Idyllic would be a drastic understatement of the truth...

Well, as I write this, I'm sitting in the Bachelors Officer Quarters of Pearl Harbor, HI.  I've just arrived back on the island of Oahu after a weeks vacation in Maui.  What an amazing time.  If you've never been to Maui, you've never been to paradise.  I mean, you may have been to somewhere nice... but until you've watched the sun sink into the western pacific, lighting the blue sky into a cacophony of yellow, orange, purple and white... felt freshly manicured grass between your toes, enjoyed a frosty adult beverage and smelled the sizzling steaks on a gas grill overlooking the lapping crystal clear waters of the pacific while watching the occasional sea turtle stick it's head out of the water for a breath of fresh air... you just haven't been to paradise.  I can't really describe it any better than that- that was my evening every night for the last 7 days.  A friend of mine, Bob, whom I met a couple of weeks ago on my trip to Northern California, was kind enough to give me his weeks stay at their condo time-share in Maui.  So that is where I've been for the last week.  I had the good fortune of meeting a couple of really cool people from Alabama, who had just moved to Maui themselves, and they really showed me a good time.  It was absolutely amazing.  A synopsis:

Friday Night:  Front Street in Lahaina, Maui- I meet Emily for the first time at Moose McGillicutty's.  What a neat girl... she invites me to go hiking at some waterfalls with her sister on the Road to Hana on Saturday.

Saturday:  We take the trip on the Road to Hana, stop at two streams that have some of the most amazing streams and waterfalls I've ever seen.  Rope swings, cliff jumping, waterfall climbing, bamboo forest trekking; the works.  One stream we had to leave all of our stuff behind, and just swim 200 yards or so up stream, climb up some more rocks, then we were in this magnificent pool with about an 80 foot waterfall.  No tourists.  Even better.  Met some locals, and had a great time.  Cooked out at my place that evening.  Sunset, Steaks, Vegetables, Baked Potatoes and Coors Light.  Handstands, Somersaults, and Noise Complaints.  Questions?

Sunday:  My new found tour guides volunteer to take me to Makena beach state park.  By far the best beach I've ever seen.  An azure colored water, light tan colored sand, blue skies, views of Lanai and another small island.  

Monday:  Swam with the Sea Turtles in the water outside of my backdoor... unbelievable.

Tuesday:  The Blow Hole with Emily, followed by an exquisite dinner at 'Roy's' in Kahana... fish prepared every way you could imagine, incredible szeschwan ribs, martini's for the ladies, wine and rum and coke for me... tuna seared with a macadamia wasabe blacken- some exquisite Hawaiian 'poke' absolutely one of the best meals I've had in a LONG time.

Wednesday:  Hobie Cat at Waimea... Erik Sayler is in town with his new wife on their honeymoon.  Took them swimming with the Sea Turtles at my place and we had drinks before they took off to go to a Luau in Lahaina.

Thursday:  Haleakela summit trip, small hike near the top, and then one final Sunset Dinner with the 'Alabama Slamma' as I've affectionately begun referring to them as... good people, good times, incredible memories.  Why do such good things happen sometimes?

Anyway- so now I'm back to reality... sort of- I'm house-hunting these next few days.  Before heading back to the mainland.  It should be fun, but it's no Maui.

Here today, Gone to Maui...

Aloha-

Hal