Day 7 Big Beach Again

We spent the morning in the shops, ate lunch at a yummy local place. Today Blair had Mahi Mahi and I had Ono. It was too yummy to describe. Then spent the afternoon towards sun down at Big Beach again. Von picked up pizza at Charley's on the way home (I think we still owe you $ for this) and we watched a movie I can't talk highly enough about. Janelle had brought this with them after her mom insisted they see it for months. It's called "Facing the Giants" I've never watched a movie and been so moved. It was unabashedly Christian to the point of me just saying "WOW" I will be buying this for my family. It was great. Now, it is not "big Hollywood" so in that some of you may be dissapointed, but the content and for volunteer acting (for what I gathered, a lot of it) it was just delightful. Let me know if you see this and what you think.

Day 6 End

Here is the whole group. These are our dear friends and their kiddos. After our long day snorkeling at the Ahihi Cove, then Big Beach..we came home did 7 showers in record time and heading back to Pa'ia for dinner at Charleys. I had an amazing burger with Avocodo and Bacon, Lauren's Pasta Primivera was terrific too. A lady selling Lei's came through and we women all got one. The were SUPER strong smelling (in a good way) and so we took a picture all as a group.

Shaved Ice

Another heads up we got from someone I sat next to on the plane from Anchorage to Maui. She had been to Hawaii many times before. I asked her any things you must do or eat? She replied, you have to get shaved ice w/ice cream.

We ended up trying it at three different places. The best shaved ice we had was in Khei. Not only were they huge, but you got to choose three flavors for the shaved ice and then they poured cream over the top of the whole thing. They shave it right in front of you off a huge block of ice. So ice cream on the bottom, then the shaved ice, then the flavors then cream. The ice is shaved so fine its like powdered sugar. The Macadamia Nut Chocolate ice cream is pretty good too! One thing we found eating in Maui, the portions are huge. Everywhere.

Day 5 Thursday the 22nd

We explored a little on our own down in Khei. We shopped at some open air markets and went to some pretty ocean spots. Found a yummy Fish Taco place called Jaws. (after the mammoth 70 foot waves that hit Maui's North Shore and professional surfers compete at) This was the day we found the best Shaved Ice as well.

Beyond Hana

This was down by the Seven Sacred Pools. Not sure what kind of tree this is, but it was cool!

This is still Hamoa Beach at the end it was a little calmer and just gorgeous Aquamarine water.

We did play Settlers

Day 3 Tuesday the 20th

We said Good-Bye to Larry and Bev today. They flew back to Alaska and we moved into the house on Hana Road today w/our friends. We met up with Larry and Bev just before they flew out (and after our time share presentation, which we said "no" to) It was great seeing them! Thanks for everything you two! We love you!

13 Years

Today was our Anniversary. 13 years, 11 moves, 4 kids and several job changes. We had dinner at a fish place in Lahaina, can't remember the name. What a better place to spend it, than Hawaii.

This is what you see before you don't see the whale for awhile. They play around and surface and blow out their blow holes, roll around on the surface, play some more and then they wave good bye like this before they dissapear for 8-10 minutes. Im glad I caught this one. It's hard to do. Someday I will get a camera that can takes pictures every second or so. I would like to get into photography a little.

This was the waterfall we viewed from the top of our hike. The only way to get a closer view of this one (that we could find) was by helicopter.

Hawaii via Alaska

We started our journey to Maui in Detroit on the morning of the 17th. We flew Detroit to Minneapolis. Minneapolis to Anchorage. We had to stay a night and day in Anchorage so we thought we'd try and hook up with Blairs Aunt (who lives there) and a friend we haven't seen in years (a guy Blair got hired on to NWA w/in 97') Well, we tried Blairs aunt and she didn't answer and we hooked up with Greg. Fun to see him and two of his 4 kids. The youngest we'd never met.


We ate at a local bar called Humpy's, which was recommended to us by a Northwest Employee in Minneapolis. He said we had to try the deep fried Halibut. Well, we did and it was incredible. That says a lot coming from me who despises fish. The bar was kind of a "Northern Exposure" feeling place, but we loved it. The food was great!

As we packing up from our hotel in Anchorage to head back to the airport...we got a call from Blairs aunt. She was in Maui! What are the chances that we finally get to Alaska and she isn't there, she's in Maui. Well, it was kind of exciting. She and her husband picked us up at the airport in Maui Saturday night and we spent the day with them on Sunday..it was great connecting. We hadn't seen Bev for 9 years!

And we are off....

If you are so inclined..please be praying for our travels. The flights are so overbooked it doesn't even look good for leaving Detroit this morning. We have many flight obstacles to overcome to get to Maui. God will get us where He wants us to be....We are looking forward to being together. Also, if you think of it..pray that the kids will be obediant, healthy and content while we are gone!

Gotta Run!
Karen

Maui Here we Come!

We leave Friday around 1:30 pm enroute to Maui, Hawaii. Of course, flying standby is cheap (aka: Free) Which is trememdous...it does come w/some not so great ah..benefits. One of them is all flights going out of the continental U.S are over 100% booked. Which equals: Non-Rev passengers don't get there. We have discovered a way to get there. However this will be our ittinerary.

Friday 16th: Leave DTW (Detroit) at 1:36 p.m. Arrive MSP (Minneapolis) at 2:29 p.m.
Friday 16th: Leave MSP (Minne) Arrive in ANC (Anchorage, AK) at 8:14 p.m.

Saturday 17th Leave ANC (Anchorage) 4:40 p.m. Arrive in OGG (Maui) at 9:44 p.m.

The Anchorage flight to Maui only is booked at 66%. So if we want to get to Maui, and we do, we get to go to Alaska to do it! Who woulda thunk it? Blair and I will have Sunday, Monday and part of Tuesday to ourselves to explore. Then we will meet up w/our friends on Tuesday afternoon and stay in them in a beautiful house at the start of the Hana Highway, for the next 5 days. We plan on returning back to cold, blustery Michigan Monday, the 26th. Pinch me, b/c I think Im dreaming.

Counting the Hours....Til' we Arrive