Last day in Maui so had to grab a shave ice before we head to airport. Now we are sitting in the airport with a 2 hour or more delay.

Ended up stuck at the airport for 3 hours...

Last night in Maui so we headed to the Four Seasons and ate at Spago's! So Ono!!!

The Unhappy Tale of Two Chicks following a Man Lost in the Woods (who won't admit he's lost)

It was a day like most others in Maui.  The sun was shining, the birds were chirping (loudly and early in the morning as usual) and we were headed to Avery's cousin's place in the mountains so he could take us on a hiking trip.  All was fine and good while we meandered through the Maui mountains.  We should have gotten a clue as to what the day would hold when the Cousin who shall remain nameless drove around in ever increasing circles for over an hour before stopping and getting his bearings and more gas (Warning #1).  Upon getting the right directions to the hiking trail, we wound our way up the mountain only to find the trail had been closed down due to dangerous conditions.  Who knew Maui got tornadoes? After twiddling our thumbs awhile, the Cousin decided to try another, shorter trail at the Waihou Springs State Forest.  The trail was a loop with a side trail to a lookout that all total should have been about 2.5 miles.  We started down the trail to the spring which was very steep and easy to slip and slide down.  At the bottom of the spring trail, we saw a large and ominous sign telling us that we were at the end of the trail (Warning #2).  There was no water at the spring and no other clear paths or trails to follow (Warning #3) but the Cousin told us he knew the way to the lookout which he had last visited 18 years ago.  Hopping river rocks and bushwacking our way through what was clearly not a trail, we continued to follow the man who knew there was a lookout but couldn't quite figure out how he last got to it.  We got to the end of the gorge and had to literally claw our way up the mountain to get to the aforementioned lookout. Near the top, we could actually see the remnants of a trail but it looked like it had not seen steady use in at least a decade.  We crested the mountain and found ourselves at the edge of a massive stretch of pasture land, (picture the scene in the Sound of Music where Maria is singing on the mountain top)  and after we caught our breath, we were able to appreciate the incredible view.  That was the highlight of the first half of the hike.  Things went downhill from there literally, then back up the hill and back down and back up. (You're getting the picture, right?) The Cousin decided it would be better if we tried to find the "real" lookout trail  given how hard it would be get back down the way we came.  After climbing up and down the edge of the mountain more times than we could count, crossing numerous barbed wire fences, and getting scratched by blackberry and thornbushes galore, the Cousin  led us down a gulch only to find houses hidden among the bush.  He tells us not talk as we could quite possibly be shot for trespassing because who knows why someone might want to live this far from civilization.  At this point, we are tired, hungry, and thirsty.  We were only prepared for a 1 mile hike, not a mountain climbing expedition at 6,ooo feet.  Our one stroke of luck came when Avery pulled out her awesome Iphone and we were able to use the GPS feature and find our position and point ourselves to the nearest road.  Over a few more hills walking through the pasture land that we were not supposed be on, we found ourselves at the end of the road.  All we had to do was hop one more fence and we would be home free or least on our way back to the car.  Avery and Cousin had just made it through the fence and I was making my way out when the owner drove up in a truck behind us.  The Cousin told us just to keep walking and let him handle things.  Nervously, we continued covering pavement and as the owner closed the gate, he thankfully just drove by us and left us alone.  We were home free at last.  We got the car and gulped down as much water as we could stand then went to go eat at a local dive in the cowboy town of Makawao.  So the moral of the story is...always pay attention to the warning signs and never follow a man lost in the woods!

More...

We will post more on our adventure in the middle of nowhere later...all this hiking makes ya tired...so stay tuned for barbed wire, fence hopping, drug lord shooting, and portegeuse oven details!

Polipoli trail, Oprah's ranch, and the middle of nowhere!!!

Well today my cousin took us to the Polipoli trail only it was closed when we got their.  It did have an amazing view of the island that we have never seen.  You could really see the shape of Maui.

 Then he took us on a crazy road to Oprah's ranch.  Here you see the gate were people are dusting the palm trees.  I could move to Maui and do that for a living.  I wonder how much she pays them.

Then we ended up here for a nice little 10 minute walk to check out an awesome overlook.  THREE AND A HALF HOURS LATER WE FINALLY MADE IT BACK TO A ROAD.  I thought about kissing it but I didn't want to stop walking long enough to do so.  We ended up hiking and mountain climbing through the Waihou Spring Forest Preserve.

Iao needle/valley

View from our lanai tonight! :) definitely a day of seeing God's beautiful creations!

Lanai view

Front door view of sunset

The elusive nene!

We did an 8 mile hike into the Haleakala Volcano!

Breakfast view!

Brrr! It's cold out here I wish there was hot chocolate in the atmosphere! What movie is that taken from?

It's 4am and cooooollllldddd!!!!! Waiting for the sun and enjoying stars with star app.

It is 3:00 in the morning and we are headed to Haleakala to see the stars and sunrise!

After sunrise pancakes and bacon at the Kula Lodge!!!

Four season sunsets are so much better! Do you think they pay for it?:) Spago's is delish!

Great food and great view!

Interior of Spago's

Our 4th course

View from table at Spago's

Fire dancer from Luau

Bollywood Party

Going to Spago's tonight

We haven't done much today given the fact that there's apparently 8-10 foot swells expected at most of Maui's beaches for the next couple of days.  However, as yet we haven't seen anything out of the usual.  This is actually the calmest we've ever seen the waves but we decided to follow the warnings and stay out of the water.  Hanging around the condo hasn't faired much better either with the apartment next door and downstairs getting gutted and remodeled, the place is far from quiet.  Sometimes we are half expecting to see a drill accidentally come through the wall.  We decided to try escaping the noise by wandering around some new areas and dropping by some of our old haunts.  Along the way, we decided to try another restaurant at the Four Seasons tonight.  They have a 3 course special we're gonna try and let ya know how it turned out.

It rains flower petals in Maui!

Shaka Sisters

Papaya=Well after da long trek tru da forest I decided I want to name my first child Bamboo.  Guava tink I clazy but iz so butiful and natural it make tence to me.

Guava=Is tru! Da lady be crazy.  Bamboo nice n all but I no be naming me child "Bamboo".  Ya askin' me, me be saying ya outa be naming the child "Sproutz"  If ya likey da big bamboo so much, ya outa be naming ya offspring afta da lil bamboo - Sproutz is what I be callin him.

Papaya=Ya clazy mon!  Bamboo rolls of da tongue sistah.  Sproutz is the Green Giants son.  I want tuh be original mon!

Picture for da day mon!

View of the beach across from condo!

The tv channels are boring here...so this is our new favorite show...The Maude and Ralph scrabble show!

Takin' it easy by the pool today

Waimuku Falls and the Painted Trees

We had a muddy, mucky hike through the bamboo forest up to Waimuku Falls but boy, was it worth it!  The view was spectacular.  The recent rains near Hana helped boost the water flow making the falls more dramatic but also making the trail more slippery and slick.  Luckily, neither of us busted our you know whats but there were others along the trail who came back with muddy backsides.  By the time we finished the trail,  we were a little slap happy as you can see from our post-trail photo.  We also got to see the painted trees along the road to Hana.  Papaya got into the earth-friendly spirit and found a new best friend on the way back to Kihei.  It was a long day of driving and hiking today so we are going to take it easy tomorrow.

The Shaka Sistahs had a long day on da road...we luv da papaya sweet trail tru da bamboo/rainforest

Dah Shaka Sistahs would like

to give a shout out..."ALOHA RICK"

Road to Hana today

Long day ahead on the road to Hana. Also, the birthplace of the Shaka sisters.

Strange hawaiian custom we have to do upon entering condo!

Found a new shave ice place within walking distance...the best in Kihei!  picture later

After youtubing Land of the Lost (because Hawaii and their Shaka always makes you think of the show) we spent a long time reminiscing over old 70's and 80's.  It is amazing how you can still remember every theme song and sound.  They need to have retro theme songs at karaoke nights.  Then I will partake:)  Show theme songs these days aren't so memorable.  My sitcom will have to have a catchy theme song.  Maybe LNT will come up with one!

Now I know why my bottoms were falling off!!!

How can soooo much come out of something so little...

I know TMI but it was hilarious to go to the bathroom and hear a big plop only to look down and see a toilet full of sand...this is definitely going into the movie or sitcom...you can't write this stuff... it just has to happen:)



Next song for my cousins band LNT...I got a sandy bottom suit and some skin with a burn...this could be there second hit...after of course the song dedicated to Susan Stevens...Jesus lovin' drug lord...Oh! I went to Maui and all I see is Jesus lovin' drug lord's staring at me...so I emailed my friend and you know what she said...send that Jesus lovin' drug lord my way...copyrighted 2011

Chang's Beach today...not bikini or sunglass friendly..Mahalia found sunglasses...I got out so I wouldn't lose my bottoms!

Sunset view at Kamaole Beach across from condo

On the hunt...

Seriously...I can't believe we have hardly seen anyone this trip. Last time we would see somebody all the time. Tonight we are going for a walk around the Grande Wailea (where the filmed Just Go With It) and the Shops at Wailea. Hopefully we will see someone. With our luck it would be Charlie Sheen.

To up the anty, I changed into my Nashville screenwriters conference Tshirt.

Nothing...but good dessert and views...stained glass windows are from the Chapel on the grounds at the Grande Wailea

Laying low today...

After much indulgence it is time to lay low!  We went grocery shopping so we can do more meals at the condo.  We also planned to take back our snorkel set that we purchased at Wal-mart because Boss frogs had a deal to rent snorkel gear for $9 a week.  Well we stopped at Boss Frogs and its $9 alright.  For retro snorkel gear from the James Bond era.  So we will keep our pricey Wal-mart set.  Now we have to find a way to get them on the small plane to Kauai.  I suggested we wear them into the airport.  Fins are kind of hard to walk in but easier if you walk backwards.  We can say the mask is prescription grade and we lost our regular glasses (ala Hugh Grant in Notting Hill). It makes sense to me but I don't think Mahalia is going to join me.  It would be a good way to get in the papers but Mahalia thinks we would get Baker Acted.

The Shaka Sisters would do it!

My dad suggested I tell the airport personnel that I had a premonition about the flight and that I needed to be prepared with my snorkel gear! Ha! Ha! Too funny:)

Check back...

Aloha!

Sometimes the blog post come via a cell phone and I am limited to the information I put on it.  So we we have time we go back and add to post.  So you may want to check for updates on previous post.  Mahalo!

Tribute to Andrew Garfield...

We had front row seats to last nights tribute.  Unfortunately the press kind of got in our way for pictures. After the tribute we watched Beginners with Ewan McGregor and Christopher Plummer then there was a huge bang that shook the crown in the midst of the movie.  Behind us in Lahaina Town the began to shoot off fireworks.  So we had a movie in front and fireworks in back.  It was quite lovely.  At about 10:30 the second film started called Last Night with Keira Knightly, Sam Worthington, Eva Mendes, and an unknown to us actor that looked like a cross between Patrick Dempsey and Joey Fatone.  Pretty good movies though I slept through the middle of the second movie. At midnight it was over.  We finally got some sleep.  Even managed to sleep through the birds.  When it is your turn to sleep in the room it is very bright and the flock of birds are extremely loud starting at 5 am.  I found the step ladder and cranked the windows closed.  Yay! Much quieter:)

Gannon's the restaurant that we eat at before the films.  It is at the golf course and is 50% off between 3 and 6 pm.  Just right for cheap parking and food before the event.  Then a short walk back to the car.  Our yummy meal last night was only $6.

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day Pops! Love ya, Dar...call you in the morning!


Hey daddy! Love ya lots & Riley should be holding my hug for you. Talk to you soon!

Last night at Maui Film Festival...we are at the David Ledbetter golf course watching outdoor movies...front row seat to andrew Garfield tribute.

In the background you can see Lahaina Town were the fireworks were being shot off to celebrate King Kamehameha Day.

Headed to Lahaina for king kamehameha day!

Not sure if we can stomach a shave ice!?!?

King offering

Posting a comment and our videos

Aloha!

I have had numerous people tell me they can not comment or they do it and it disappears.  I have checked the settings and emailed the blog site.  If anyone has any suggestions email me.

The videos seem to be disappearing.  It may not let you watch if someone else is watching.

Mahalo!

Ok! I may have figured out the comment problem.  After you type your comment it ask you to comment as:  you do have to select anonymous.  Oops! Am I bad. :)  But please type your name at the end of your comment.  Thanks and I hope it works.  If not email me.  Mahalo again!

Too Much of a Good Thing?

   Can there be too much chocolate?  Back to that in a moment.  We arrived at the Four Seasons in our red chariot and had a light supper at Ferraro's on the Four Seasons terrace.  We got to watch as the hotel staff scurried to get everything ready on the lawn opposite from us.  We got to see the up and coming actors lounging at the bar behind us where they were later seated out of camera range.  After we finished, we had a few minutes to digest before diving into the Night of Chocolate. (Now, I'm wishing we'd had more than a few minutes given the amount of chocolate that awaited us.)  At 10:00pm, we anxiously went in to the night of chocolate and let me just say it was more than a little deceiving.  Looking around you saw all the little chocolate confections which look so innocent but scrumptious at the same time.  Surely none of those little lovelies could cause any pain, right?  We started out with little baby doughnuts that you doused in your flavor of chocolate sauce then moved onto the table with chocolate cheesecake bites, some sort of choc/peanut butter mouse stuff, and too many other chocolate fancy doo-dads and cream puffs to list.  We mingled with several of the event supporters and saw the actors from dinner come in.  However, they did not seem to want to mingle with anyone outside their party.  Let's just say the big screen does make people look bigger (sometimes a lot bigger) than they actually are.  Feeling full, we decided to get our money's worth and continue exploring what the night of chocolate had to offer.  We visited the chocolate fountain where your drown all sorts of tropical fruits in the sweet, drizzly liquid.  This proved to be my undoing.  I instantly went from feeling full to not quite nauseous in 7 seconds flat!  A few pictures later (see above) and we were ready to hit the bricks.  To answer my original question, YES, you can have too much of a good thing, especially when it comes to chocolate.