Missing Maui

So as most of you probably already know, we recently took a Hawaii vacation. It was really nice to get away just in time, before the rain started in Sacramento. Thanksgiving with the family was a huge success and a great time, but on Saturday, November 30th, we hopped on a plane to Maui.

I wrote a little about this in my previous blog, but this was the first time I had ever flown Hawaiian Airlines. We booked with them because they had the best deals when you are doing inter-island hops. Since we were going to spend a week in Maui, and then head over to Oahu for a few nights, we decided we would go this route. I will say, this is my last time flying Hawaiian. I was not impressed. The flight itself was fine, but the service was severely lacking. After they came through with the meal service, they were no where to be found for the rest of the flight. I guess they thought that since it was an early morning flight, that we would just nap the rest of the way, but who could sleep when you are on your way to Hawaii? So I was a little disappointed, because in my opinion, on other flights I have been on, the service and the flight attendants were much more attentive and nicer. But that was not about to ruin my vacation.

So as I mentioned before, we stayed at The Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas. Our buddy who we went with, had a timeshare there. We stayed in a two bedroom condo that had a small kitchen, living room and two master bedrooms. It was a nice room, and we had a great view of the ocean. The resort itself was nice. They only had one pool, which was relatively small and teeming with kids. The layout was nice, and if you were sitting at the pool bar, you had a direct view out to the beautiful sparkling waters of the Pacific Ocean. The bar food was okay. A little too fancy for me when it comes to bar food. The drinks were pretty good, and not too outrageously expensive considering. They had an "Adults Only" section of the pool where you could rent cabanas. However, they were more wading ponds then an actual pool, and the atmosphere was pretty quiet; not really the vibe we were looking for. All in all though, I thought the resort was really nice, the accommodations were perfect for what we were after, and the staff were very friendly and helpful. If you are looking for a cool restaurant, with great views of the water, and a fun, upbeat atmosphere, check out the Pailolo Bar and Grill. This place is at the other Westin property, right next door. They have tons of TV's a good menu, a fun happy hour, and even live music.

Since we flew in on a Saturday, the next morning was Sunday. Sunday in December means football, and if you know me, you know I love football. With the two hour time difference between Hawaii and back home, the games started at 8am. Lucky for us, we pretty much stayed on California time, going to bed around 9pm almost every night. So we got up early, showered and headed to a little know sports bar at the end of Front Street in Lahaina called Spanky's. Spanky's is the epitome of a local sports bar. The majority of the customers are all locals, and sometimes they don't take too kind to tourists. Despite that, we watched a few of the morning games, enjoyed a few cocktails, and decided to walk down Front Street. Now Front Street in Lahaina is the place to be. It is teeming with shops, restaurants, bars and every excursion you could want to do on this side of the island. We took in lunch at Cheeseburger in Paradise. The burgers were so good. Just the right amount of cheese, perfectly cooked, and (if you wait) tables with unobstructed views of the beach. We ended our day back at the condo, laying by the pool, rolling dice and having a few more drinks.

The next day my husband played the Plantation Course up in Kapalua. This is the course where they hold the first golf tournament of the year, The Sentry Tournament of Champions. It is a beautiful course; set up on a hillside, with views of the ocean and mountains. Unfortunately, due to the higher elevation of the course, they tend to get a lot of rain and wind, which was the case when we went out there. David played, and myself and our buddy rode around in a cart and watched, drinking cocktails, taking pictures, and enjoying the views. Despite the weather, we still had a great time, with David actually being paired up with a member from our club back home and some of his friends.

We decided to go whale watching while we were there also. If you aren't familiar, the humpback whales migrate from Alaska down to Hawaii to give birth to their calves, and stay with them while they grow and gain weight to make the trek back up to Alaska for the summers. Maui used to be dubbed Maui Nui, which actually encompasses the modern day Maui County. Maui Nui, millions of years ago, included the islands of Kaho'olawe, Lana'i, Moloka'i and Maui. These islands eventually split apart from one another, but left a rather shallow channel in between the islands. This is the perfect spot for these whales to spend their winters. The warm waters and the shallow ocean provide the ideal spot for baby humpback whales to be born, and whales in general, to stay safe during the winter months. We were a little early in the season, as the migration starts the beginning to middle of November. So while we did see some whales, it wasn't the normal breaching activity that you can see from you hotel room during the months of January and February. We did however get a fun show from some nearby Spinner Dolphins. After the excursion we had lunch at a place called Down the Hatch. Having never been there before, I didn't know what to expect. It is a little hidden and tucked away, but DEFINITELY worth it. The food was really good. It is a "fast casual" type restaurant where you order at the counter, and have the food brought to your table. They have a full bar, and a fun atmosphere.

We finished out the rest of the week with another round of golf at the Bay Course in Kapalua, some more libations at Spanky's, and a few cocktails at the Ritz Carlton in Kapalua. Little tip, if you have the time and don't mind spending some money, there is a Burger Shack at the base of the Ritz Carlton that has great burgers, and is right on the beach. Unfortunately the day we stopped by the weather wasn't cooperating, so the Burger Shack was closed, but that didn't stop David and I from having some perfectly crafted cocktails at The Banyan Tree.

Last, but certainly not least, if you want to have one of the BEST Breakfasts in Maui, then you have to visit the Gazebo Restaurant. This place is really small, on the beach, and tucked away where if you don't know where you are going, you will drive right past it. You have to wait, as it is only first come first serve. We waited for almost two hours to get a table, but it is definitely worth it. Now if a two hour wait isn't your thing (and I don't blame you), you can get your breakfast to go, and try to find a table at the pool right next to the restaurant, or enjoy it back at wherever you might be staying. Personally for me though, the wait is part of the overall experience of The Gazebo. Also, parking is severely limited, so your best advice is to take a ride share there. I highly recommend the Macadamia Nut Pancakes with the Coconut Syrup, and you have to try their fried rice. You won't be disappointed.