Where The Toilets Twirl The Other Way: Hawaii

Hike spot on the north coast of maui.

First Hawaii blog... could it be?

It has already been 5 days in Hawaii and I have had trouble finding a minute to write up my experience. I have jotted down a ton of notes to remind me though.

The first thing is WHALES! Northern Pacific Humpback whales to be specific. They were always jumping for joy off the coast of Lahaina. They are incredibly huge... 50 feet long and weigh 50 tonnes. And they just launch out of the water like it ain't no big thing. Seeing them up close, from a sailboat as we were headed to Molokini crater for a snorkel was a huge treat.

Captain Yoshi and I pose with the wild sea turtle we captured en route to Molokini crater

The Lahaina luau was another highlight so far. We got treated to some very genuine feeling Hawaiian hospitality.
Very first thing we were served terribly, delectably sweet Mai Tais and seated at a group table right in front of the performance stage. Immediately we walked over to the BBQ pit where handsome, tattooed Hawaiians dug a whole pig out of the ground. It had been roasting for 8 hours. At sunset, huge plates that were actually just platters were placed in front of us, and we wound through a buffet full of variety. My favorite was the pork wrapped in banana leaves. The Taro stew was new and interesting (healthy/earthy/bland). Hula dancers, male and female, performed with live music and a narrator/mc who gave us a good cultural context to the performance.

Sunset hula performance at Lahaina Luau

Hungry?

And of course I have loved meeting people on the beach. I met Jay, a local photographer who has had images in yoga journal and surf magazines; Benna, a Huntington Beach transplant who Rented me a surfboard and gave me a precursory lesson on where to stand on the board, etc, (by the way I got up on my first wave!!! Intimidated by the sea but I did one things that scared me that day!); and last but
Not least Gary and Lee, who I stumbled upon doing Tai Chi on the beach and who showed me a few moves (Including one named Cloud Hands... that's right!). Lee teaches Tai Chi to homecoming veterans in Montrose, CO, with a program called Welcome Home Montrose.

Jay, doing his thing in Lahaina. His business is called Lightwave Images.

Practicing my henna techniques on the beach. I have been working on mixing the perfect paste but this paste didn't stain so it was a no-risk doodle.

Now I am en route to Hana on the infamously twisty Road To Hana. The overnight and morning in Paia was wonderful. It is a hippy town full of young gypsys. Lee and Gary recommended Mana Foods as the coolest grocery store in all of Maui. They were right. Check out the tea aisle!!!