The Island of Maui

I flew into Maui about a decade ago... It was an especially memorable time, here's why...

The way the airport check-in staff look at you when they see your destination printed on the luggage tag. Believe me when I say that it can be a very jealous look; or perhaps even a look of envy. It might even make you laugh a little inside. This is especially the case if it happens to be the middle of winter (at a brisk twenty-five degrees below zero outside) when they catch of glimpse of your tag. Even still, you have the (roughly) six-hour flight over the pacific ocean, so don't get too excited just yet. This flight is made especially fun when you encounter delays or turbulence. Yet, when you’re trying to guess the halfway point (in nautical miles) between the mainland and the island — which, the pilot encourages, to keep the mood light and cheerful — there is an unmistakable air of adventure...

Maui is indeed something special, perhaps even a bit magical. I reckon that the moment the landing gear went down — when you can look out the plane window and see the glittering lights from all the activity below — you can count on a bit of magic. Having said that, you emerge from the plane in just a small airport; but once you’re out of there with your bags, a bus immediately whisks you away to the location of your car rental. It’s a short five-minute ride.

Here’s the good part: a friend and I booked a small economy car in advance, with no complaints nor apprehensions; so, when it turned out that no economy vehicles were available for us, due to a shortage, you can imagine our dismay. In the best-case scenario, we thought we would be downgraded. But, because I was so exhausted, I didn't argue; nor did I heed the car key that was subsequently handed to me once the paperwork was signed. I recall making an honest inquiry as to whether the car came with winter tires — ridiculous I know, as the weather was now the opposite and I was sweating in my jeans, but that's how tired I was! Moreover, it wasn’t until we went looking for the parking space number, where the lone Mercedes Benz was waiting for us, that I realized we had been given first-class treatment. It was an E-class, brand new, with just a few thousand miles on the odometer. The epitome of luxury.

So, although we were exhausted, our mood turned round again and we rolled out of the parking lot in style. I was at the wheel and drove directly across the island to the West coast, and from there we continued along the beach through to Lahaina. It must have been somewhere just before Lahaina that we popped into a McDonald's and picked up some food because we were also starved — before continuing to Kaanapali, where we boarded for the following few days.

It was here in Kaanapali that we met with several other friends from the same club. We had been offered the pull-out couch in the kitchen for a couple of days to settle and arrange accommodation, whilst the festivities officially commenced. This included (among many other activities) a pork roast and volleyball alongside the beach — with enough Coors light beer to keep our thirst quenched for hours in the hot sun.

So, what can you expect whilst cruising around Maui?

Well, you can drive along into Lahaina and eat at Bubba Gump Shrimp, and then take pictures near the oldest living Banyan tree. The views off the coast are spectacular and you might just catch sight of a few fishing ships too. We captured a photo of a US navy frigate here. There are also plenty of local shops where you can buy trinkets and most anything else Hawaiian that suits your fancy. If you need a great T-shirt or beach towel; sandals, or fishing tackle — you can most definitely get these here.

A little further down the road, at the junction where one could continue the drive towards Wailea, or turn back to the airport, you can find the Maui aquarium. If you’ve never been to an aquarium before, I would recommend visiting this one. Roaming the beaches you may never encounter a shark, but here you can observe just about anything that is located in the pacific ocean surrounding Hawaii; from sharks to shrimp. Otherwise, Wailea has an open-air mall, so if you’re keen on doing some more shopping, this is a good spot. And still further down the road, you can find the next town, where we happened to lodge for another few days to extend our stay even longer. For, believe it or not, our flight was cancelled due to the lack of a pilot — a surprise that we welcomed with cheers and open arms. A bit magical right? It’s not very often that one finds themselves rejoicing at the prospect of a cancelled flight, and such was our luck. So, I’ll elaborate a little more...

With the winding down of the festivities, the rest of the members of this club booked an immediate flight back home. The friend I had arrived with, however, remained on the island with me, and thus together we went adventuring our way, until our departure date. Be that as it may, we never left the airport as scheduled and were thus stranded, very much to our delight, as I've mentioned. Once again we returned to the vehicle rentals, and once again we were awarded a luxury vehicle (at the price of 'economy'), as a form of amendment for the flight cancellation. This time I picked out a Corvette. It was also brand new, and it had a fancy hologram speedometer, which I’ll never forget — such was the uniqueness of this gadget. Moreover, with the option to return home in two days, or push our flight back another four days, we chose the latter without much of a second thought. Of course, I had a job to return to, but believe me when I say that I wasn't in a rush to get back. The boss was notified with a simple phone text message, and he understood our dilemma. What more can one do when the flight is cancelled due to a lack of a pilot? I had the boarding passes to prove it — thus, I was free from the worry of returning without a job.

As a pair of stranded sailors, lapped in luxury, we kicked back and played some more volleyball at Mekena beach, just south of Wailea, where our hotel accommodated us for two free nights. We dined in style and then paid for two additional nights back up near Kaanapali. During this time, we roamed the beaches, spent a lot of time in the hot tubs, and went to the malls. But, we also drove the famous road to Hana (which I would say was a big highlight of the trip). Much is written about this road that often narrows into a single lane, and then twists and turns on the eastern coast of Maui like a garden snake. It eventually terminates at the town on the southeastern side of the island, where you can order some delicious fish and chips, and eat out on a park bench. You can also buy a real coconut along this road to quench your thirst -- just be on the lookout for the signs.

But, there is a black beach in Hana that is unique and herein is the unexpected twist.

Legend will have it that Pele, the goddess of fire and volcanoes, created the Big Island after thrusting her magic stick Pa'oa (pay-oh-uh) into the crater of the volcano, Kilauea (kill-u-ay-uh). Once the volcano erupted the lava flowed down and into the ocean. The truth is that the black sand that you can find on this side of the island is abundant on the beach in Hana. But, I wouldn’t recommend bringing any of the rock back with you as a souvenir. For, apparently Pele viewed these rocks as if they were her kin. And anyone who removed them from the island would be cursed with a tremendous streak of bad luck. Here is the dark magic of the island that I attest to, for nearly a decade later, I tend to attribute a lot of misfortunes to this single occasion, as superstition as that may sound! And truth be told, I can seldom recall a period of bliss that has rivalled my experience on this island.

We never drove the mountain road up to the peak of the volcano. It was about the only top attraction in Maui that we skirted. Moreover, I heard from the club members who had gone up to the top that it had a great view; and if I ever go back, I’ll be sure to pay some respect.