Tuesday October 14, 2014 Las Vegas, NV

Last day in Hawaii.  Well, yesterday was our last day in Hawaii.  Today is leaving Hawaii and going home to Las Vegas day.  We got up early at, 6:30, and drank coffee while finishing our packing and getting ready to travel.

We left for the airport at 9.  Our flight wasn't until 1:20.  We had to stop at Costco and top off the tank in the rental car.  We thought it might take longer for the rental car turn in because of some damage to the vehicle but we sailed through that.  We were soon on the shuttle to the airport.

Ready to travel

We had to go through an agricultural check before checking in with the airline.  The really long wait was for a porter with wheelchairs for Neva and me.  We sailed through the TSA checkpoint and waited at the gate for our flight.

The first part of the flight was a short hop to Honolulu to catch the flight to the mainland. The wheel chairs came quickly in Honolulu.  It was a long way from the interisland terminal to the International and mainland terminal and we got to the gate just in time to board.

Just a side note here on geocaching.  On this trip I completed my quest to find a cache on each of the publically accessible Hawaiian islands.  We had travel to both Lanai and Molokai on this trip and I found caches.  I had found caches on the other islands, Oahu, Hawaii, Kauai and Maui on previous trips.  The cache finds qualified me for a challenge cache named "Hawaii Island Hopper Challenge."  The problem was that in order to find the end cache I had to return to Oahu to sign the log.  Even though the cache was located near the airport, I just didn't have time to get to the cache and back to the airport for our connecting flight.  I posted a note to that effect on the cache page.  A very kind offer was made by a local cacher to pick me up at the airport and take me  to the cache and back.  Too bad, I didn't have the time.  Gerri is looking at an inter island cruise next year.  So I may be able to complete the challenge then.

The flight to the mainland was long and bumpy in places.  On the way Neva and Gerri took pictures of the video presentation on our seat back monitors.  They were afraid there would be no pictures for this blog.

We arrived at McCarran at 11:35. A little early.  Hollis picked us up after we schlepped our luggage for what seemed like a half mile through the nearly empty terminal.  We had tried to time the pickup by sending e-mails, but Hollis had to circle the terminal twice.  McCarran doesn't have a cell phone waiting lot like every other airport in the world.  I guess that is part of Randy Walker's legacy of bilking every penny possible from the traveling public.

Our next rip is planned for November 9  to Carlsbad, CA and I will resume the blog then.  In the meantime I have doctor's appointments, vehicle repairs and minor surgical procedures to take care of.

Monday October 13, 2014 Lahaina, Maui, HI

Our last full day on Maui dawned, if you can call it that, with grey skies.  Of course our alarm clock was the construction activities that started promptly at 8 AM.  We had our coffee and said good morning to our computers.  Neva's plan was to get some sun today, curses foiled again.  The rain came at about 9 and continued off and on all day.

Saphira's Teeth

Some time during our stay I had realized I was close to 4600 cache finds and had set that as my goal

Near my last cache

Rain at the Papakea Resort

for the trip.  I needed two more today and decided to try the ones along a trail in a closed golf course in Kapalua.  I drove around looking for the right place to access the trail.  I had to park during a hard down pour, it was raining too hard for the wipers to keep the windshield clear enough to drive.  I finally went to another group of caches along a coastal trail.  The first was a tough walk mostly over uneven rocks. It was an earthcache and I got the required picture and later the required information off the internet.  On the way back to the car I had to walk hurriedly in a minor cloud burst.  The second cache was only a short walk on a beach access trail, it was harder to find the beach access parking than it was to find the cache. That one made my goal for the trip.  As insurance I walked another 3rd of a mile to another cache along the trail, and of course a 3rd of a mile back.

I got back to the Papakea at about 2:30, I was still wet from my walk in the rain.  Our plan was to have dinner at the Hula Grill at beachside in Kaanapali at the Whaler's Village Shopping center.  The outing was looking doubtful with the heavy rain accompanied by thunder and lightning.

There was a lull in the rain before 5 and we headed out.

We got a good table at the Hula Grill near the bandstand in sight of the ocean.  even with the afternoon's rain most of the sand under our table was dry.

We had an excellent meal.  Neva and Gerri had fish tacos and I had Firecracker Island Fish.  It was Ono and served with rice and a mango and black bean salsa.

Our last sunset on Maui was pretty but not spectacular.

An ice cream sandwich for three

About 8 we returned to the Papakea Resort and Gerri got the large bags packed.  Our flight isn't until 1, but we plan to get up at 7 and leave for the airport at about 9.  That will give us time for the 20 mile drive and to top off the tank at Costco before turning the car in.  We should have plenty of time to checking in by 11.

We finished the evening with reading and computer time.

Another good day, too bad it is our last day here.  Gerri has already looked at an inter island cruise for January.  Our Cabo plans may have to be changed depending on the progress of repairs from the damage caused by Odile at both resorts we stay at in Los Cabos.

Sunday October 12, 2014 Lahaina, Maui, HI

I was up early at 6:30 and made the coffee.  The reason we got up was so we could worship with the Oakey Blvd. Church of Christ via their netcast.  This mornings sermon was preached by Ken Butterworth.  This was the second sermon of a Gospel meeting that goes until Wednesday evening. Brother Butterworth sermon came from 1st Corinthians 6, he also preached the physical aspects of Christs crucifixion.

After worship services we got ready to go for a drive to the 'Ioa Valley State Park.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iao_Valley.  The main feature of the park is the 'Ioa Needle.  It is an uneroded ridge of basalt.  It is covered with greenery and is an impressive sight.  We walked across the stream to a point where there were 135 stairs steps up to a viewpoint.  We walked around a demonstration garden area that showed how the natives had grown Taro and other food staple plants.  I gathered the information needed to claim the find of an earthcache.  I found another cache just outside the park entrance.
We had never been there on other trips to Maui.

'Ioa Needle

Taro patch

'Ioa Needle

Cultural demonstration area

Gerri and Frank

Another shot of the 'Ioa needle

Neva

On the way back to Lahaina we stopped and I got the information to claim a virtual cache and find a traditional cache.  We did stop for one cache that I didn't find.  This cache was an interesting location.  It was on a hill, a cemetery.  All the markers were in Chinese style writing, may have been Korean or Japanese.  All the markers seemed old and the area looked uncare for.  Some of the markers had writing carved into marble gravestones many others were writing carved into local rocks both basalt and other forms of lava.

We stopped and I found another cache in the parking lot of a bike/walking trail.  I picked up a travel bug there.  I have set a goal to reach 4600 caches before leaving Hawaii.  I have two to go.  I have found 46 caches while we have been on Maui.

Oktoberfest burgers

We headed to Lahaina Town for an early dinner.  We found a parking spot near the Banyan Tree Park and walked to the Cool Cat Cafe.  We all had the hamburger of the month, a cheeseburger with onion crisps, tomato, onion and a spicy dressing.  We shared an order of onion rings. Though very messy the burgers were great and the onion rings crisp and the Maui onions were soft.  All in all another excellent meal.

One of the construction areas (seawall repair) at Papakea

Back at the Papakea we played a game of dominoes.  We had an intermission at the double four round.  We had to go out and watch the sunset.  We returned to our domino game and I won.  The standing now is; Frank 3, Gerri 2 and Neva 2.

Reading, TV and computer time finished the evening.

Saturday October 11, 2014 Lahaina, Maui, HI

We rested up from our road trip yesterday.  We spent most of the morning having coffee while we caught up on e-mail and Facebook.  We also read.  It seems I read a lot more when we are out of Las Vegas.

From the old Lahaina road looking north

Gerri went out in the sun for awhile.  Neva stayed in because of the wind.  Around noon I went geocaching.  I found four.  The last one was a short hike, 1/2 mile round trip.  It was a easy walk on the old road to Lahaina.  It was mostly paved.  There were spots of broken pavement and spots where vegetation had taken over most of the road.  Many sections of the old road are linked into a walking trail that also connect to trails into the mountains of west Maui.  The footing was good but there was no shade.  The wind that nearly blew me over at a geocache at a nearby scenic viewpoint, was not blowing here.

180 degrees from the old Lahaina road cache site

Looking uphill, we are on the dry side of the island

I went back to the resort at 3.  I had to clean up for dinner.



For dinner we went to the pacific O, which had been recommended by friends as their favorite on Maui.  The restaurant is next door to the Feast at Lele where we went to the Luau on Thursday evening.  It has a great atmosphere, a view of the harbor and sunset over Lanai.  We found that the service was impeccable and the food excellent.
http://pacificomaui.com/























There was a large navy ship moored in the harbor but no cruise ships.  Generally the cruise ships leave before sunset.

Neva

We started with a wonton shrimp appetizer.  For dinner I had lobster, Neva  had a crusty Mahi Mahi and Gerri had Ahi.  All were excellent.
The meal was followed by dessert of Banana Lumpia and French press coffee.

Happy diners, Gerri and Frank

Neva's meal

Lobster

Dessert time

Coffee service

After having a long leisurely dinner we went back to the Papakea.  We read, watched TV, I couldn't resist an episode of the original Star Trek, and finished computer activities.

Friday October 10, 2014 Lahaina, Maui, HI

Today our plan was to have a late breakfast and drive northeast along the coast.

We had some coffee in our unit and caught up on e-mail and face book.  The three construction/repair projects noisily continued on the resort property.

We walked to the Ono Kau Kau restaurant which was just off the resort property on Lower Honoapiilani Road, south of the ABC Store. There is a key card controlled gate behind the convenience market.  The Ono Kau Kau is a small local restaurant.  The dining room is very clean and only has 4 tables for 4 and 2 tables for 2 on the outside.  The menu is expansive; breakfast all day, mixed plates, hamburgers and Chinese food.  Gerri and Neva had breakfast, I ordered a mixed late of Mongolian beef and chicken katsu.  This restaurant is a gem.  Good food, large portions and a reasonable price.


















There was a small fruit stand outside the restaurant and we bought a coconut to snack on later.  The operator of the stand put on quite a show opening the coconut with a LARGE machete.


After a short stop back at the room we got the car and started north on Lower Holoapiilani Road.



Our first stop was a small park and beach area where Gerri and I had seen sea turtles.














We saw no turtles today.

We continued along the road north through Kahana, Napili and Kapalau.  The road turns, changes names to Office Road and meets Hwy-30.  We turned north.  H-30 continues along the coast.  Well, above and near the coast.  It also goes back into the valleys created by streams, following the lay of the land.  A lot of this area had been planted in sugar cane and more was used for ranching.  When along the coast the views were spectacular.  When in the valleys the foliage was lush  and trees were thick.  There were several places along the road that had parking and paths down to popular surfing or snorkeling beaches.  They were all crowded.

We stopped at a few overlooks for  pictures.  One was overlooking a surfing area, Hono Lua Bay.  There were a lot of surfers in the water waiting for waves.  We drove on but turned around before reaching the point where the rental car companies forbid their cars.










On the way back we stopped at a blowhole.  We walked out to a point that overlooked the blowhole.  There were paths that lead down closer to the blowhole and lava points that go into the ocean.










The point was very windy.  I had to use the chin strap on my hat.  It was difficult to stand against the wind to hold a camera steady.  I made a short movie of the blowhole blowing.  The wind noise on the video is very loud.  If you watch the movie turn your sound down.

On the way back to the Papakea we went back by the park.  There were still no turtles. Probably because of the rough surf breaking on the rocky beach.  Back at the Papakea we played a game of dominoes and wonder of wonders I won another game.  That makes all of us tied with two wins each.









At sunset there was still a lot of wind and clouds behind us but the sunset had only a few clouds. We had a salad with tuna for dinner.  As our time runs out here on Maui so does the food supply we have on hand.  There will be more dining out these last few days.  Some reading, TV and computer time finished the evening.