Maui:relaxing by the pool and whale watching

Hello again. This blog has been waiting to finish for the last 7 months. I have been waiting to download our Bull Shark dive on YouTube using a thumb drive. I have since given up on that project. If anyone interested just Google Bull Shark dive, Beqa Island, Fiji. Also the Internet is full of pictures of diving Truk Lagoon and the live-aboard dive boat, the Odyssey. 

Our next and last stop on our trip is Maui. We arrived at the airport around noon and picked up our rental car and made our way out to Kannapali Shores to our hotel. Here are a few shots of the area from the balcony in front of the hotel.
 The car rental agency really tried to push their convertible Mustangs or their Jeeps but the roads on Maui were too full of traffic or too windy with hairpin turns and no shoulders to pull over on. Very similar to New Zealand.

 I always perceived Hawaii as a beach paradise everywhere but seeing this shoreline you are reminded that the whole island chain is made from volcanic eruptions.



After our tour to the rocky side of Maui we spent the day in Kanali and saw the world's biggest Banyon tree. We also met up with Lorne Hall and family from Rocky Mountain House. I told Lorne that I would personally cut his pant legs off if he showed up in Maui with blue Jean's on.

He looked so different that Naomi and I walked right past them and it was them that recognized us! We visited under the Banyon tree and arranged to meet for dinner later that evening.

Kanali is full of knickknacks and art stores and we saw many interesting things that would look great in our garden.




Apparently Lorne took my threat seriously and wore shorts! (YEAH RIGHT)

Lorne, Naomi and Keely with the little guy Sawyer looking bored by it all!

Hey Sawyer! SMILE!!


This plaque shows that this Banyon tree was planted over 100 years ago and covers almost an acre of land (I think...gotta check the guide book)





A very good place to get out of the sun for a bit

Obviously I ignored the sign at the lower left..actually I only realized it was there when I was doing this blog segment

Here are 2 incredible  pieces of artwork that we saw as strolled around Kanali. Too bad we couldn't fit them into our suitcases!

This is the outdoor mall area where went for dinner that evening. Not too crowded at the moment but later.....very busy.



Not quite ready for bed...still playing. Sawyer did great that evening after a very long day for him....but then again he got to ride in a stroller, lucky guy!

The next day Lorne and I went on a fishing tour, bottom fishing. Kinda disappointing as we caught 2 small fish between 12 rods. I really wonder just how fished out the area is. Despite that we had a great day out on the water.


Looking back at Maui



I believe this island off of Maui is 95% owned by an American sports team owner (Patriots??)

Next day Naomi and I had another great day out on the water whale watching. Humpback whales come to these waters to give birth to their young. Usually they have all left by the end of April and the tour outfits will guarantee whale sightings from when they first arrive till April 15. We did this tour on April 11 and did manage to see about 5 different whales, starting with a female with her calf.


There were many boats out looking for the whales. Kannapali area in the background


This young calf is just getting the hang of using those fins of his

Whale watching boats are required by law to stay a certain distance from the whales but if the whales choose to come in close...?

Our 2 boat crew. They also will soon be leaving...they follow the whales north to Alaskan waters and do tours there for the northern season

We were privileged to have this female and her calf pass right under our boat


Again, another fantastic day on the water


Now this is what we were waiting for! Beautiful sandy beach and aquamarine water!
Later that night Naomi and I took in the "Elvis Show". This fellow is actually from Edmonton, Alberta and has doing this show for many years in Maui.





One of the musicians on the show. I can't remember his name but watching him playing the various instruments we realized he was blind. He did a fantastic job thàt night.

This is what we encountered before the Elvis show. A monsoon like rainstorm that only lasted less than 10 minutes but running water everywhere


Courtyard and kids pool area of our hotel. The adults pool was closer to the beach...forgot to take pictures..oops


Again more fish...and no rod!


Two more pictures out in front of our hotel from the 5th floor
So this concludes our trip to Hawaii.

Naomi and I did one golf game at one of the 2 Kannapali golf courses and it was not cheap! I did not take any pictures and I wished I had...maybe next time?

Next for us is a trip back to Jamaica in January 2019 with friends Anne and Bob and longtime travel buddies John and Leah.

Hopefully I can sneak in some embarrassing pics of the others misbehaving before my editor (and censor) gets her hands on the tablet.

Bye for now
Bob and Naomi

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