“Another boring day in Paradise,” he says…Maui never stops giving…More photos…

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“Another boring day in Paradise.” Ha! No boredom here!

Then again, Hawaii never stops giving. Every morning, as soon as we awaken, we open the doors at either end of the condo, the sliding door in the living room, and the main entry door, for the trade winds to waft through for what feels like the most stupendous breeze on the planet.

Greenery at the Maui Tropical Plantation.

Who needs AC in Hawaii if this breeze is available? Surely, when we were in that tiny studio in Honolulu, we had the AC constantly running when we were perpendicular to the ocean with no chance of a cross breeze.

Cotyledon Flower.

The weather in Hawaii, although rainy at times, is the most perfect we’ve experienced thus far. In Belize, although wonderful while we were located on the ocean, it was hotter and more humid. In Madeira, on the sea, it was too cool, even in the summer often requiring that we kept the screen-less windows and doors closed. 

Tom was on the move searching for points of interest.

We’ve lived in many varying climates, these past two years, many of which were unbearably hot, without AC, and most without screens. Without a doubt, Maui has been our first perfect weather location, easily explaining why so many travelers throughout the world dream of living here.

Humor me! I can’t ever resist admiring any living being.

Is it doable to live here? The answer lies mostly in the cost of housing and utilities. Fuel, food, and sales tax are tolerable even though literally everything is taxed at a rate of:

The Hawaii sales tax rate is 4%, and the maximum HI sales tax after local surtaxes is 4.35%.
  • Counties and cities are not allowed to collect local sales taxes
  • Hawaii has 69 special sales tax jurisdictions with local sales taxes in addition to the state sales tax
  • Hawaii has a higher state sales tax than 86.5% of states
Haapala, an Orange Trumpet Vine.

Utility costs are high although from what we’ve been able to determine it isn’t more costly than what we paid in Minnesota two years ago. Few residents of Hawaii use AC frequently to keep costs at bay.  So far, we’ve only seen window AC units and no central AC.

Zebra Dove Geopelia Striata.

Once we were settled in, we decided eating out in Maui wasn’t important to us. So far, after a little over a month, we’ve dined out twice at a total cost of $110 without drinks, appetizers, or desserts. It just wasn’t worth it to us to dine out when we could finally cook our own meals after a 77-day hiatus due to past travels and cruises.

Various ducks, so comfortable around humans at the plantation, that they didn’t mind our intrusion.
This guy was particularly friendly.
Our grocery bill will be approximately $1600 in total for the 6 weeks including all the excess products we purchased at Costco in preparation for Hurricane Ana, much of which we’re mailing ahead of us to the Big Island.
Another cooperative duck.
The actual cost for our food for this period, including some household goods, is closer to $200 per week, a similar amount to that which we’d spent in our old lives in Minnesota.
Another body of water on the grounds of the plantation.
Keeping in mind, that we purchase organic and free-range, grass-fed meat, eggs, and produce when available, we’re thrilled with how much we’ve spent on food here. We’ll end up at no less than $1600 under budget on food alone.
This restaurant on the right was in the process of being remodeled.
Housing in Hawaii is by far the most costly aspect. However, as we perused booklets with houses for sale, we’ve been surprised how a buyer can easily purchase a one or two-bedroom condo with ocean views in the $235,000 to $250,000 range in many lovely areas.
The roof on this building near the footbridge was covered in greenery.
Rentals (non-vacation rentals) are expensive from what we’ve perused online. Buying appears to be the most practical means of affording housing. 
I can’t resist admiring chickens and roosters.
This guy was checking us out, not happy we were walking across his road.
He wandered over to the dirt and greenery for some pecking.
Would we consider living here? If we were interested in buying and staying put, possibly. However, buying a home is not on the horizon for us. Neither is staying in one place. Sure, down the road, old age and bad health may require a less mobile lifestyle. 
The zip line store on the premises.  No thanks.
At this point, we prefer not to speculate that eventuality, although we’ve discussed emergency back-up plans at length. As far as we’re both concerned, this life, for now, is the life we choose.
Another view of the main pond with sugar cane gears.
And, as the days in Maui wind down to a mere 12, we look forward to our next adventure; Big Island, our family, the excitement of the lava flow, and seeing the whales that according to a news story daughter Tammy sent us today, have arrived in the islands. We were already watching for them and will continue to do so with considerable enthusiasm.
An old fashioned windmill that was pumping water on the premises.
The mechanics of the water pumping windmill.
Perhaps in 12 days, we’ll be sitting on the lanai at the first house in Big Island overlooking the ocean to see the whales breaching the water. That, dear readers, is why we live this crazy life!
The koi pond.
                                         Photo from one year ago today, November 19, 2013:
Colorful sky at night at sunset as we wound down our time in Kenya, one year ago today.  For details, please click here.

Further reducing the checked baggage load…Sightseeing in Maui…A wonderful afternoon…

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Tom got a kick out of this old Ford “woody” that was on display at the Maui Tropical Plantation.

On Saturday, while at Costco, we purchased a 23″ semi hard-sided, lightweight expandable piece of luggage.  With the hope of further reducing the number of checked bags to three instead of four.

Tom at the entrance to the General Store on the premises.

Doing so reduces the extra $35 cost on three more flights in the Hawaiian Island; one, to the Big Island; another to Kauai; the third back to Honolulu for the cruise to Australia in May. 

Complimentary Hawaiian coffee was served in a shop.

With a combined savings of $105 and the price, we paid for the bag at $72, more than pays for itself while in Hawaii, and more on future flights throughout the world.

Our new 23″ lightweight bag that allowed us to dispose of two smaller bags.

Besides, the two smaller orange wheeling bags had begun to show serious signs of wear and tear, especially when the zippers had become corroded due to the humidity in Kenya over a year ago

The main building and entrance to the Maui Tropical Plantation.

We choose the blue color for easy spotting and the semi-hard sided for hopefully a little less wear and tear.  Yet at $72, who’s going to complain if it only lasts a year or two, as have all of our bags, now handling and weather-beaten? Not us.

This handmade log house was located by the entrance to the main building at the Maui Tropical Plantation.

We’ve come to the conclusion that the quality of luggage has a lot less of an effect on its ability to last for long periods, than the number of times it goes through typical baggage handling at airports and on cruises. Replacing bags from time to time doesn’t concern us a bit, especially when we can always find something durable enough to last for a while.

A display of antique hand-cranked coffee grinders.

Once we returned home from Costco on Saturday, I was anxious to empty the two smaller bags to see if the new 23″ bag would in fact hold their entire contents. With the careful arrangement, it was a breeze. 

A handmade cruise ship was on display.  The cruise ship industry has a substantial effect on the economy of Hawaii when thousands of tourists flock to its various attractions.

The next step was to determine its weight using our portable scale. At 45 pounds,  we were pleased knowing we won’t be charged for overweight baggage when most airlines accept 50 pounds, some 60.

An old fashioned coffee mill.

This leaves us with three bags, each weighing under 50 pounds, plus one duffel bag, one laptop bag, my handbag, and the pill bag as carry-on luggage. We can easily manage these without an airport cart, especially since we still have the luggage cart that will easily handle the new 23″ bag and all the carryon luggage, while one of us wheels the two large bags. 

A smaller version of a modern coffee mill.

When we start packing again in 12 days, I imagine at this point, we can be done in less than 30 minutes. Yeah!

The shelves were lined with locally made food products.

Yesterday at noon, with daily tasks and time outdoors under our belts we hopped in the car and took off for the Maui Tropical Plantation.  

After leaving the shop, we wandered into the grounds, excited to see the various farm animals and vegetation.

With our extra tight budget in place for the upcoming family visit, we’ve hesitated to pay for sightseeing and are excited to have a few events planned that don’t require expensive entrance fees and tour charges. 

Although the fall season is less noticeable in Hawaii by changing colors of vegetation, there were plants that had changed to typical fall colors.

We didn’t see entrance fees posted on their website and were expecting a $20 per person entrance fee which would have been in the budget.

A shaded building for viewing the expanse of the plantation.

Much to our surprise, there was no fee for entrance to the exquisite plantation. Instead, there were several lovely shops with locally made merchandise as an inducement for visitors to shop, shop, shop.

We stopped to watch the glassblower at work.

Had we been candidates for shopping, I could easily have gone nuts since there were many beautiful items on display in each of the venues. Although not disappointed that we’re unable to shop (Tom especially), we enjoyed wandering through the shops savoring their tempting displays ranging from local nuts, candies, and coffee to housewares, jewelry, homemade soaps, and locally made garments.

There were numerous pools throughout the plantation.

On a few occasions, I found myself checking prices and touching a few items noticing the fine quality and ingenuity. I still wasn’t tempted to make any purchases instead, content with our lighter load of bags.

Another symmetrical Bird of Paradise.

Then, we wandered throughout the unique and varied grounds of the plantation, spotting numerous photo-worthy scenarios many of which we’ll share over the next few days. With Tom’s good sense of direction, we never missed a single area of the grounds available to exploration.

Here is a map of the plantation:

Easy-to-print map HERE.
We borrowed this map from the Maui Tropical Plantation’s website.

With mixed reviews online at cruisecritic.com after some cruise passengers claimed that visiting the plantation was “underwhelming,” we could understand their comments as less than five stars when they paid upwards of $89 per person for the bus ride, the tour, and a light lunch arranged through the ship’s excursions.

Gears for the sugar cane plantation.

For us, driving on our own, wandering at our own pace, and with no interest in dining on the premises, it was easy to give it a good rating if not an excellent rating, especially for the tourists with several children or a group desiring a low-cost outing. The Maui Tropical Plantation appeals to all ages.

Hand-carved whale tail.

In addition, for adventure seekers, the largest zip line facility is located on the property. We saw several 20 something’s (all male) gearing up for the zip line. With our bad right shoulders, we realized long ago that ziplining is not for us or, for that matter, for seniors  (or others) with any mobility or medical concerns.

The artist was on the premises explaining various pieces to the shoppers.

Of course, a huge attraction for this amateur photographer was the ducks, geese, and especially the chicken which, for some odd reason, I’m always attracted to. Go figure. 

We loved this sea turtle.

Enough “words” for today. Sit back and enjoy our photos knowing that we thoroughly enjoyed every step along the way at the Maui Tropical Plantation, a simple but delightful experience

Please stop back tomorrow for more plantation photos with some close-ups of farm animal shots.

                                           Photo from one year ago today, November 18, 2013:

We’ve made an effort to watch a movie made purposely for the country or continent we’re visiting at any time as was the case, one year ago on this date, that we posted photos and a story of watching the movie, “Out of Africa.” With many more months in Hawaii, we’ve yet to watch a movie but we surely will when we get to Kauai. For details from that date one year ago, please click here.

The rich history of Wailuku, Maui…Surprises in a small town…

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The old Wailuku Courthouse, built in 1907, is located on the US National Register of Historic Buildings.

To visit the city of Wailuku required we take a turn down a road we’d yet to visit. Little did we know what a quaint and charming little village lay ahead as we made our way through the narrow streets.

Wailuku Union Church, built in 1911.

Although it was raining during our entire visit we still had an opportunity to see what little treasures this tiny town had to offer even with its low population from the 2010 census of 15,313. Wailuku is the county seat of Maui county which makes an excellent representation of its historical buildings and small-town feel.

Bailey House Maui.jpg
The Bailey House Museum is also listed on the US National Register of Historic Buildings. (Not our photo).

There are only a few low key hotels in Wailuku that laid back tourists may enjoy. The popularity of nearby Kaanapali Beach and its row of luxury and mid-range hotels draws many tourists from the area. However, a visit to Wailuku would certainly be a memorable experience for the tourist with transportation and a little time to wander.

Kaahumanu Church, another building on the US National Register of Historic Buildings

“Historic sites in the town include Kaʻahumanu Church (named after one of Hawaiʻi’s great monarchs, Queen Kaʻahumanu) which dates to 1876, the Wailuku Civic Center Historic District, the site of the Chee Kung Tong Society Building, and the Bailey House, a 19th-century former seminary and home that houses a history museum and the Maui Historical Society.”

On the return drive to Maalaea Beach, the rain stopped and the sky cleared to this bright blue. No more than 10 minutes after we returned we were outside enjoying the sun, sea, and surf for another fabulous day in the Hawaiian islands.

To have the opportunity for an unplanned breeze through Wailuku on a rainy day and to discover all of these treasures was definitely awe-inspiring. With the return of the laptop, the re-doing of the car rental contract, the purchase of a new piece of luggage at Costco (more on why tomorrow), and the visit to Wailuku, it was definitely a good day.

This common sandpiper stopped running long enough for us to take her photo.

Two weeks from today, we’re leaving Maui. How the time has flown! 

                                        Photo from one year ago today, November 17, 2013:

Ironically, a year ago today, we booked the hotel with our cruise ending in Boston, with the intent of visiting my father’s grave site and seeing family. This is my parent’s wedding photo we posted one year ago on this date. For details of that date, please click here.

Vegetation in Hawaii…The interesting Milo tree…

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The trimmed Milo tree that we held with little regard until manager Mike told me its story.

Yesterday morning, as I wandered the area looking for interesting vegetation, I was particularly curious as to the trees that often appear in our photos when we take shots of the ocean from our lanai.

Originally, their recently trimmed appearance was somewhat of an eyesore in our photos. More than once, I maneuvered the camera in such a way to ensure they weren’t included in the photo.

Another trimmed Milo tree on the grounds.

Now, I feel a little foolish after meeting Mike, the property manager here at Milowai, our condo complex, explained this building was named after these interesting trees,  “Milo,” after the Milo tree, with the “wai” meaning “water,” tree by the water.

Mike explained they are a hearty tree with a major significance to the Hawaiian people as indicated in this quote below from this website.

“There are those who say that the beautifully grained milo wood utensils, furnishings, and jewelry were only for the chiefs of ancient Hawai`i. It is told that the Waikiki home of Kamehameha I was surrounded by milo trees.

Although rare today, in old Hawai`i milo was a commonly found tree, cultivated as a shade plant around homes near sunny coastal areas with loose soil. It does not grow in the high inland forests.
Brought to these islands by early Polynesian settlers who carried the seeds, this fast-growing evergreen tree was planted around the temples in Tahiti, as it was said to be spiritually connected to the chant and to prayer. It is a widespread species throughout Polynesia and Micronesia, as well as in tropical Africa.
Milo’s scientific name is Thespesia populnea, and it is also known as a portia tree. A member of the Hibiscus family, the malvacceae, it is a close relative of hau, `ilima, and ma`o, Hawai`i cotton.
The bark of milo was used for cordage fiber, similarly to hau, but it is inferior in quality to hau and to olona. The tree also yields tannin, dye, oil, medicine and gum, from various parts of the plant. The milo wood was skillfully crafted into poi bowls called `umeke `ai, and into plates, too. Calabashes/bowls of kou wood were more highly prized than those of milo, and were more often used.
`Umeke `ai is an honored implement in a Hawai`i home, for, through the ceremony of eating poi one at a time from the bowl at the center, the traditions and protocol of Kanaka Maoli is maintained. The `umeke `ai filled with kalo (taro) is considered the means of survival of the people of Hawai`i Nei.
`Umeke la`au is the Hawai`i name for these containers or calabashes of wood, which were used for the storage, transport and serving of food in various stages of preparation. Milo wood is flavorless since it is lacking in any unpleasant-tasting sap that could contaminate stored food.
The milo tree is a small to medium-sized one, growing to less than 40 feet high. The trunk can be 2 feet in diameter at full maturity. The bark is corrugated, with scaly twigs. The branches are widely spread and usually horizontal, making for an ideal shade tree. The glossy heart-shaped leaves are 3-5 inches across.
Young leaves are edible. Bell-shaped pale yellow flowers with maroon or purple centers turn purplish-pink as they within their short one-day hibiscus life. Following the flowering stage, the one-inch diameter seeds grow in globular 5-celled woody cases that have downy hairs on their surface. These remain on the plant for some time and ripen only in areas of dry climate.
Milo wood has an attractive grain that takes to a high polish and, in addition to food utensils and containers, was fashioned into paddles and other carved objects, as well as for an occasional canoe, although koa was considered to be the most popular material for canoes.”
Mike further explained that the Milo tree produces flowers as shown in this borrowed photo below (flowers aren’t blooming at this time) that are messy on the pristine lawn. As a result, they are trimmed once a year which occurred shortly before our arrival a month ago.
Beautiful flowers that bloom on the Milo tree. (Not our photo).
For more scientific information on this exquisite tree, please click here.
The flowers only last for one day, closing into and becoming a seed pod of sorts as shown in this photo below, none of which we’ve seen on the trimmed trees.
The flowers as shown above bloom only for one day, later becoming these seed pods from which eight seeds are eventually released. (Not our photo).

Mike also explained that the Milo tree does well growing near the sea and is unaffected by the salt from the sea which is very close to the Milo trees on the grounds here at Milowai.

I was also curious as to the type of grass on the lawn here. It is so perfect, it almost appears as if it isn’t real.  But, it is real. It’s called South Coast from which a fake turf is actually named. It too, like the Milo tree, suffers no ill effects from its close proximity to the salt from the ocean.

The carpet-like lawn at Milowai.

It’s ironic how we’ve dismissed this odd-looking trimmed tree to discover that in fact, it has its own story to tell, profound in the history of the Hawaiian Islands and its people. Now, we look at it with new eyes and interest.  Going forward, we’ll make no effort to exclude it from our photos.

Sorry, Milo.

                                         Photo from one year ago today, November 15, 2013:

This was the tiny freezer in Kenya. On this date a year ago, when we were leaving on December 1st, we assessed our food on hand to use in the remaining 16 days until we left for South Africa. And here we are now, assessing the food we have left for our departure date once again on December 1st before we leave for the Big Island. For details from that date, please click here.

Preparations for the Big Island begins…Flight, car and lots more…

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This looks like a Golden Orb spider we’d also seen in South Africa. Note the gold head and silver body.  We took this photo on the grounds.

This morning we booked our one-way flight from Maui to the Big Island on December 1st, a short 37-minute flight. Departing at 1:11 pm flight, it’s relatively low stress when we don’t need to be at the airport until 11:30 am. We love it when we don’t have to get up at 5:00 am or earlier for a flight.

The cost for both of us on Hawaiian Air, the most popular inter-island airline, is $368, plus another $120 for two checked bags each, making the total cost $488, which seems high for such a short flight. Then again, after all of our flights, it seems the shorter flights are higher proportionately.

Hot pink Bougainvillea.

With a rental car awaiting us at the Hilo Airport, we should be on the road by 2:45 heading to the first of the two houses in Pahoa, the home of the current lava flow. I doubt we’ll see any lava flow on our way to the house.  The lava hasn’t reached the highway or that particular neighborhood yet. Most likely, we’ll be able to see the smoke. 

By the end of our arrival day, after getting situated in the house, we’ll take off to a local grocery store for food and supplies for the first six days until family begins to arrive. Within a few days, a trip to Costco will be on the immediate to-do list with son TJ’s family of four arriving on December 6th.

A pleasing sunset view on the island of Maui.

There will only be six of us until December 21st when the remainder of the family arrives at varying times of the day Two of the remaining families will each be renting cars with only two requiring to pick up at the airport. It will be a busy day, the beginning of many busy days to come which we anticipate with pure delight.

With our flight and car booked and out of the way, we need to consider yet one more car, the one we currently have here in Maui which has to be returned to the airport tomorrow to extend the rental period until we leave in December 1st. Having booked this and all other rental cars online for better rates, Enterprise, in this case, has agreed to re-rent the same car to us for the same great price we received online. That is a first.

A calm sea on a sunny day.  There’s always white billowy clouds on sunny days.

As a result, tomorrow we have a few tasks to tackle; one, the rental car and two, the return of Tom’s laptop to Costco which is next door to the airport, the a-no-questions-asked return of the first replacement laptop we purchased in Boston as a floor model. 

Having received the new Acer by UPS last Wednesday, which we have working well with all of his data transferred, he’s ready to return the first one. Most likely we’ll receive a store credit for $588 for the cost of the floor model which we’ll happily use for food when we get to the Big Island. That store credit won’t put a small dent in the groceries we’ll need for the family gathering.

These Calla Lillies are always so beautiful with the yellow and red coloration.

There’s also a Costco store on the Big Island, an hour drive from the house, a drive we’ll be making several times in December. Luckily, there are a few grocery stores closer to the houses for the short trips we’ll surely need to make every few days.

With these few tasks behind us and the fact that I’ll be totally done with the post revisions in the next few days, we’ll finally have some free time for the remaining days in Maui. Whew! That has been a time-consuming challenge.

Yellow Allamanda.

My next task is moving all the email messages that need to be saved in folders that have been lingering in my inbox for months. The folders are ready and waiting so it shouldn’t be too long of a project which I should be able to complete in a few hours.

With our Excel spreadsheet up to date, we’ll be in good shape to put this ‘housekeeping” behind us. The next big project will be doing the 2014 taxes when we’re in Kauai but who wants to think about that now? Yuck.

The property manager, Mike, explained that the sea turtles eat this green moss on the rocks, although they never actually rest on the rocks, instead of bobbing around in the sea close to the shore at high tide.

To all of our friends and family in Minnesota and other parts of the US and other countries where cold weather, ice, and snow has hit: stay warm, stay safe, don’t shovel snow unless approved by your doctor, don’t skid on the ice when driving, don’t trip and fall on the ice and on and on…

No wonder we left Minnesota!

                                             Photo from one year ago today, November 14, 2013:

Due to WiFi issues, there was no post, one year ago on this date.

Becoming a reality…Only a short time away…A wonderful memory…

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Tom, standing at the beach enjoying the early evening sky and the sea.

When I was a little girl, all but two of my growing up years were spent living in California. My father’s mother, my dear Grandmother, lived a long way away in Boston, was often on my mind.

Across the bay, it’s still Maui based on the island’s shape.

We only saw her once every two or three years, my parents driving all the way across the US in as few days as possible to see her where we’d spend one week or less at her beautiful home in a fine area of Boston. On a rare occasion, she took the long and arduous flight to see us.

To this day, I remember how she let me play with her costume jewelry and the three or four coconut heads with faces that hung from the ceiling in her basement, a beautifully finished area for entertainment and card playing.

Hawaii is a treasure trove of exquisite vegetation.

Although I spent little time with her, she influenced me in many ways that have become a part of how I’ve spent a lifetime striving to be like her; her warmth and kindness, her quiet elegance, her hearty laughter, and her passion for playing cards.

Now, as the time nears that Tom and I will see our six grandchildren after being away for 26 months, I recall my Grandmother and can only hope and pray that even a tiny bit of that legacy will carry on into the lives of our grandchildren.

This almost looks like a scene from New England by the sea.

Sure, we chose to live away from the day to day interactions as they thrive and grow. But, in Minnesota, it is not unusual for grandparents to move to warmer climates dreading old age in the frozen tundra, although they may see them a few times each year on visits.

As much as we’d love to see the sunset wherever we may live, we’re content to see the effects of it on the horizon.

With the easy use of Skype for face time as a means of communication, it isn’t as it was many years ago, an expensive long-distance call lasting only one or two minutes. With Skype, not only do we hear their voices, we see their faces and they can show us anything they’d like us to see; a favorite toy, a report card, a funny face, a favorite pet, or a pool in the backyard

Another pretty tropical flower.

In a little over three weeks they begin to arrive, some staying until January 9th. Other than the time I’ll spend early each morning posting photos and stories here and some necessary household tasks, our time will be spent with them as much as possible. 

At around 5:30 yesterday, Tom spotted this rainbow.  It hadn’t rained.

Like sleep, “they” say you can’t make up for the lost time. Perhaps, with enough love, you can. Besides, whenever I’m exhausted from poor sleep, I know one good night’s sleep remedies it all. Maybe “they” were wrong after all. Maybe we can make up for the time we’ve lost with loved ones, after all.

In these upcoming weeks with our adult children and grandchildren, we hope to spend every moment we can make up for the lost time. The easy part is that the love is firmly in place, deeply ingrained and ready to spew out of our pent up hearts.

                                          Photo from one year ago today, November 13, 2013:

Tom, drinking a locally made Tusker beer while we were out to dinner in a cave. On this night a year ago, we had a scary incident as told in the story.  Please click here for details.

High surf in Hawaii due to storm in Russia…New photos…Why, this life?…

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Although the hills block the sun setting, these beautiful skies give us a peek of what lurks behind the hills.

Forecasters say a powerful storm a few days ago off the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia has generated a very large northwest swell. This swell reached the Hawaiian islands Monday evening and persists through Wednesday morning, bringing warning level surf to the area.

A new Coast Guard boat in the marina.

We can’t see the resulting high surf from here. The usual break of medium-sized waves along the shores of Maalaea Beach continues as a steady wake. But, the storm in Russia certainly illustrates how the world around us has an effect on others all over the world. 

As a matter of fact, we can “run, but we can’t hide” from the effects that reverberate all over the world from one country to another; political unrest, infectious disease, financial downfall, and as we see here today, weather systems from very far away.

Not our photo. Several times each day we check the surf in hopes of spotting photo opportunities such as this.

Hawaii, not unlike other parts of the world has a variety of newsworthy events occurring due to weather, volcanos, and their lava flow, hurricanes, high surf, and shark attacks. There even a website devoted to reporting on recent shark attacks. Click here for details.

And here we are, Tom and I, safely ensconced in a comfy condo by the sea, perfectly content with the simplicity of this life in the islands, never having to get up and go to work, never having to mow the lawn or shovel snow (especially after recent storms in Minnesota and other parts of the US).

Beautiful colors at dusk at the lava rock breakwaters.

Some may say, “Gee, how did they get so lucky?” In reality, it had nothing to do with “luck” and everything to do with a combined 90 years of hard work and finally throwing in the towel to retire and choose a life “outside the box.”

As glamorous as it may sound, it has required a huge amount of planning and sacrifice which many may hesitate to consider in search of that which may be fulfilled in times of retirement. 

Notice how the colors of these flowers progress to a brighter pink at the top. This is a variety of Aloe Vera.

What was it about our lives that made us take such drastic measures to create a new life? The answer isn’t that easy. For us, it was a combination of many life events that made it a possibility.

In part, it was the self-sufficiency of our grown children in creating responsible and fulfilling lives for themselves allowing us to let go. In another way, it was our own “lurking below the surface” desire for adventure. 

It’s the same challenge with these which we’re unable to find after searching through hundreds of photos.

In another significant manner, it was a result of Tom’s excellent retirement benefits that enable us to continue with this life as long as we can, as long as we want, providing we maintain a strict budget that we adhere to without failure. 

In another way, it is our interest and passion for detail, using the internet as a valuable resource that moved us along allowing us access to the world, never to have been available in years past.

The crisp white and yellow of Plumeria.

Would our health allow us to be away from routine doctor appointments, prescriptions, and usual health insurance? For me, it was only through my restrictive diet that I attained renewed health or I’d never been able to tackle this life on the move when a mere four years ago, maneuvering through daily life was excruciating and barely manageable? 

Also, it was a combined willingness to let go of routines and familiar aspects of life we’d found fulfilling in many ways. Were two people, rigid in some ways, able to change and find new ways to move through life with happiness and fulfillment?

Sunset over the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Building.

It was a matter of these many factors falling into place that motivated us to choose to enter into this life. And, it was the availability of this amazing world around us, however tumultuous at times; sharks, hurricanes, lava flow, snakes, biting insects, treacherous roads, potential hazards, and risks, that brought us to this place, this date, this time in our lives. 

For this, we are humbled.

                                          Photo from one year ago today, November 12, 2013:

We never quite figured out these pods growing in the yard of the house in Kenya. For details of that date, as we wound down our final of three months in Diani Beach, please click here.

Lava flow on the Big Island takes its first house…

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The lava flow broke out again on the Big Island and took it’s the first house yesterday.
It’s hard to believe this finally happened, the lava flow from Mount Kilauea has taken its first house on the island. Still miles from the houses we rented on the ocean and with the lava flow otherwise stalled, we’ll be moving to the first of the two houses in less than three weeks.
Oddly, we aren’t worried. We’re paid up in full, hoping and praying all will go well and our family holiday will not be interrupted other than the detours required in order to get to the road to the houses.

We take possession of the first house on December 1st and the second house, next door on December 20th.  Worrying does us no good.  Our family members seem accepting of the potential risk that we’d have to evacuate, although highly unlikely.  The lava flow is still a few miles away.

Life continues on, as we so well know. Still worried about the health of my sister as mentioned in yesterday’s post, the last thought on my mind right now is sightseeing.
Here are a few links to videos of the house burning from yesterday’s lava flow:
 
 
With less than three weeks until we leave Maui for the Big Island, also known as Hawaii, we’ll have time if we so choose to see more of Maui than we’ve seen thus far. 
Honestly, with so much to begin preparing for our family member’s first arrivals beginning in less than four weeks, our heads are wrapped around the excitement and preparations for their arrivals.
Adding the current worrisome state of the health of actually both of my sisters, one has just come out of the hospital a week ago and the other soon going in with big surgery on the horizon (which will most likely transpire while our kids and grandkids are with us), we realize that no matter the quality of the lives Tom and I live, life still happens to have an impact on how we feel.

View across the ocean to another area of Maui.

I do not take lightly our frequent comments about “as long as we have our health.” Its everything. Add the love of the people in our lives and a reasonable sense of financial security and we have it all.  As far as we’re concerned, these are the “big three.” The rest is a bonus for which we are so appreciative and humbled.
No romantic full moon in the night sky or break of a wave on the sea or the joy of watching wildlife at play can have much meaning without the “big three.” At any time, any of these can change and suddenly our lives are upside down.
 Last night’s view of Maui just before sunset, as it makes an “L” shape from our vantage point.
Is it by chance that the three aspects may change?  In part, no. We have control in our relationships, our financial security, and our health to a degree.  And, yes, circumstances may prevail over which we have no control. We always have control over how we choose to respond to life’s challenges, however hard they may be.
None of us are exempt from loss of health, love, and financial security in varying degrees. Some people, although few, sail through life with little strife.  But, most of us, are faced with challenges.
As we age, at times, we worry over the mortality of those we love. And, of course, our own mortality and potential lack of good health as time marched on.
For us, that is a motivating factor…live life to the fullest…while we can.
 View of pool house and ocean from our lanai.
As we continue to travel the world we continue to make every effort to keep a tight hold on these aspects of our lives over which we do have control. That’s why we focus so much “conversation” on our health and our budget. 
Soon, we’ll get out and further explore Maui and be back with more of our photos.  Until then, we grasp the realities of life with hope, prayers, love, and aplomb!
Be well, dear readers.
                                              Photo from one year ago today, November 11, 2013:
 
 This was the only photo we posted one year ago, as we recalled our first cruise on January 3, 2013, on the Celebrity Century through the Panama Canal, a memory we’ll always cherish. For details from this date one year ago on the nuances of booking hotels worldwide, please click here.

Stuff happens…Plans change…

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A catamaran at the pier.

Today, we’d planned to go to Kaanapali Beach for the day, after we finished posting here. In close touch with family, today I want to be nearby for a Skype call regarding a beloved family member’s serious medical issue. That call trumps all else.

As a result, we won’t have photos from Kaanapali Beach until I feel more at ease not being available by Skype for my family. No matter where we may be, life goes on and the trials and tribulations of daily life continue, perhaps harder when we’re so far away.

An old boat awaiting restoration or the junkyard.

Then again, in our old lives, all of our family members didn’t live nearby.  Instead of a Skype call, it was a call on a scratchy cell phone, the signal often less clear than on Skype, but the significance of being there for one another was always as clear as day.

That hasn’t changed in our travels. Love continues on. We worry. We wait. We anticipate. Our hearts still ache with concern and sorrow for those we love wherever they may be, whatever they may need, and however we may be there for them, as close as a computer click away.

The Maalaea Beach Marina on a cloudy day.

And moments later, there’s a familiar face on the computer screen and a familiar voice, knowing that we are together once again and can be loving and supportive in good times and bad.

As we often have written here, health and emotional well being are vital for happiness. Whatever one must do, however difficult, must be done to maintain and grow our own highest level of health and strength.

An invitation to s fishing expedition.

But, we humans are imperfect. We’re not like a flower, give it water and sunshine and it will flourish. Many of life’s challenges stand in our way. Many of our own inequities and lack of willingness to stay strong stand in our way.

And then, there are those situations that are beyond our control when we’re held captive to an illness, injury, or circumstance at which point our only control is how we respond to the graveness of our situation and how much we’re able to fight back.

The expanse of the oceans the islands and the sky never fail to inspire.

Who am I to know the answers?  I’m not more qualified than the next person. But, I do know one thing…we can never give up. In doing so, we release the power to cope, to grow, to change, and ultimately, to heal.

So, this morning, I run out for a quick visit to the store in Kihei for a few grocery items, returning in plenty of time for the call with the time difference in mind and praying for a good outcome.

A waning moon lighting the sky and sea.

With that, I’ll close for today to be back tomorrow, hopefully, a little bit stronger, a little bit wiser, and ready to tackle whatever life throws our way.

Have a good day!

                                            Photo from one year ago today, November 10, 2013:

Pufferfish are deadly if not cleaned properly. Luckily, this pufferfish was fried with batter so I wasn’t tempted to try it. Puffer is the second most poisonous vertebrate in the world after the Golden Poison Frog, the most venomous creature known to humans. For details of that date, please click here.

A little on Maui’s history…Upscale hotel in Kaanapali Beach or a condo in quiet area?

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As we stood at the cliff, the ocean was swirling at the shoreline. The color, difficult to see here, was a beautiful aquamarine.

Maui, as well as the other Hawaiian Islands, has a rich history:

“Legends say the demigod Maui pulled the Hawaiian Islands from the sea and lassoed the sun atop Haleakala, the island’s highest peak. The island of Maui was named after this mythological being, perhaps because the shape of the island is said to resemble his head and body.
King Piilani was the first ruler to unite all of Maui under a single family of all (royalty) in the early 15th century. In 1790, King Kamehameha, I defeated Kahekili, Maui’s last king, after a fierce battle in the iconic Iao Valley. Kamehameha took control of Maui and made Lahaina the new capital of the unified Hawaiian Kingdom.
For nearly five decades, Lahaina served as the center of government for Hawaii. Simultaneously, the town experienced a surge in its whaling industry. At the height of the whaling era (1840-1865) as many as 500 ships anchored in Lahaina’s port.

Maui’s first sugar mill began operations in 1828. As the sugar industry in the islands grew, an influx of plantation workers from China, Japan, Puerto Rico, Korea, the Philippines, Portugal, and Europe arrived in Hawaii. These immigrants became the foundation of the multi-ethnic culture of Hawaii today. You can experience these influences at places like the 

Lahaina Jodo Mission and in the fusion of flavors found in Hawaii Regional Cuisine. “

A pleasure boat at a distance.
For more details on the history of Maui, please click here which we found to be some of the most comprehensive histories on Maui we found online.
Although on this visit to the islands, we’ve only been to Oahu and Maui so far, having been to the islands many years ago, I am certain, my favorite will continue to be Maui. On December 1st, we leave for the Big Island, also known as Hawaii, and later on January 15th, we head to the island of Kauai until May.
A simple reflection of the sun on the sea.
There are many aspects to Maui but the two most appealing to tourists is as follows:
  • The busy, shopping, restaurants, nightlife hotel row of Kaanapali Beach, Kapalua, and other resort sections of the exquisite beaches of Maui as found at this link
  • The quieter beaches with less tourist activity such as where we are in Maalaea Beach and dozens of other similar areas, easily found online
It’s simply a matter of personal preference.  In my younger days, Kaanapali Beach was the place to stay, although many tourists in the over 50 crowd prefer to stay where the “action is” in Kaanapali staying for perhaps a week or two, can better afford to pay the high prices in the hotels along the beach. 
It would have been prohibitive for us to spend the six weeks we’re in Maui in that area. Although truth be told, had it been affordable, most likely, it would have been impossible to resist.
Had we spent six weeks at the Hyatt in Kaanapali Beach we’d have paid $288 per night plus another $250 per day in meals, taxes, and tips for a total of $538 per day for a total of $24,210, no car needed.
For our entire 45 days in Maui, we paid  $5788 for six weeks ($128 per day) in this lovely condo, plus $20 a day for a car at $900 and averaging at $40 per day at $1800 for groceries and dining out.  Our grand total (estimated as of today-will post total when we’re ready to leave) is $8488 at $189 per day.
In other words, by forgoing a fancy hotel, we’ve saved $15,722.  Of course, one wouldn’t usually stay in a hotel for such an extended period.
Many shorelines in the Hawaiian Islands consist of lava rock.
The question becomes for the retiree considering a visit to Maui – to stay a short time with the convenience of a resort strip on a beach with one hotel and restaurant after another or, choose a quieter location at considerably less cost away from the more popular areas, cooking one’s own meals, renting a car and being away from the hustle and bustle. It’s a matter of personal preference and finances.

For the younger tourists staying for a week or two, the hotel’s fabulous beaches are popular choices if prices are affordable. And, there are numerous condo and resorts in Kaanapali, many at affordable rates that may appeal to a tourist for a short term stay. Maui has many vacation/holiday options available from vacation rental houses (expensive) to studios (less expensive) all over the island.

For our current six week stay, we couldn’t have been more content in another location. We have the beach outside our door, a beautiful pool with views, impeccable grounds, a mid-sized rental car at an affordable rate and easy access to visit Kaanapali Beach, where…by the way we’re hoping to visit tomorrow with many photos to share on Tuesday and Wednesday. 

The humidity was heavy when we took this photo as shown in the brush.
We’ll be back tomorrow with more photos and a post before we hopefully depart for Kaanapali Beach later in the morning. 

Today, as soon as I hit “upload” we’re on our way out to the pool where we’ll lounge for an hour, eyes peeled on the ocean for signs of life. 

Have a wonderful Sunday!  We plan to! 
                                           Photo from one year ago today, November 9, 2013:
On this date, one year ago, we visited the goats in the backyard of the house in Kenya, always laughing over how they’d stare at us. Check out those “bedroom eyes.” For details of that date, as we began to wind down our time in Diani Beach, please click here.