Category Archives: beach vacation

Shark!

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You hear about shark attacks. California, Florida, Hawaii even Cape Cod but the shark attack off a Maui beach while we were there seemed to carry more punch.

Maybe that’s because the headline “Woman bitten by shark off South Maui beach” was on the front page, above the fold on Tuesday , November 15. Guess what I was scheduled to do that day?  I was going snorkeling. Yup I was going into that shark infested water to do my imitation of a great white whale.

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I wasn’t even sure I could still swim! Its been so long. I tested out the pool first and found that I’m pretty buoyant. Its all that fat you know.

Don’t laugh, I kid you not! When I used to scuba dive I’d start the season with 30 lbs on my weight belt. As the season progressed and I toned up and lost weight I dropped not only  body weigh but lead weight from my weight belt. By the end of the season I’d be down to around 18 lbs of lead at my waist.

Right now I have more to fear from a shark attack than I do drowning. I bounce right back to the surface! Should be an interesting afternoon.

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But back to the Shark bite victim.  Karnaole Beach is 31 miles from Ka’anapali Beach where we were staying. That’s if you follow the coastline, less if you just flip that tail and make a bee line.

She was 58 years old but she was a tough cookie. She told everyone to get out of the water as well as getting herself to shore! She was quoted as saying this wasn’t going to keep her out of the water. I guess most shark bites off Maui occur in October so this was a straggler.

Well, that’s all I have to say on the subject of sharks. I plan to get back to all the fun we’re having.

Until then,

aloha

Some Final Thoughts on The Road to Hana

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Early on in our drive we stopped at a park. I wish I had written down the name for you. Sandy and I had found it the week before in our explorations. It’s on the left as you travel toward Hana. If you like big waves, this is a spot to check out. When we first found it, it was so wild that there weren’t any surfers but the waves were mesmerizing.

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It was a calmer day when we stopped with the tour and surfers were out in force. Some were very young.

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There were also vendors with things like jewelry and souvenirs on display.

We  made a stop at a red sand beach. It gets its color from the iron in the sand. It rusts!

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The little coral church we stopped at is Palapala Ho’omau Church, built in 1857, it’s known as the burial ground of prominent aviator, inventor, explorer, author and activist Charles Lindbergh.

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Forty-one years after his infamous non-stop solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean in 1927, Charles moved to Maui and settled in the remote area of Kipahulu, seeking privacy, beauty and simplicity. You can find the grave of both Charles and his wife under the shade of a Java plum tree at the limestone coral church.

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A small choral group was practicing when we arrived. It was beautiful. We all stood respectfully while they sang Amazing Grace.

047Our guide skipped the Garden of Eden stop which surprised me. I’d heard a lot about this attraction. Maybe he skipped it because there is a fee.

Garden Of Eden Arboretum

“It’s worth paying to enjoy walking the grounds, which are immaculately kept up and offer all kinds of photo opportunities. Here you can see an 100 year-old mango tree, bamboo, ocean views and Puohokamoa Falls.”

You can find a list of stops online and many shops sell ‘Guided tour” CD’s but everything takes time.

Our guide did as best he could with the amount of time allowed. The 8 hour tour ended up being 12 hours so I’d have to say we got our money’s worth.

Kaanapali Beach Club

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I didn’t get to finish telling what we expect at Kaanapali Beach Club. I have a self imposed limit to my posts so I don’t get boring. (Hopefully) and with the long description of the resort I went way over that limit.

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So here’s what I didn’t get to in yesterday’s post.

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1 Bedroom Ocean View

Discover comfort in our beautifully appointed accommodations featuring a king size bed, sofa bed with Tempurpedic mattress, and full bathroom complete with garden bath and walk-in shower. Enjoy the convenience of the partial kitchen equipped with a refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher and coffee maker among many other modern appliances. Additional in-room amenities include internet, cable television, DVD/Blu-ray player, telephone and a balcony/lanai.

Guest Accommodation Information

 

  • General Room Amenities
    • Air Conditioning
    • Alarm Clock
    • Balcony or Patio (some rooms)
    • Ceiling Fans
    • Coffee Maker
    • Handicap Accessible Accommodations
    • Iron and Ironing Board
    • King Bed
    • Safe
    • Sleeper Sofa
    • Telephone
    • Voicemail
    • Wi-Fi (complimentary)
  • Disabled Access
    • Grab Bars
    • Lowered Counters
    • Raised Toilets
    • Roll-in Shower
    • Shower Seats
    • Transfer Benches
  • Accommodation Details
    • Maximum Occupancy: 4
    • Private Occupancy: 2
    • Size: Approximately 820 Square Feet
  • Partial Kitchen
    • Blender
    • Cooking Utensils
    • Dishes
    • Dishwasher
    • Dishwasher Detergent
    • Microwave
    • Refrigerator
    • Silverware
    • Toaster
  • Bathroom Amenities
    • Full Bathroom
    • Garden Tub
    • Hair Dryer
    • Walk-in Shower
  • Accommodation Entertainment
    • DVD Player
    • Pay-Per-View Movies
    • Television: Cable / Satellite
    • Television: Cable

Doesn’t look like we have an in unit washer/dryer this time but it does look like there are laundry facilities on the premises. Not quite as convenient but still a good perk.

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There are loads of activities on the resort calendar from adult bingo to Bowling, lei making and glass etching. There’s a beach walk that might be interesting, Other onsite activities include snorkeling and scuba diving and whale watching. I have heard that sometimes the whales are close enough to shore that they can be watched from land!

So far the weather hasn’t looked too good. It’s bee raining  a lot. Maybe by the time we get there it will be a bot sunnier. When we went to the Bid Island it rained every day on the wet side of the Island. Its why the islands are so lush.

Current Weather Conditions

Overcast with rain showers at times. Low 71F. Winds ENE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 40%.

Get Set

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Our Vacation part 2 will be at the Kaanapali Beach Club. We have to change resorts because the first 5 days was a bonus vacation I earned when I upgraded my membership. When I wanted to add more time they were not able to accommodate so we just have to change to another resort.

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Based on the resort description I don’t think part 2 is any less amazing than part 1.

A breathtaking panorama awaits you at Ka’anapali Beach Club, a haven of a resort in a land that has perfected beauty. Located on Maui’s western shore, Ka’anapali Beach Club promises to be one of the highlights of your chance of a lifetime getaway to Hawaii. If you’re going to do Hawaii, you should do it right. By planning your stay at Ka’anapali Beach Club, you are creating the vacation of a lifetime.

About Ka’anapali Beach Club

You haven’t known true beauty and comfort until now. There is so much to see and do at Ka’anapali Beach Club, you would never have to leave the property to have experienced a true and wonderful Hawaiian vacation. Heavenly is the best way to sum it up. You and your family will enjoy the comfort of the spacious rooms and the superior service this getaway has to offer.

Your room comes complete with an in-room refrigerator, oversized tub and separate shower in the bath. You’ll get some of the best views of the island from the comfort of your very own room. Kick back and take in a breathtaking sunrise or sunset from the privacy of your balcony or terrace. After spending the day exploring fabulous Maui, you can unwind in your personal whirlpool jet tub.

The Grounds at Ka’anapali Beach Club

The posh interiors aren’t even the very best part. You will fall head-over-heels in love with the grounds Ka’anapali Beach Club is nestled upon. Relax poolside, like never before, at the acre-wide pool. Sip your morning coffee at the outdoor cafes set amid tropical garden atriums and tranquil waterfalls.

Gather the family, and any new friends you make on the friendly island, and have a cookout in the BBQ area. You can even find something fun for everyone to do by checking with the onsite Activities Department. Maybe you need some time to be good to yourself, which you can do when you take advantage of the massage services or the spa.

When you are ready to explore the island, simply meet with our Concierge to make sure you find exactly what you need to make your dream vacation the ultimate experience. Whether it’s a helicopter tour of Maui, or beach hopping, horseback riding or dining and shopping, there is an endless supply of things to see and do.

Come … Discover the magical allure of Maui.

Like Kaanapali we have a one bedroom ocean view. Actually We have 2 one bedroom ocean view units. I wanted to be sure no one was uncomfortable sleeping. Past travel experiences have been tense when a member of the group was not happy with the sleeping arrangements.

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I’m running out of space so I’ll pick this up in my next post!

Current Weather Conditions

Overcast with rain showers at times. Low 71F. Winds ENE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%.

On Your Mark!

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Getting ready to go. Trying so hard to tie up loose ends at work so I don’t leave a lot of things hanging for my co worker. I feel like the faster I go the behinder I get. So I thought I’d take a break to think about what I have to look forward to.

This trip to Maui is going to be a 2 parter. We have the first 5 days at Kaanapali Shores located in Lahaina, HI.

My sister will be with me for this part of the trip but my cousin won’t be joining us until the 2nd half. We’ll talk about that another time. Today is all about our first stop.

The web site offers this enticing description of the resort.

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You’ll feel right at home the moment you arrive at Aston Ka’anapali Shores. This resort combines the comfort and convenience of spacious suites with hotel-caliber services. Located on beautiful Ka’anapali Beach, your favorite outdoor vacation activities – from sunbathing to swimming and snorkeling – are literally just steps away.

Ka’anapali Shores offers two pools – an oceanfront pool and a garden pool (ideal for kids). You can also take advantage of our many other amenities, including lighted tennis/pickleball/shuffleboard courts, a fitness and massage center, jet spas, complimentary scuba lessons, and wedding gazebo.  Visit our on-site shops – a salon, tropical flower shop, sundries outlet and beach apparel store – or just mingle and share stories with resort staff and other vacationing guests.

I’ll have to check out the complimentary scuba lessons. It might be a good way to get certified again. I regret letting my certification drop but it just slipped away as time passed.

Our suite is described as a one bedroom Ocean view.

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The list of amenities is wonderful! I can see us sipping drinks on the balcony watching a Hawaiian Sunset!

Guest Accommodation Information

  • General Room Amenities
    • Air Conditioning
    • Alarm Clock
    • Balcony, Patio, or Terrace
    • Iron and Ironing Board
    • King Bed
    • Safe
    • Sofa bed in living area
    • Telephone
    • Washer/Dryer
    • Wired Internet (charges may apply)
  • Accommodation Details
    • Maximum Occupancy: 4
    • Private Occupancy: 2
  • Full Kitchen
    • Coffee Maker
    • Dishwasher
    • Microwave
    • Refrigerator
  • Accommodation Entertainment
    • DVD Player
    • Stereo
    • Television: Cable TV
  • Bathroom Amenities
    • Hair Dryer

I love when there is a washer and dryer in the suite. I can pack and travel light that way.

Well, back to my list making and gear checking. I am so looking forward to this break!

Current Weather Conditions

Windy. Showers this morning with clearing during the afternoon hours. High 83F. Winds ENE at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Some clouds. Low 71F. Winds ENE at 10 to 20 mph.