and since I have won a giveaway from your blog before, I am removing my name for consideration for one of these lovely books in order to give others a chance! : )
I haven’t been to Maui, but I’ve been to Oahu twice,and the big Island once! Pure paradise. It would be heaven to live there, but only if the family was there, too! Glad you had such a wonderful time!
Just beautiful , Karla . I felt like I was there with you. Loved the pic of you and your husband in he wind and the fine looking dancer. lol Can’t wait to see more.
Debra
Stunning, thank you so much for sharing. If you have a spare minute and could email me, I would love to know the name of the hotel you stayed at and if you would recommend it? My fiancee and I are wanting to go on our honeymoon and possibly even get married in Hawaii later this year. I have no idea which island is right for us etc, they all look amazing, but Maui really appeals. I would so appreciate your thoughts on Maui. Thanks so much, Zoe 🙂
Maui is the only island Ive visited. I hear all are wonderful. We were thinking the same thing, trying to figure out how we could stay forever, but couldnt bear leaving the family behind. It was nice to get home to them!
Karla Nathan
http://www.karlascottage.typepad.com
http://www.karlascottage.com
Looks so fun and so beautiful!! Aren’t the pineapples just soooooo good? I couldn’t figure out why they cost so much more too. We tried to bring some back home but didn’t have very good luck with that. We went many years ago in the 80’s and it was such a romantic place, so full of beauty… the flowers were indescribably beautiful… Glad you are safely back in KS and had a wonderful homecoming. Home still is the BEST place to be. I don’t think you are an old lady as to your favorite things, just a wise lady….Welcome home, we missed you, Linda
I just have to laugh about the sleeping! Looks like you had a great time. Welcome back.
Id have tried to bring some home if I could have too. But we were told that since we flew into CA, no fruits were allowed.
Karla Nathan
http://www.karlascottage.typepad.com
http://www.karlascottage.com
~sigh~ I’ve never been to Maui, but is it like Kauai in that the air smells like flowers? Heavenly…loved the photos! (Oh, and thank you for the one of that dancer, esp.)
Beautiful photos and wonderful memories. I am more bowled over by the fact that pineapples are $2 in Kansas. That would NEVER happen around here.
Karla, glad you are back on Terra Firma..LOL…the photos were lovely, but I know you did miss those little sweetie pies of yours….I can hardly believe how adorable the name that your little granddaughter gave the cat: Sweet Sweet Sweetie….so cute, and so like her from all of your postings! Patty in Kansas
Karla
so happy you had a dream vacation to hawaii! My parents live there 6 months of the year and own a condo in Kona on the big island. I have been blessed to be there 6 times –three of our children were married there—our daughter in law was born and raised in Kona and her family all still live there. Two of our daughters thought it was so beautiful to have an island wedding they followed suit. 🙂
Hi Karla, Beautiful photo’s, thanks for sharing your wonderful trip with us. It looked beautiful! Welcome back. Have a great week catching up. Hugs, Terri
Well, that was the sale price. They are usually $3 or so, still less than half what they are in Hawaii where they are grown!
Karla Nathan
http://www.karlascottage.typepad.com
http://www.karlascottage.com
Looks like a wonderful time Karla!