I have the high for today at a toasty 88 degrees. Up around 5:30 or 6:00 am--we are gradually sneaking in a bit more sleep each day.
We decided to rent our gear from Snorkel Bob's right by our resort. It didn't open until 8:00 am which was sort of disappointing--I would have liked to have been on the beach by then. Once again, they were very nice and helpful and this time I rented a boogie board so I would be more relaxed.
So originally I had two schools of thought: we would have breakfast at Kihei Cafe in nearby Kihei and then start our snorkeling tour at the Kamaole beaches nearby and work our way down south. Or, we could drive all the way south to Makena Beach and Golf Resort, have breakfast at Café Kiowai and start snorkeling at Maluaka beach which is supposedly calm and good for beginners. I thought we might also have a good chance of seeing turtles (honu) there. Then we could work our way up north and have lunch at Coconut's and get shave ice in Kihei.
I decided on the latter. Mainly because we had passed Kihei Café and it looked like the tiniest place ever. Plus the Kam beaches didn't look to have a ton of parking. I did not want to start our day stressed out and not being able to park anywhere and with a wait for breakfast.
So we drove to Makena Beach and Golf Resort which I really wanted to see anyway after reading so much about it on Trip Advisor. I told Ben all about how it's an economical place everyone loves but is being turned into an expensive condo development next year. I was glad to get to see it before that happens.
We got settled at Café Kiowai and I ordered my standard breakfast that I always get--I didn't even bother taking a picture of it. Ben got the local favorite, Loco Moco--which is ground beef, gravy, and rice--and I was excited for him to try it.
He liked it but said he liked his fried rice at the Sea House better.
We did not have a very nice waiter. He was rather abrupt and we felt kind of rushed. When he brought Ben his meal, he plopped it down and said "Good luck." But later he seemed impressed that Ben had finished it!
Our view at breakfast:
After breakfast, we headed off to Maluaka beach. We found parking pretty easily. I should have known that was a bad sign. We saw a couple with their kids going down a pathway so we just followed them to the beach.
When we got there, I was convinced we were at the wrong place. This was crashing, boogie-board-riding waves, this was not a place for snorkeling newbies. I know you can't always expect calm conditions but yikes.
So I suggested we pack up (which Ben wasn't thrilled about) and try Ulua Beach right down the road which is also supposed to be calm. When we got to the parking lot, I peeked over and saw dozens of snorkel heads bobbing in what appeared to be nice calm water--while Ben circled the lot which was of course at 100% capacity.
So now I have $40 in snorkel gear gathering dust in the trunk, no parking, no beach and a frustrated husband. I need to save the day and quick. So I say let's drive out to La Perouse Bay.
http://www.hawaii-guide.com/maui/sights/la_perouse_bay
We'll never be this close to it again, it's supposed to be a nice spot to see, and besides, what else do we have to do? Ben says ok.
So off we go on what is a halfway nice, halfway hairy drive. The road is really tight in many places and it appeared many had the same idea as us because we passed several cars that were on their way back.
On the way to La Perouse Bay, we see a beautiful blue bay come into view with some people snorkeling. Ben gets very excited about this. It looked calm and there is a parking lot nearby. So we decide to check it out on the way back.
We finally make it to La Perouse Bay in one piece. Very pretty, interesting place and we were glad we went.
So then we make our way back to that bay we saw on the drive down.
I have read about this place on Trip Advisor and I warn Ben that it will be rocky and not necessarily great for us (again I am glad to have done my research) but there is a platform there for easy entry and it's very shallow. He goes out first and checks it all out.
He comes back excited and is prepared to carry me into the water if he has to. I'm noticeably wary and yet another nice lady sees me and offers me her life jacket. I feel sort of ridiculous taking it as the water is clearly shallow but I know I will feel better with it. So again, I thank this kind stranger and off we go hand in hand.
I do much better this time, I am totally relaxed and feel like I can breathe through the snorkel all day long. I saw lots of fish. We did have to watch for the rocks but the water was so clear it was easy to avoid them. When we got a little ways out, I motioned to turn around and go back since I knew the lady was waiting for the life jacket.
He goes out one more time and pretty far and for awhile is by himself which I know is a big no-no but others are on the shore getting their gear on so I don't get too worried. He went out far enough that he couldn't stand up and said it was a little deceiving as the water was so clear, he thought he was still in shallow water.
I am content to just watch him and take pictures.
The water is noticeably rougher now as it is later in the day. Ben actually got banged around a bit and had several pretty bad scrapes when he came in the last time. He was such a pro though--just gliding along smoothly and I was a proud wife and so happy he got to experience it.
It's about 1:00 pm now so we are ready to drive into Kihei for lunch at Coconut's. We are really thirsty and out of water. On the way to La Perouse Bay, we had passed a stand selling coconut water straight from a coconut. Ben likes coconut water and drinks it home. It's very hydrating. So he says he wants to stop there on the way to Kihei.
We find the stand and Ben goes up and orders it. He makes the rookie mistake of ordering it BEFORE asking how much it was. Whoops.
Here is the lady chopping his coconut:
And here is Ben with his $20 coconut water:
I'm pretty sure we got hosed on that one. Oh well he was fine with paying $20 for the experience.
I've waited months to have fish tacos at Coconut's. I mean this is THE place for fish tacos in Maui. But when we get to Kihei, I'm not hungry. I'm still full from my big breakfast. Ben isn't really hungry either.
I then decide there is one thing I absolutely will NOT miss and that is this:
Hawaiian shave ice. Ahhh finally! Ben isn't sure what to order so I tell him to get the ice cream on the bottom so he gets coconut with pineapple and banana syrup and a snow cap (which is sweetened condensed milk) on top. I get the Hawaiian root beer float I read about on Trip Advisor: vanilla ice cream (I got vanilla instead of coconut), vanilla syrup, root beer syrup, and a snow cap.
I asked the girl helping us if it was fat-free. She laughed and said she didn't think so (I think she thought I was serious). Ben liked his best and I liked mine best so it was perfect. We got the micro size and it was the perfect amount. It was such a wonderful treat and I know now that I definitely have to come back to Maui just so I can have it again.
So we head back to the Four Seasons getting back around 3:00 pm. We go up to the room to change and discuss dinner. I didn't really plan our dinners too much. Ben asked me what I would like to do and I said I wanted to go to happy hour at Gannon's which is an ocean front restaurant close to the Four Seasons and see the sunset. So we have the Four Seasons Escalade take us over and we have a healthy dinner of drinks and pork sliders, fried calamari, and an appetizer called stuffed tator tots.
I take some pictures around the restaurant:
While doing this, I found a good spot down on the lawn for sunset. So at 5:30 pm, we went down and sat on the lawn. It was probably the prettiest one of our stay with lots of pink sky.
We had the Four Seasons come and get us and were off to bed at our usual 10:00 pm.
Coming up: Happy Anniversary to us!
