2006 Magical Maui

Oct. 30-Nov. 6, 2006:

Another wonderful father/daughter trip.   He had just been diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer, but was feeling pretty good at this time---so he wanted to get as much traveling in as he still could.  It was a bitter sweet trip---knowing there wouldn't be many more father/daughter trips.  He was a great travel companion! 


Oct. 30:  travel day:

Oct. 31---Haleakala:

Nov. 1---a ride to the West side:

Nov. 2---RTH (Road to Hana):

Nov. 3---the South side lava beds, Iao Valley, Kepaniwai Heritage Gardens, and the NE side of Maui:

Nov. 4---Haleakala, again:

Nov. 5---Maui Ocean Center:

Nov. 6---Ahihi snorkeling:


Our week was over way too quickly!   I'm sure Dad was in pain a good part of the time---thus his hanging back on some of the walks.  He was always such an adventurer.  But he would never complain!  I just hope he enjoyed the trip as much as I did. This was both of our's first trip to Maui.    I really didn't expect to like Maui as much as I did. I'm always reading that people who love Kauai as much as i do are disappointed with Maui. But I loved it. Maybe not as much as Kauai, but there was certainly enough here to keep me interested. I'd love to go back and do more snorkeling. If I can ever get myself to give up one of my yearly 2 weeks on Kauai, I will be back!

2006-Nov. 6---Ahihi snorkeling!

I couldn't do it!!!  I couldn't go the whole week without getting in the ocean!  I thought Dad would sit on the beach and read a book, but he said he wanted to get in, too.  So we went back to the bay I was marveling at several days ago.

 Immediately we saw a ton of fish!  Even a large baracuda

 The entrance isn't very easy, but it's worth the trouble.

 surgeonfish

 threadfin butterflyfish

 yellow tang

 blue trevelly (jack)

 My dream home!!!

leather back jack

 moorish idol

 black triggerfish

 ornate butterflyfish

 parrotfish

 convict tangs and a triggerfish

 another view of Ahihi bay

The whole area past here is part of the Ahihi reserve, too.  We drove through the lava fields again and enjoyed the views of Haleakala.

 out past Ahihi bay

 we even stopped at a couple other beaches in South Maui.

 that outcropping looked inviting for snorkeling!

 heading down to the water.

 I went to check it out for a few minutes while dad sat out this time.

 Then we hung out on the beach for a bit.

Perfect day!  I loved seeing all the other sites around Maui, but I really love being in the water!

2006-Nov. 5---Maui Ocean Center:

I've been missing the water and my fishie friends!  So we decided to go check out the aquarium.  This fabulous facility is in Maalaea, at the south end of Maui’s central valley, about 30 minutes drive from the main tourist areas of west or south Maui. 

Neat mosaic like artwork at the aquarium.

 Love this quilt block!

 Thought it was cute how they added Nemo to their artwork.

 The Maui Ocean Center is a large modern aquarium with numerous indoor and outdoor exhibits of a wide variety of fish and sea life.

 Really a nicely done aquarium.

 Not cheap, but this is Hawaii!

 Parrotfish

 another kind of parrotfish

 would love to be able to take pictures like this while snorkeling---above and below water level.

 unicorn fish

 triggerfish (also the state fish)

 close up of a unicorn fish

 blue stripe snapper.

 shrimp

 filefish

 trumpet fish

 puffer

 cleaning station

 Would love to see one of these guys in the wild!

 frog fish

 scary to think about!

 the marina

 back to the aquarium---lots of outdoor space

 even has pretty flowers on the grounds.

 jellyfish display.

 a school of jacks

 I was surprised to see the fish weren't concerned that there were sharks swimming with them. 

 I was also surprised to see the people going in to feed the fish---and the sharks would actually go and hide.

 the walk through tunnel is really cool.

Spent the evening hanging out at the pool.  At least I did get enjoy being in some water today, not just looking at it.