Cruise to Hawaii -We're in Maui

Maui greeted us with an amazing double rainbow, which told us that this island would be little different from the others - there would be rain.  Oh yes, there would be rain.

I know you can't have a tropical environment without some significant wetness, but we were not really expecting rain every single day, at any given minute, even as - and especially when - the sun is shining. We looked forward to getting on the ship at the end of every port day so we could feel dry.  Irony.

I grabbed a quick shot of the kids in front of the ship as we began our adventures on Maui.  Hawaiian haze of mist per the usual.

We grabbed our rental and headed to the west side of the island. 

While nearly everyone else was winding along the road to Hana and Haleakala National Park, we chose to go the opposite direction and visit the historic whaling town of Lahaina.

If you looked east, you could not see the tops of the mountains due to the clouds and rain.

But looking west, it was blue skies and sunshine - thank goodness!

We were pretty sure that island out there was Lanai.

Lahaina was a typical touristy kind of town and, since we're not big shoppers, we didn't stay long.

We did do, however, the two most important things we wanted to do while there.

First, the kids finally got to have some shave ice!

Needless to say, it was well received.

Next we visited the famous Lahaina Banyan Tree.  It reminded us a lot of the Angel Oak on John's Island, SC and it was quite the sight.

 
But the main goal on Maui was snorkeling, so we drove down the road a bit to Kaanapali Beach, grabbed our rented gear, and hit the water.

The strength of the current was significant and the drop off from the shore was pretty quick and steep, so it took a little getting used to. 

The coral and sea life were beautiful, much more so than our video below provides.

All I kept thinking while we were in the water was, "We're snorkeling in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Maui!"  

Also, trust me when I say the newer, dry mouth snorkels are the only way to go.  I also highly recommend getting a GoPro camera.  It's so simple to use and works so well in the underwater case.

Here is some live action of our fun!
(It's only 3 1/2 minutes so you won't get too motion sick from my videography skills...or lack there of!)

Will also did some boogie boarding.

And then, as it always happens after a couple of hours at the beach, the kids crashed on the drive back to the port.

Next - and final stop - Oahu!

Cruise to Hawaii - Kauai!

We arrived in Nawiliwili harbor on Kaua'i a little after sunrise.

Once again we rented a car and headed out to see the sites. 

We had been on the road about 5 minutes when I looked at my GPS and saw this:

Scott and I have quoted a single line from Honeymoon in Vegas for a couple of decades. "Is that Kapa-a or Kapa-a-a?" Finally, we were in Kapaa!

Our first stop was to a local park to wander and let the kids run around a bit. 

 

 

Eliza Grace took over photography duties and found beautiful flowers and lots of birds.

It seems that Kauai is home to a large number of free roaming chickens. 

They were everywhere.  

I mean every where we went. 

Chickens.  Like they owned the island.

The story we were told was that around 15+ years ago damage from a hurricane freed a bunch of chickens from a farm and ever since they have been given free reign around the island.

 After the park, we visited Wailua Falls.

 Gorgeous scenery, flora and fauna.

Next we made a quick stop at the Koloa Rum Company tasting room and store.

At this point, we were ready to do a little relaxing so we headed to the Marriott Kaua'i Beach Club in Lihue.

Now this is what I envisioned a resort in Hawaii to look like!

We got a room for the afternoon and spent the next couple of hours enjoying the grounds and pools and a room with a full sized shower!

The hotel lobby was beautiful.

Eliza Grace could have spent days hanging out with the Koi fish.

 

She also spent some up close and personal time with some Nenes, a native Hawaiian goose that is on the endangered species list.

For lunch we headed to the famous Duke's restaurant on property. Sure it was touristy, but the food was really good and you couldn't beat the view.

After our filling lunch we wandered around the property, changed into our bathing suits and hit the pools.

Will then took over camera duties and got some nice shots around the resort as we headed back to the ship.

 

  

We all really liked Kaua'i and decided that if we ever went back to Hawaii, we would stay on Kaua'i.

Now on to Maui...