Because of the recent wildfire that’s devastated Maui, I want to extend my family’s prayer for all who are affected. May this island recover in the boldest of what Hawaiian’s are always viewed as- the beautiful gesture of Ohana.

This was our humble trip with family friends just a month before it leveled most of its historic site from the wildfires.

Aloha! Blue turquoise waters carving thousand year old lava flow gently forming, igniting sparks of little diadem mist in the air thundering as it collides both ocean and silenced lava flow below. Beneath this play of sequential rhythm and roaring, a world of decorated ocean bed igniting a passion of colorful marine habitat. Hue of green moss thriving on boulders that steep off into soft sand and sanctuary. Even the fish find harmony in reflecting its elegant colors, the sea cucumber idle in peaceful retreat this noon in the floral display, sea urchin peaking through crevices, and a graceful turtle just around the corner playing along the ocean break basking on planktons that reside in rocky beds. Oh what wonderful world it is.,

Prologue

Welcome to Maui. Where the dormant sleeping Haleakala volcano contemplates on its marvelous sea bay below. Not far from its molten reach, the sunken Molokini, it’s relative, lay submerged in warm water caressed by the trade wind from the vast open pacific waters. Its underworld is a haven of collected species and floral display evolving and actively reshaping its magnificence. A snorkeler’s dream dive.

Maui is laid back. A paradise of its own. Down the rolling hills the valley below collects most of the sun that peaks through rain clouds brought by the trade winds from the west. Its coastal roads are courted by marvelous blue waters and veiled with bold and sharp lava rocks that separates the two elements. They bring this magical easy drive along the coast that one can take with the warm sun gently penetrating the skin and the wind to relax the soul. Solitude. Time slows down here. No high rise building to spoil the afternoon glow. The lizards play along the lava walls along properties of small picturesque towns and the fern dwindles its spindles to boast an intricate detail to this island. 

Where did we stay?

We found our small paradise in the few places we stayed at during our stay in beautiful Maui. Our first three nights were welcomed in the most authentic Hawaiian gesture in the Kaanapali coast through air BNB hosted by Kim. Her place boasted a quaint living space with open windows inviting the grass loan and the beach within a few yards from her place. You cannot miss a day without a sight of various turtles basking on the beach or feeding off the rocky lava enjoying the soft rolling waves. A generous canopy of palm trees tower above and the tropical display of various plants wrap around her condo intermingling with the affluent birds that sing throughout the day. 

The Hyatt Regency Maui resort and spa located on the famous Kaanapali coast has vibrant water activities for kids with many pools to choose from connecting the beach by foot and an authentic Luau dinner at night. A fish and penguin feeding session during the morning is a nice treat for the little ones. 

The Hana-Maui resort is the family’s favorite tucked and nestled in the heart of the town of Hana within Haleakala’s volcano base. Nothing can separate you from the hustle and bustle and engage you in a private luxury stay with your own view of the pacific ocean from your own bungalow suite serenaded by the soft breeze and the dark starry night than this paradise within Maui’s paradise. 

The Hyatt residence in Wailea is another wonderful stay during the last few days on this trip. This is located closer to the airport and within Maui’s downtown city center but is situated perfectly to where every element of fun and Hawaiian vacation does not disappoint. Each of the locations are perfectly located to explore the beauty on every coast.

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The David’s

Aloha! We must be in paradise. Every waking hour and late sunsets is a present in itself. 

The temperament of this island can be easily compared to a good company and strong friendship bond. That’s when The David’s came to play this role. The “bug” brothers as we call them. They are always scouring and  looking down and around into the earth and feeling every plant, looking into loose lava rocks discovering little friendly critters- inviting each and every single friend they see along the way  to their 8 pm meet ups. They are about my son’s age. They go out and hunt for bugs and critters that live on the island. Their favorites are toads and frogs. The David’s most sought out are reptiles, specifically tiny non poisonous red snakes. Their one and only rule, to let go of the bugs after capturing them or you will get blared with flash light in your eyes. Such passion and love for the habitats that live on the island. This is the very same intuition and values shared by the locals. Except for the blared flash light in the eyes of course! A reverence towards the island and its living and breathing existence. I respect that the most.

The thought of an island in the middle of the pacific wharfs you from the ticking time and space. Truly time seems to stop here. It is ironically a security within those curling surfs and thundering rain clouds. The locals and their reverberating smiles echo throughout the island. Don’t get offended if they are territorial at times. Sure they want to share this beautiful piece of paradise but are also very protective of the environment to a degree that might alarm some tourists. 

The road to Hana

The road to Hana is more of a journey than the destination. As cliche as it may sound, it is the ultimate ethos of this travel. Enjoy the fresh coconut sold by local vendors along the way, soak in every winding road, hike through bamboo rainforest, appreciate every peaking sun through floral display, jump in the cool waterfalls at almost every bend and take in all the fresh breeze along every descend and hike ascent.

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if chasing waterfalls is your drive, this is the road to be. All the waterfalls are accessible by foot and can be enjoyed to your content. Make sure to carry swim wear and good hiking boots. Parking can be very tight and limited. Early excursion to Hana is ideal. The food trucks wont stay open late either. Head to the road early and download shaka app for your personal tour guide. I can’t suggest this app enough. It is a must for anyone first time or returning to Hawaii.

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Locals bond by the coast

Van cars and 4×4’s parked between idle trees next to the soft crashing shores waves, boogie boards active today and the locals spread good vibes with music blaring into the pacific shaka sign and all. Who wouldn’t want to live this life? The beach is never crowded along this stretch and the surf is about ten yards out. No competition, just an easy morning barrel ride and the hammock that is swayed by swift breeze.

Kate, India and Joel sit outside from the second floor balcony engaging in small but believable adult talks definitely not the age they show- play from a stunning Wailea beach front engulf in sea of kalachuchi and the bold vast ocean shimmering in diamonds glitters. They are enjoying the parrot carved pineapple that Tito Mark has elegantly and carefully cut to preciscion for this special occasion. In that glimps of the moment we became the locals with the most overwhelming view.

Haleakala and the summit

Haleakala. The world’s largest dormant volcano. A magical experience with the kids as we played Moana’s “I Lava” song in the backdrop on the way up the volcano’s summit to reminisced on the magnitude of how this island was created and the scale to where we were at. According to legend, the demigod pulled Maui from the ocean. This islands’ terrain quickly changes into a thousand year back reflecting on its massive eruption now in its dormant facade of martial like existence. The view from the top gives a sense of timeless dreamy disbelief of the thought that standing on this very volcano puts you in a state of gratitude and enhances one’s view towards nature with respect.

The temperature at the summit quickly drops as you drive above sea of clouds. The landscape idle in the distance separates the body from the life that is a thousand feet below with every breath this thin air fires the soul, the lungs and the being. Oh what experience to be alive.

Epilogue

Hawaii is rich in history and culture. The thread of time ties Hawaiian heritage and culture to today’s present Maui and and the islands nearby. In every rising and setting sun create memories that carve a lifelong sense of paradise and hospitality. One that play out long after the flight home, the drive to work on a Monday and the easy island life that gesture a shaka as you sit in traffic.

Sunsets are my favorite. We all gravitated to this idea and simple gesture as we sat there contemplating and soaking in the last few hours of the day and really the very last few hours in paradise. We let the day seize as the calming waves carved a love story in our hearts. We are full of joy that we have managed to come back to this island with friends who share the same gratitude towards life. It was mornings waking up to the sound of birds chirp or soft rolling waves. It was barefoot in the sand and a nice sunset walk in the beach. And just like that the ukulele play a tune in the far distance as I contemplate and dream of Maui’s embrace once more.

As legend continue to surface the island, I continue to contemplate in how Maui lassoed the sun on Haleakala to make the days longer for island fisherman and farmers. Once again I reflect on how Maui and the sun brought everything golden to this island; its pineapple are the sweetest and the Maui gold stays in Hawaii. Nevertheless the heart of gold the locals preserve is one to experience.

Our before and after photo nine years in the making. Thank God for family, We are the banyan tree. | This is in the historic site in Maui where the centuries old Banyan tree continue to create family of its own before the wild fire engulfed it. May this island find that Ohana, once more.

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