Maui

02.26.2012
We just returned from one of the best places in the world, I'm sure.
Sugar Beach, Kihei, Maui, Hawaii...
Everyone I know that has been to Hawaii raves about it, and now I know why.
I loved this trip because:
1) everthing was sooooo family friendly
2) cultural, yet americanized (I felt safe with my kids there in just about any location, with both boys being sick while away I felt comfort in knowing that a medical care system on par with being at home was available to us...this is just different when travelling with your kids than when you are solo, and something that hadn't really entered my stream of consciousness until being there)
3) uniform, great weather (hot, but not too hot, a bit of wind, lots of sun & blue skies)
4) our condo's location (in a more quiet area, fronting on literally miles of beach, relatively calm ocean, central and relatively close to everything)
5) the view from our lanai
6) the sounds from our lanai (specifically the waves crashing on the beach)
7) I had no preconceptions of what the holiday should be, other than relaxing (and boy, did that deliver)
8) laying in the sun
9) swimming in the pool
10) daily walks along the beach, babe on back
11) making sandcastles
12) being together in one place as four
13) watching the whales (fascinating)
14) the sunrises and the sunsets

I did haul my big camera around with me quite a bit, but I actually didn't get it out and take as many pics as I thought I would. Photo opportunities abound on Maui...here are a few of the pics I did snap (sort of wishing I had taken more?!).

catching a humpback mid-breach - spectacular to see in person!

one of my favourite captures of the whole trip (love the colours & composition...I sat very patiently waiting for this guy to poke his head above the water and I totally lucked out and caught him) - sea turtle

our first morning - sunrise (the colours really are that spectacular...I did no editing other than to resize for web) 



building sandcastles was a fav activity for sure

view out over Lahaina harbour 

surfers (man & sea turtle) at Ho'okipa Point - I could have sat and watched the waves, the surfers and the turtles here for hours...

a bunch of surfers waiting to catch the "big one"

back at Ho'okipa - watching the windsurfers at dusk

The Plantation Course - Kapalua (oldest golf course on Maui) - stunning views...a lot in the estates surrounding the course will run you a cool 1.5 million

beautiful vegetation at the golf course

these trees were so interesting

I loved Maui...I could have stayed for a much longer time (I think I could actually live there, lol)...and I hope with all my heart that sometime in the future I will be able to return.

Another post with some of the camera pics I took coming soon.