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Maui Rainbow

Friday, October 26th, 2007


Maui Rainbow

Originally uploaded by roupiesontour

October 26th – Mokapu Beach

It was raining all night and I did not sleep well. I am next to the window so visions of a leaping pink lizard kept me awake. He was still on the windowsill this morning giving me the eye – well singing with bum in the air – nice.

Hostel was busy this morning with guests, it makes a nice change from the anonymity of hotels. Apparently it does not matter if it is raining here the beaches are still sunny so we set off towards the SW coast to Kihei and Wailea in search of some good snorkelling. We finally decided on Mokapu beach as it had free parking and snuck in the last spot (much to the annoyance of the car behind us). Driving around showed us some amazing beach front houses – you can only guess at how much they are worth but how cool to wake up with that view every morning. The towns are so under-developed here compared to Oahu. Wailea has been landscaped to death as there are a few v posh resorts with golf courses. It is stunning but feels a bit too perfect. O found out in one of the freebie mags that all the stars come here – knew I should have got out the lip gloss!

The beach was a nice bay with a long sandy shelf in the water and a reef that started about 10m out. It was only later that I found out the beach had been shut twice this week due to shark sightings! Wow – the visi\bility was so much better than Hanuama bay and it made for better snorkelling as it was not so shallow. W saw so many fish and swam through shoals of them. I can’t describe how cool it is to just float and watch a whole other world carry on below you. We saw puffer fish – huge at about 12 inches each, shoals of long stick fish that just sat on the bottom and even divers beneath us.

Got talking to a Maui resident who gave us lots of tips and a nice couple from San Diego who kept having to phone home – their house was about 4 miles from the current fires that have destroyed a lot of California. Luckily that were not affected. Went in for a third snorkel (O went off to the loo – beaches have fab facilities here) and there I was just floating when a sea turtle swam beneath me. It just looked around and swam on. I followed it for about 5 mins (keeping my distance above) and it was amazing. You can imagine how annoyed O was when she found me.

She managed to take out some of her frustration by helping me building Josh into a mermaid in the sand…………….

Following on from a beach recommendation we finished the day off at Maui Ocean Centre. It has an amazing array of fish and is very well set out. It was great to see the kids pointing and saying how they had swam with this one or that one. There were turtles for them to see too!

So all this today and on the way home a double rainbow. I have never seen such a huge rainbow but I guess that’s Maui style.

Island View

Thursday, October 25th, 2007


Maui View 1

Originally uploaded by roupiesontour

October 24th – Maui Bound

The transportation for the airport was a no show so reception ordered us a taxi. A limo arrived – nothing like doing it in style. The kids were very under-whelmed by the whole trip but that’s teenagers for you. The half hour plane trip was worth it just for the views of the islands – breath taking.

We have hired a car on Maui as public transportation is scarce. We have a Chrysler PT Cruiser so should be doing the sights in style. The hostel Peace Of Maui is in the middle of nowhere but the scenery really is stunning. Mount Halekala is in the distance with clouds that are nearly as low as you stand – this still freaks me out – that the clouds in Hawaii could be so low. There are dogs, mango and star fruit trees and the owner Tammi could not be more friendly.

Maui is so completely different from O’ahu. It is certainly less developed but the earth is red and the highways pass huge fields (tall sugar cane?) that you can imagine has some interesting wildlife. We have already had a little pink lizard come and visit us in our room but I think Josh’s shirt frightened him away. Rugged I sthe word to describe the scenery and the local population certainly tend towards the hippier side of life (without meaning that as an insult at all).

We parked for the local health food store in the library next door and the library police (even had a uniform) came running out and told us off for parking – can not have been a very exciting day. As soon as he heard my accent you could see him warm to us – bless they’re from England – they’re just stupid!

North Shore

Thursday, October 25th, 2007
North Shore - Outrigger Originally uploaded by roupiesontour
October 23rd – North Shore This island has so much to offer we felt ... [Continue reading this entry]

Hilo Hattie

Thursday, October 25th, 2007
Waikiki Sunset 3 Originally uploaded by roupiesontour
October 22nd – Retail Therapy A rest day today. We had a lie in and ... [Continue reading this entry]

Snorkel Heaven

Thursday, October 25th, 2007
Hanuama Bay From The Plane Originally uploaded by roupiesontour
October 21st – Hanuama Bay This place had been recommended, it is a ... [Continue reading this entry]

Tora Tora Tora

Thursday, October 25th, 2007
USS Arizona Originally uploaded by roupiesontour
October 20th – Pearl Harbour I actually read some of the guide book and have made ... [Continue reading this entry]

Halekelikimaca Is The Thing To Say To Make You Smile Smile Smile

Thursday, October 25th, 2007
Diamond Head View Originally uploaded by roupiesontour
Up early as we were all excited. Straight off to the beach. Not very ... [Continue reading this entry]

Waikiki Beach

Thursday, October 25th, 2007
Waikiki Beach Originally uploaded by roupiesontour
October 18th – Arrival At Hawaii After a long and crowded flight it felt so good ... [Continue reading this entry]

Movieland

Thursday, October 18th, 2007
Los Angeles 001 Originally uploaded by roupiesontour
Tuesday- chilling out day today. We went out to Venice Beach to get some ... [Continue reading this entry]

Your Own Personal Jesus

Tuesday, October 16th, 2007
Lifeguard Hut Santa Monica Originally uploaded by roupiesontour
You can tell a lot about the people in a town by the ... [Continue reading this entry]