Sep 11, 2011 - Highway to Hell.... or Heaven?

This morning, we started out a little later than we would have liked. Chris had a hard time getting motivated as we was working on some computer work. Instead of striking out between 7 and 8, we left around 8:30/8:45. The weather was perfect. The Hana area has a reputation for lots of rain (hence why everything is so lush on that side of the island), but we enjoyed a sunny day on our trip. Rain helps the waterfalls flow, so the numerous waterfalls along our journey were more like trickles. I can imagine how wonderful they look after a...

Apr 6, 2011 - HAWAII - Insel MAUI: Road to Hana

Die Strasse nach Hana, 1 Highlight Hawaiis. Zum Glueck haben die Amis nur Automatikgetriebe-Autos, ansonsten gaebe es hier ein wildes Auf- und Abgeschalte auf dieser, einer der Traumstrassen der Welt. Schwindelanfaellige Leute sollten sich gut ueberlegen, ob sie diese wunderschoene, kurvenreiche Strasse in Anspruch nehmen wollen. Wobei...die sicherheitsbedachten Amerikaner haben auch hier den Spass begrenzt: auf eine Hoechstgeschwindigkeit von 15 mph (ca. 23 km/h)! Na ja. So dauert es auch ein paar Stunden ehe man die Meilen hinter sich...

Feb 25, 2011 - Maui - Day 19 - Hana Waterfalls

Day 19 (Feb 25th) We survived the drive to Hana and back to Kahului. The twists and turns were actually quite fun and the birds on the road seem to play last minute suicide with you, standing right in your path and not moving until last minute. You wait to hear a thud but no red dot on the road ever appears so all is good. We could not continue on Highway 31 up to a vineyard we wanted to see due to the road being washed out by a flash flood so we had to turn around and go back up the way we came. It was actually very nice, we got up early...

Sep 18, 2009 - Adventures

I woke up early to catch a glimpse of the sunrise and Zach joined me shortly after. The view was amazing! We then went back to our campsite where Kayley and Ben were making breakfast. After devouring our delicious meal, we all took off for a cave adventure. The six of us managed to get into the cold fresh water pool just beneath the cave, but only Ben, Zach, and Daniel ventured deeper into the unknown. (Zach’s inserted story: We had to crawl through a crevice a little bit wider and taller than me laying on my back to get into this cave....

Sep 17, 2009 - Camping in Wainapanapa State Park

Zach started his morning early by running 6.6 miles around Kihei at 6:15am. I woke up shortly after and nudged Ben (still asleep on the couch) for directions to the closest beach. Zach met me at the beach after his run and after spending a little time enjoying the water, sun, and view we walked around the area. We visited a health food store for protein bars, a food hut for a papaya boat & coffee drink (a Maui Mocha Monkey … chocolate & banana coffee smoothie), and finally the ABC store for Zach’s breakfast of 2 spam musubis. After our...

Jul 25, 2009 - Hanakai

This was transition day. After coughing up the $200 per person to Hawaiian in penalties for changing our return flight date, we had to move out of the Bamboo Inn and into the Hanakai, which was not so bad since the Hanakai was next door. We also returned to Kahului to exchange the Jeep for an economy car for the last leg of our trip. Fortunately they were out of economy cars so Dollar upgraded us for free to a a Subaru Impreza. A nice ride... but perhaps a little too low to the ground. The highlight of the day was treating ourselves to a...

Jul 25, 2009 - Final Thoughts

My first blog was written from Oahu in 2004, which was a painfully slow and frustrating experience. Since then computers and Internet connections have become a lot faster, making blogging while on vacation easier. As I think back about my blogging experience this trip; however, I find I have mixed feelings about it. On the one hand it was nice to reflect each day on the day's events and be able to record them as they happened. It was nice to combine journaling with pictures and video which allowed me to share on many different fronts. On...

Jul 13, 2009 - Bill and Don's Excellent Adventure

After my thrilling power hang gliding flight with the 'Arminator', Donald decided to take a tour in Bill Stevens' powered glider (that's a glider with a single-prop motor; not exactly an airplane, but not a glider, either) Actually, Bill was talking up Donald for a ride while Armin was telling me his story (at 4,000 feet) of how he lost engine power during one of his flights. Donald was absolutely thrilled with his ride and took some amazing photos and videos while up in the air. I think we helped prop up the local economy big time that day!

Jul 13, 2009 - Armin Engert and his Amazing Flying Machine

The powered hang-glider tour offered by Maui Hang Gliding was the most amazing experience and definitely one of the highlights of our trip to Maui. Armin Engert and I ascended to 4,000 feet above Hana in his flying contraption, at which point he shut off the motor and we glided all the way back down. It was an incredible feeling soaring above Hana with nothing between me and the views except a tiny metal hull, which seemed perhaps a little too cozy at times. I even got to take control of the machine for a bit in the beginning, which was...

Jul 5, 2009 - The Road to Hana -- Part I

Last time we took the road to Hana we were at an extreme disadvantage in that we did not have Maui Revealed to guide us. Not only did we turn back at Hana because we were afraid we would violate our rental car agreement (the road is maintained and improved and completely passable all the way around the island, contrary to popular belief), but we missed some absolutely incredible sights. Thanks to our guide our trip this time around was as fantastic as it should have been in 2005.

Mar 8, 2009 - Lahaina Again For Sun & Fun!

Woke up today and decided to header over to Lahaina since there was some more stuff to see. We checked out a couple old churches and a Chinese cook house with 1896 to 1906 Thomas Edison original movies. Then off to the $2 marg pub. Then off to some live music here and there. Then we ended up at a yearly church bazaar with live entertainment. Not bad for another day in Lahaina! WE did a bit of packing , as we have to get on the 9:45 pm plane tomorrow night. Still one more full day of sun....... :) Brad.

Mar 7, 2009 - Getting Ready To Leave. ( 1 More Day)

Got up today and headed to the Kiehi mrk where I got a green coconut. It was great and the girl cut it in half with her big machete so I could scoop the meat that was still jelly out with a spoon... oh ya! Next Rox and me walked along Sugar Beach for about 45 min to a small pub and had a small snack and drink. Later in the evening we drove over to Ma alaya , about 20 min to check out a band. They ended pretty early so we headed back to Kihei for a snack at the Int House Of Noodles. Very nice and got some chai ice tea which was nice as well....