2019 Kauai and Maui:

2019 Kauai and Maui:  (Jan. 19 - Feb.10)

Back in March of 2018, I came across a couple exchange weeks in RCI for Wyndham Shearwater in Kauai for the weeks of Jan. 20th and Jan. 27th.  I know Ken's not a big fan of changing islands, but I was really missing Kauai.   So I asked Ken if he would spend 2 weeks there and 2 weeks in Maui.  He said "whatever", so I immediately booked it before he realized what I was asking.  Sure we're Wyndham owners, but the weeks through RCI for The Shearwater are half the points they would have been directly with Wyndham --- booking that far in advance.  It was like being able to use our Platinum VIP advantage before the 60 day mark!  Except that we couldn't cancel without penalty, and we did have to pay the exchange fees of something like $200/week.  OK, so there are serious advantages to using VIP Wyndham status---which came really apparent shortly before this trip!  But at that time, I was excited with the thought of another trip to the islands.  
Then in April, when a 1 bedroom exchange with RCI came available for The Sands of Kahana for Feb. 2 - Feb. 16, I booked it, too.  Usually we like to get a 2 bedroom unit, but a 2 bedroom exchange in Maui is hard to get, especially in  Feb.  I was even able to book that one as 1 exchange---meaning only 1 exchange fee for the whole 2 weeks.

I also started watching for award travel on either American or Alaska Airlines.  In March, American had a good 20,000 mile fare itinerary for Jan. 19th.  So I booked it.  1 day before our exchanges started, but I'd worry about that later.

Now we were set!   Until June rolled around and Ken's right ankle collapsed due to diabetes---Charcot's.   That changed everything!  To avoid amputation, hospitalization and visits to Dr's became routine.  He had surgery in Oct. to fuse the ankle bones and had his leg broken to lengthen it to make up for the compressed ankle.  With an external fixator on his leg, we knew a trip to Hawaii was out of the question for him. 

2019 Kauai

2019 Kauai (Jan. 19 - Feb. 2):

 After only spending 5 days in Kauai since 2015, I was excited about finally getting back there.  This will be a different trip.  It will be with my sister instead of hubby, but I'm looking forward to seeing her, too.  She has never been to Kauai.  This will be my 15th trip to Kauai since 2001.  It feels like home!  In fact, hubby and I have been on Kauai longer then we've actually been in our current "home" in Perry, Georgia!

2019 Maui---solo trip

2019 Maui  --- solo trip

Can't believe I'm back!  Can't believe I'm here by myself!   

2019 Kauai Beach Villas

2019 Sands of Kahana, Maui---unit 414 (1 bedroom/1 bath unit):

2019 Wyndham Shearwater, Unit 108:

2-9-19 one last day of sightseeing for me before turning the keys over to the kids and heading to the airport for my 9:30pm flight home:


Today was the start of week 2 at Sands of Kahana.  So first thing we did, was walk over to the office and have our keys reset for another week.  On our way back to our room, we ran across this little (or not so little!) guy!

 Here's Faith getting a closer view of her new little friend.  After she took the picture, she relocated him to the ferns.

2-8-19  looking for whales and picking up kids

Today is the day the "kids" fly in.  But they weren't arriving until about 4.   So I had most of the day to find something to do.  Couldn't even stick around the condo because housekeeping was doing it's weekly cleaning today.  So----
I decided to drive back to the viewpoint where I saw all the surfers yesterday.

 The water was a bit choppier and there were no surfers.

2-7-19  around the West side---Dragon's teeth, surfers


According to the Snorkel Store, "We've got yellow scores across the island from strong westerly winds that are making things choppy at the beaches in Maui today. Surf is pretty mellow this morning at most spots in West Maui but the strong wind will create "wind-waves" that will mix things up considerably."  
But I got a tip on a good place to snorkel, when conditions are right, near Kahekili, so I went to check it out. 

 It actually looked doable, but noone else was in the water and I don't get in the water when noone else is around.

2-6-19 South to Ahihi with Susan, then Kam3 by myself


Woke up to another beautiful day!!!! Wish they were all this pretty, but alas, rain and high surf is on it's way.  So --- I better get some more snorkeling in while I can.

Susan (barefootnAR) and I planned to go snorkeling on the South side today.  So about 7:30, I in the car and heading South.  Met up with Susan at her condo timeshare and we took off together to Ahihi.

We walked down to the Dumps first, but a regular there told us it was pretty murky.  Not a place I want to go to when it's murky!  So we walked down to Ahihi cove.  Figured it was more protected.  
And it was.  Out past the shoreline it was pretty clear.  And wasn't rough like Airport had been.

 some  of the residents at the Cove:
4 spot butterflyfish

2-5-19 snorkel Kahekili beach and Kapalua

Another early morning.  Gotta love telemarketers!  4 calls between 5 and 7 am!  I would have turned the ringer off, but I was expecting to hear from barefootnAR in the morning, so I didn't want to shut the ringer off.   
So I got up and cooked breakfast---even baked some chicken breasts and tater tots for later. 

 Then while I waited for barefootnAR to call, I decided to go check out how to get to Napili Bay in case I have a chance to snorkel there.  Found a beach parking spot and went to check out the bay.

2-4-19  Kapalua snorkel!  and walk the trail:

Today started out earlier then normal for me.  Woke up about 5 and  figured I'd check the computer quickly and go back to bed.  That didn't end up happening.  Got into a conversation on Tripadvisor and ended up talking to another forum reader.  With us both being snorkel fanatics, we were trying to come up with a plan to meet up and snorkel.  With the brown water advisory, I didn't want to go all the way to the South side in case it wasn't clear and she couldn't come up here today.  So we agreed to snorkel our respective areas today and report back to each other and try again on Tues.  

By now, I was getting hungry and tired of cereal (which I also had for dinner the last 2 nights).  So I headed to Time's grocery store.  The sun had just risen when I left, so I stopped at a little park on the way to Time's and took a couple late sunrise photos.

 I was surprised to see they even have a really nice looking breakfast bar with quite an assortment of cooked foods for $8/pound.  I thought of getting a container full, but not having a scale there, I figured I'd end up with $24 worth of stuff for breakfast!  So I bought a dozen eggs for about $3.50  and 12oz of bacon for $4.99.  Also bought some pork chops and chicken so I could have something besides cereal for dinner.  Got back to the condo and made myself breakfast.

2-3-19  Time to Snorkel!!!!! and watch a little football

Good morning Maui!!! Thanks for the rainbow!

 I decided to go to the island orientation this morning.   Enjoyed the flowers along the way 

They have a really nice area for the presentation.

 Love the pictures there.

 They had breads and drinks to go along with the talk.

 breakfast

I hoped I could win something good.  And I did!  Unfortunately, I found out it's a BOGO and there's only one of me.  I offered it to my kids who will be coming later in the week, but they didn't want it!  So I gave it to the hostess in the bar and grill at Sands of Kahana.  Don't know if she can use it, but it would be nice if someone local could.   Worst part is, I've ALWAYS wanted to go to Lanai! 

 So to drown my sorrows, I went snorkeling.  I wanted to be back for the Super Bowl, so I went close by where I thought there would be the best chance of finding parking---Kahekili beach park.  Such a beautiful park!

 they even have a security guard rolling by now and then

 heading to the water

 almost there!

 hard to see here, but there were plenty of snorkelers out there.

 heading in

 I was a little surprised that it was as murky as it was.  Guess Maui had similar weather to what we had in Kauai the last 4 or 5 days I was there.  But Photoshop cleared them up pretty good.

 lots of black triggerfish here

 lots of coral, too

 a couple long nose butterflyfish

 some of the finger coral that covers large areas of the ocean bottom here.

 a parrotfish in the extensive coral

 more coral---love the colors of all the coral here.

 a filefish

 hawkfish

  school of fish

 school of yellow tangs---don't see many yellow tangs around Kauai

 teardrop butterflyfish

 ornate butterflyfish

 huge peacock grouper

 ringtail wrasse

many bar goatfish

 sailfin tang

 4 spot butterflyfish

 looking back towards shore

 back to the underwater.

 when I decided to come in, this little guy was waiting for me just feet from shore.

 after a couple hours, I headed back to the resort.  It was still early, so I checked out the beach at Sands of Kahana a bit better then I did this morning.

 lots of people playing in the water here

 not a huge beach, but actually more then I thought there would be.

 I walked through the bar and got a to go menu.  Looks like a pretty nice place. 

Then headed back to the room to work on my blog while watching the Super Bowl.  Being from St. Louis, I was rooting for the Rams.  But to be honest, I would have rooted for anyone but the Patriots.  Tired of seeing them in the Super Bowl.  Did enjoy Maroon 5 at half time, but found it ridiculous that once again they had to censor one of the performers!  
After the game came to a disappointing end, I headed out in search of a sunset and dinner.  Didn't do too well with either!  But I did get to see another rainbow.

 And I did enjoy wandering around through Lahaina.

 walked to the sidewalk with the ocean views and sat and waited for sunset

 Got a little bit of sun rays.

 clouds were pretty thick but there was a little color

 Even a bad sunset for Lahaina is worth seeing.

 Then I window shopped.  Not quite NaHoku!

 love these little mugs.  If I used mugs, I might have bought one.

 one of the many galleries.

I decided to stop at Time's market on the way back to the condo, but missed the turn.  Had to go a few miles before I could turn around, so I decided to skip it and go with cereal for dinner.  
Not a bad first whole day of my solo vacation here!