Maui--Day 7

You should be able to double click to enlarge the pictures to enjoy the pictures. Our beautiful morning view. We are looking west from the condo, so the sun is coming up behind us. Lots of surfers out today.
More surfers waiting for that perfect wave. They come in slow sets and these are small to medium waves, not the monster ones you see in movies or on television.

The Gemini catamaran. It always stayed anchored to the north during the night, so here it is off with her first group for the day. I'd love to try this next time. Since it is Friday and we only have one more day, Patti and I decided to take a walk and do some local sightseeing during the morning. We headed south on the beach walk and took in some inspiring eye-candy.

This is the African Crowned Crane. He and his sweetheart live down the way. They are beautiful birds with an ivory featherless face, bright red wattle, and a spectacular crown of slender golden feathers. They are omnivorus.

Here is the female. I tried so hard to get a shot of their faces, but they move rather quickly! They are extremely graceful.

A magnificent Macaw. The colors were unbelieveable! And he was huge.

Coi pools. Just look at the colors!

This picture totally doesn't do them any justice at all. Okay--I need a new camera and some photography lessons! But it was like having a brilliant rainbow in the water.

Next stop: the Hawaiian Quilt shop. Let me introduce you to Germaine. She is the manager of the store and a hawaiian quilter for the last 20 plus years. Germaine is originally from Pittsburgh, never married or had children of her own. After her parents passed away and she was looking her golden years alone, she decided the snowy winters weren't for her anymore. So she packed up her life and moved to Hawaii to live out the rest of it. She met a local native who introduced her to the art of hawaiian quilting. It was love at first stitch. Here is a project she is working on now for the store. She gives lessons for free, both at the store and after hours. Her love for the craft doesn't care about the money--she just wants it to live on!

Germaine took us on a tour of the store. I think she attached herself to us because we told her we were doing a square of hawaiian quilting during our vacation. Then she found out Patti was a dyed-in-the-wool quilter and that sealed the deal! The quilt above is not a true hawaiian quilt pattern, but all the applique is done in the native way. This hanging quilt is not for sale, but if it was, I would have snapped it up! It tells the history of how hawaiian quilting came to be.

Tapa cloth was the only cloth available to the Hawaiians. They made this cloth from tree bark and it took many days to make and design tapa. It was worn for clothing and used for bedding. The missionaries who came to Hawaii introduced hawaiian roylaty to quilting. The first recorded introduction was in 1820 aboard the Thaddeus. (depicted above) A group of Hawaiian ladies sat on the flooring of the top deck of the ship, dressed only in a traditional wrap skirt of tapa, while the missionary ladies gently showed them the art of quilting. The little boy shown in the back is fanning the royal women.

The very creative, innovative Hawaiians soon developed a unique quilting style that reflected their own culture and traditions.

A sample on one of the walls. You can see how the cream center is all one piece! Unfolded very carefully from the 'snowflake' way of cutting out the pattern. Then all hand appliqued on and then echo quilted around.

Here is another one with what they call a lei border. The hawaiians never use black. There tradition teaches that black is the color of death, and to them death is a spiritual, uplifting event that one wears white to mourn in. White is pure and the color of happiness. And I didn't see anything black anywhere!

A rack of blues and lavenders.

A rack of reds with creams and then mochas. These were amazing. I even noticed that the 3rd one down is breadfruit! Good eye with my novice abilities! The reason that quilters always do the breadfruit pattern first according to legend is to invite and ensure an abundance, that they will always have enough. Breadfruit was one of the staple foods of the Polynesians as they crossed the Pacific. The fruit, the sap and the wood were all used in daily life. Legend traces the origin of Ulu to the god KU, who turns himself into an Ulu tree during a period of starvation so that his wife and children could live on. Pretty interesting, huh?

This is a king sized quilt. Yes! This is all done from one folded pattern. Just try to imagine how that must have looked. Again, it is all hand stitched. The price was $3200.00 That only makes it about 10 cents a square inch! Not very much when you look at it in those terms.

Who knew Hawaii was home to penquins!? Not me, so imagine my surprise when we saw these little buddies! They are in a molting season right now, but just as cute as can be. They just totter along and then dive lightening fast into the water.

Look how cute!

This man is a wood carver. He was making a sea turtle for a little boy standing nearby. See how he holds the wood with his feet and then uses his carving tool and another piece of wood to chisel out the shape. This was very fun to watch. What a talent! He also did the piece to the right.

This blossom fell off a bush and was just laying on a little stone fence. The colors were so beautiful I had to get the picture.

Look at this fun bridge! It is nestled amongst a tropical forest of trees and bushes and spans one of the largest pools. The 'young' girls in us begged for a trip across and the 'older' women in us happily obliged! It was REALLY fun!!!

Yellow Hibiscus. The Hawaii state flower. They are everywhere and you never get tired of them.

Another yellow hibiscus, but with a fuschia/reddish center. Not the state flower because of the center, but I would have voted for this one!

Back to the condo, made some sandwiches and fruit for lunch, and visited. Then down to the water for the afternoon.

After a couple of hours at the pool and some more smoothies and of course macadamia nut cookies (yum-o-licious), we headed for a walk on the beach. It was about 5 pm and couldn't have been more spectacular.

The ocean is warm, soft, firm yet gentle all at the same time.

The clouds were ushering in the evening insuring a divine sunset.

We followed this little sandpiper all the way down the beach. He plays a game of chase with the waves. As they recede he chases them to pick at whatever comes up from the sand they wash over. And when the new wave comes it chases him back up the shore. It was delightful to watch him. They are so light on their feel and sooooo quick.

I was standing in the water mid-thigh and took this picture of a wave just getting ready to break. I will miss the sound of the constancey of the waves breaking on the shore. We always slept with the slider open to our lanai and fell asleep and woke up to that lullaby.

Some little kids made this sandcastle. If you look closely you will see little rocks and pieces of coral that dot the top of it. So creative and precious.

Tiki torches are lit every night. They mark the paths and lend ambience. They are not like the ones we get here from the hardware store or Target with that fuel that is unmistakeable. I wonder what they use.

We decided to go to Whalers Village for our last dinner at Leilani's. I remembered to take a picture of the menu. Everywhere you go, this is how the fresh fish is listed on the menus. The waiter comes to your table and lets you know all the different kinds available that evening. Of course, they have all just been caught at sometime during that very day. Then each restaurant has their own signature way of preparing it, and so you order your fish, and then you order how you want it prepared.

Try it, you'll like it! (remember that phrase...) If you don't think you like fish before you go, you will be converted by the time your trip is done! There are other entrees to order--chicken, beef, pork, but the fish is extraordinary.

And of course, our last serving of Hula Pie!

Maui--Day 6

We are now at Thursday of our trip. Duff and I slept in until 9:30. Unheard of for us. It felt really good. The morning was pristinely gorgeous. The sun on the ocean water was like glittering diamonds. (Kind of like I envisioned Edward Cullen's skin in the sun. Big disappointment in the movie...) Nertz, anyone? We got all these different playing cards to bring home.
These Aloha drinks are really good. I wish we could get them on the mainland.

This is one of the pools right below our condo. This is the brand new tower (Napili) and facilities that just opened last Friday, and here we are! We have been using the lounge chairs between the 2nd and 3rd umbrellas. This place is like Camelot or Disneyland. The facilities crews work during the night, so when you wake up in the morning everything is clean and perfect. You can't really tell in this picture, but the water is a very unique shade of turquoise. The pool travels to the left and winds through many gardens, waterfalls, etc.

Just one of the waterfalls and bridges. The bridge is such a piece of craftsmanship.

A close-up of the bridge.

Duff and I went early this afternoon to a presentation on time-shares. It was very informative and actually a good deal. We might consider it. We did get a lot of perks just from listening to the presentation. We'll have Richard tutor us on the art of time-share ownership.

This afternoon was spent at the pools and beach again. Oh the water is divine! The pools are saline, not chlorine, so very easy on the body, hair, and swim suits. The whales are out in droves. Some were in really close to shore. They are quite entertaining to watch. A mama was out with her babies. She would rise out of the water and slap her large 15-20 foot fin down in the water with a big splash. Then another one, and another one. This is telling her children to come 'right now'! Either they are lolly-gagging around or she wants them near because a boat is too close. I guess even oceanic parenting is not too far off that of we human mothers!

Sunset during this time of the year is around 6-6:30pm. This was tonight's, right off our lanai.

Another shot just a few minutes later. Quite beautiful.

And another shot again with the waves and shoreline.

We had a japanese teppanyaki dinner tonight at Kobe's. Very, very delicious.

On our way out of the restaurant, Patti noticed that one of the trees in the parking lot was an honest to goodness breadfruit tree, just like the quilt square I am doing! It was late at night, but the flash worked fine. Here is real hawaiian breadfruit!

Aloha, until tomorrow-----

Maui--Day 5

Today, we did....NOTHING...... We woke up to a beautiful sunny morning. Changed into our swim suits and headed for the water. ...had a pool waiter assigned to our area and had smoothies, lunch--which was vege sandwiches and kahlua pulled pork sandwiches-- and whatever else we wanted!
...view from the lounge chair. Pretty amazing, huh!

...another gorgeous scene from my chair....

...looking straight up from my chaise where I was napping...you couldn't create this if you tried...

...so spectacular...we sat in the spas, swam in the pools, then came back to lay out and dry off, read, sip smoothies, nap, and do it all over again....and just fyi: there is every body size and shape imaginable. Spider veins, varicose veins, dimples, tan, medium tan, no tan, lily white. Young, midlife, old, canes, crutches, pedicures and sandals to Sas shoes, waxed and buff to the hairy missing link, you name it they are here. No need for any conciousness... around 5:30pm Patti, Duff and I came back to the condo to shower. Richard was soon to follow. 90 minutes later after we were cleaned up and ready to go to dinner, we looked out the living room window and saw Richard 8 floors down still by the pool in the dark on his computer. Patti called him and he realized how much time had passsed and ran on up for a quick shower. That's what happens here: you don't really keep track of the time. It just escapes you...It's really quite nice to not be beholding to a clock!

We decided to go into Lahaina for dinner at Kimo's. Now this was very unique. You have a roof over your heads and the walls for the kitchen areas, but it's like you are eating on a private pier complete with tiki torches and all. It is right on the water! I will have to explain in another post how to order a fish entree, but suffice it to say I've not had a bad meal since we've been here. This is a picture of the sunset from Kimo's. The restaurant had a little gift shop and we found some unique dessert plates! They might just have something to do with a famous dessert here. The one that legend says the fishermen swam to shore for.... it's initals are: H.P. Any guesses?

Richard dropped us off right at the restaurant door so we could get our name in--which we didn't even have to do; it was no waiting for our party tonight--and went to park the car. He made the decision to park it all the way at the end of Front Street, so after our dinner we could walk and enjoy all the shops. It is a lot like Main Street in Park City, or Balboa Island with all the little lights and quaint stores and restaurants. At the end of the street where the car was parked is a Banyan tree that is over 100 years old. It was already dark when we got there, but I got this picture of it off google. There are no words to describe it.

Got home and Richard went to bed and we watched a show on Animal Planet about a collassel squid. It was pretty fascinating, especially considering we are in Hawaii where there are all things ocean. The whales continue to play and it is completely entertaining. The smallest things satisfy. Sounds like a good motto to live by!


Aloha and Mahalo!

Maui--Day 4

The Hawaiian winter weather continued through the night and we woke up to this scene this morning. Cloudy, very windy, chilly, and wet. Plan A, to sit out at the pool and beach was nixed and we implemented Plan B.

Believe it or not, it wasn't cold, but just not worthy to be 'outside'. Plan B entailed sleeping in, breakfast, watching some tv, Duff and Richard took naps, read books, took naps again. Patti and I had other things on the agenda!
This is an example of Hawaiian Applique quilting. Patti is a quilter. This has been her hobby for, well, she made her first quilt when we were seniors in high school, so a LONG time.

Hawaiian quilting when first seen, is rarely forgotten. It possesses a striking, beautiful pattern, usually only in two colors--one for the background and one for the design applique. It has an unexplainable quality that comes more from the spirit of the design than from the stitches from the quilters hand. They are more of an artistic expression than for necessity. Because of Hawaii's climate, they could make the quilts in a leisurely fashion rather than needing to hurry to finish to ensure warmth during other kinds of winters. This is good, because I learned that a full size Hawaiian quilt usually takes about a year to make!

Here are some batik fabrics that can be put in any kind of combinations. I ended up choosing the light blue and dark blue. I am doing a Hawaiian quilt square that I will eventurally frame and put in my house. She chose the pinks and is doing a hibiscus pattern and will make hers into a purse. It was really hard to choose a color. But I chose the blues because I'm in Hawaii and it reminds me of the sky and water, and blues are easy to put into any home decor.

You make the design by folding a square of fabric into equal fourths, and then into a triangle. Then like you would cut out a snowflake, you cut out your design pattern. Doesn't mine look awesome???!!! You place it on your background piece and baste the whole thing in place with large running stitches. Then you do a stitch called 'turn applique' all around the edges. It is not as hard as I thought it would be, but it does require patience and time. Next, you do what is called 'echo quilting'. That is where you have a piece of high loft batting and then a piece of backing fabric (usually muslin like) and outline the complete shape every 1/4-1/2 inch all the way around until you reach the edges of the background fabric. In the picture above, they have cross-hatched the white background. We will be doing the echo method. (It 'echos' the pattern.....)

The Hawaiians were born with a special relationship to the land and its products, and so with a natural gracefulness they bring these qualities to their quilt designs. The design I am doing is called Ulu, which means 'breadfruit'. History has it that this breadfruit pattern is the first pattern a girl can do because bread is the staff of life. There really is a tree here that produces a fruit called breadfruit. It is a staple in the diet. So it is fitting that I should do this for my first attempt at Hawaiian quilting! We worked on these most of the day as it stormed outside. There is a Hawaiian quilt shop here and I was in awe of the beautiful quilts. We are going to go back and take a closer look in the next couple of days, so I'll see if the store will let me take some pictures.

It cleared up a bit right at dinner time, so we headed out for the walk to Whaler's Village to eat at Hula Grill and Barefoot Bar. Richard joined us after his board of directors meeting finished. He sits on the board for a group that operates a 30 acre farm that childen and adults with disabilites work here on Maui. Dinner was so fun! What an ambience. I had some macadamia nut crusted mahi mahi and it just melted in your mouth.

Here is another view of the Hula Grill. We ate inside in the dining area, but inside just meant that there were only 3 walls and all the windows on those walls are open! No hula pie here, but a hawaiian version of an ice cream sandwich--a chocolate macadamia nut brownie with vanilla ice cream then another choc/mac brownie on top with raspberry sauce and whipped cream. Yeah--waaaaaaay good!

Aloha, until tomorrow!

Gaylord

Meet Gaylord. He has worked at the resort for 30+ years. He has known the Petersons for most of this time. We met him the first day we were here, and have seen him everyday since. So it was fitting to grab a picture. He received a promotion that he was very proud of. He is now in charge of loss security for the resort around the pool and beach areas. He watches for and catches the 'thiefs'. He said he liked what he was doing before better, but figured he ought to take a promotion when it was offered. He is full of the island spirit of kindness and love. Everyday he asks if there is anything he can do for us and tells us he would do anything for us and he really means it!

Maui--Day 3

I've been learning Hawaii geography. We pass through Lahaina to get to Kaanipali where we are. So Lahaina is the town just to the south of us. We are really in Kaanipali. Napili is to our north. We are also on what is called the windward side of the island. 'Windward' means the side that gets the wind. So the other side of the island is called the leeward side--or 'protected' side. The only time I have ever clued in to those terms was many years ago when Shaun was very little and loved to watch The Secret Of Nimh movie. Mrs. Mouse told her son to go to the lee of the stone. I never understood what that meant. Now I know that she wanted him to go to the protected side of the stone. Aha! It has become very windy. I couldn't get a good picture of the real trees practically sideways, so this will have to do. But you get the idea. We woke up during the night to this howling and the waves crashing. A storm, Hawaii style! Pretty cool!
The whales are completely amazing. It is hard to comprehend how many there are. I didn't take this picture, but this IS what we are seeing. We watched two friends play for about an hour together. They jumped up just like this and splashed down with huge plumes of spray. You could actually tell they were having fun.

Another seemed to want to join in. He was off to the north a bit and would come up and then dive down and splash his tail over and over again. Of course it makes sense, but they do have personalities. Ocean is obviously between Maui and Lanai, but space wise it is really just a 'channel'. The whales just play in this channel area and you can see them plainly. Very AWESOME!

We had breakfast down at the Beachwalk of the resort. This darling pirate ship play area/pool is a child's dream. The water shoots up and waterfalls down. There is a slide and the kids can play to their hearts content.

I finally GET IT! Everyone needs to do Honolulu at least once and on occasion go back to do the Pearl Harbor, Dole Plantation, Polynesian Cultural Center thing. But if you want to come to relax and regenerate, Maui is the place.

We sat out during the afternoon poolside/beachside. It is covered in these gorgeous Hibiscus gardens.

My poor little camera doesn't do these justice. Here is a bloom.

And here is another huge one. There are so many different colors. I remember my Grandma Davis having Hibiscus plants in big pots on her patio and side yard at the duplex in Manhattan Beach. I always loved them.

Richard stayed to read somemore and Patti, Duff, and I came back to freshen up a bit and headed for the grocery store in Lahaina to pick up a few breakfast and snacky things to keep in the kitchen. Did you know that the bellman unloads the groceries for you and brings them to your condo? I could get used to that!

Richard was back and we headed for dinner at the Cascades Grill down the beach.

Oh my! We had fresh lobster, scallops, shrimp, and ahi with rice and squash. It really does taste different plucked fresh from the sea! And of course, dad had to order some sushi. We had 3 different rolls, none of which we get at home and I just have to say--they were really, really good.

While we were dining, the wind increased and it started to rain. So on the walk back, we got rained on, not a downpour, but a light Hawaiian rain. Just enough to get you wet, and with the wind, a bit chilly. I had to remember: it is winter after all!

Aloha!

Maui--Day 2

Well, here we are on Day 2. This is the beautiful scene we woke up to this morning! Looking westward. The island you see is Lanai. I never realized Maui and Lanai were so close.
We went to church at 9 o'clock. It is the only ward in Lahaina. It was fast and testimony meeting. I was caught a little off guard with everyone beginning their testimonies by saying, "Aloha, my brothers and sisters." But when you repeat it back to them, it feels like a very natural way to greet each other, even from the pulpit.
The chapel is small. We met there for Sacrament meeting and Sunday School. They even make the visitors get involved. They hand out the quotes and scriptures to you and then you have to go to the front of the chapel and use the microphone! RS was held in the cultural hall. They don't even have a RS room. So they have big totes full of old patio cushions that the sisters can sit on for the folding chairs!

This is on the porch of the meeting house. Wouldn't you love that to be your view each time you came out of church? The only thing separating you from the beach is a two lane road.

One of the views from our room, straight down!

Another set of swimming pools.

We broke our fast at an outdoor setting while the superbowl was playing. Island pork ribs with rice. Oh, it hit the spot. Speaking of the superbowl--boohoo. Our AZ Cardinals lost in the last 2 minutes of the game. When we got back to our rooms, the bell captain was there to move us to the BRAND NEW condo tower. So we are now in the newest section of the resort. The condo is unbelievable. We are the first people to ever stay in this unit. The beds have never been slept in or the towels used. EVERYTHING is brand new. So now we have hawaii smell and new smell. I'm bruised from pinching myself so I know that this is all real.

Richard and Duff finished watching the game and then napped, while Patti and I sat on the sofa in my room and visited, chatted, talked, laughed, and then visited some more. All of a sudden it was 8 pm and the guys decided they were hungry. So we ordered out a pizza and watched a hilarious movie, Multiplicity.

So now it's off to bed. We have the slider opened to the lanai and are going to fall asleep to the lull of the waves.

Aloha, until tomorrow!