Our timeshare, the Marriott Ocean Club is located here on Kaanapali Beach, just north of the town of Lahaina on the island of Maui.  Few people know this was Hawaii’s first master planned resort.  Back in 1962, the Royal Lahaina Resort opened.  I was a sophomore in high school.

Many resorts and high rises followed, creating what is now a popular, luxurious, and rather crowded area of west Maui.  Over the years, we have stayed at several.  By 2003, Kaanapali Beach was rated the #1 beach in America.  It is now rather difficult to believe this was a deserted beach at one time.

For one, a horse racing track covered much of the resort area, attracting both Hawaiian royalty and island business people.  And sugar cane dominated the crops, now replaced by housing and coffee plantations.  And the Black Rock, called Puu Kekaa, is where the King of Maui practiced leaping into the sea, a sport known to locals as lele kawa.

Today, the Black Rock forms a barrier between the two beaches, Kaanapali to the south, and Kahekili or “airport beach” to the north.  Kahekili is a popular snorkeling spot, and also boasts plenty of public parking.  And starting around mid day Friday, Aloha Friday, for those of you on the mainland, locals begin their ritual of weekend barbecues, children’s birthday parties, and Friday night relaxation.

Serious surfers head elsewhere, but beginners find Kaanapali a great place to learn and practice.  The largest swells run from 6 to 8 feet, winter or summer.  And we do see a few fishermen in the area as well.

On a clear day, sounds like a song.  But during winter months, whales can easily be seen from shore.  Though we have taken the ferry to Lanai, and gone on whale watching tours, we enjoy spotting whales from our balcony.  And maybe with a cold beer or glass of champagne in our hands.

One nice, simple, and free activity each morning is to take the Beach Walk from our resort up to the old Royal Lahaina Resort.  It seems everyone else is doing the same thing, while it is cool, and quiet on the beach.

My brother and his wife have joined us here, in an ocean view, two bedroom condo.  My cousins from California are also here.  We plan a big bbq one evening with them.  Other than the snow on Haleakala crater, some road closures, and lots of cold beer, we are suffering through days of 75 to 80 degrees with intermittent rain.

Tomorrow, the vacation begins for all of us.  Just don’t tell them we were already here, first in Honolulu, then Kauai to visit dear friends!!!   @loha!!!!!

Added bonus:  who cares about the NBA or NCAA basketball.   And best of all, this is a BIG blue state!!!  No evangaculates telling us what to do or think.

Majestic twin Wailua waterfalls on Kauai, Hawaii

Not a pharmacy, but a Farmacy Health Bar with three locations (including one on Front Street in Lahaina) on the island of Maui.

From Maui Now:

Popular health food restaurant, The Farmacy, has opened a new site at the Pukalani Terrace Center. With the health bar’s success in Wailuku, chef and owner Christopher Malik Cousins decided to expand upcountry.

“We believe the people upcountry want and appreciate the fresh organic food we prepare. My mom inspired me to eat healthy and although I didn’t appreciate it as a youth, she is why I have the healthy menus I do today,” says Cousins. “The big difference between us and everyone else is that we are using fresh-squeezed juices for everything, which makes our products almost all alkaline. Most every other place is using granulated sugar or organic sugar; all of those things are not alkaline.”

Cousins says his business buys 1,500 pounds of organic sugar cane a week, which is “not easy to get, but it’s worth it.”  He adds that sugar cane juice is an integral ingredient in many of The Farmacy’s juices and smoothies.

“Sugar cane juice is considered an alkaline-forming food because of the high concentration of calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, and manganese,” he explains. “Diseases like cancer cannot survive in an alkaline environment and studies show its effective in fighting cancer.”

The most popular items at the Pukalani Terrace Center Farmacy Restaurant include the Açaí Bowl, a thick smoothie parfait in a bowl layered with granola and chunks of fruit; and the Pono Burger, which features onion, zucchini, egg, quinoa, buckwheat and seasoning.

“We can’t make them fast enough and we are proud to be helping people be healthy,” says Cousins.

I would vote for the Pono burger, with lots of French fries, and a few cold beers!

How about a little different type of day on Maui?

Breakfast at Kula Lodge

After catching a magnificent sunrise at Haleakala (one of our favorite Maui traditions) we headed for a hearty breakfast at nearby Kula Lodge and Restaurant, an Upcountry landmark since 1949.

At a 3,200-feet elevation, the lodge and restaurant offer spectacular sweeping views from mountain (mauka) to ocean (makai) and the property itself is cradled in beautiful private gardens.

The house specialty is the Haleakala Mountain of a Meal, featuring two buttermilk pancakes, two eggs any style, and choice of ham, bacon, or Portuguese sausage piled high on the plate. My hubby loved it. For me, it had to be Macadamia Nut Pancakes. And yes, everything was delectable.

Tour Ali’i Kula Lavender Farm

Nestled 4,000 feet in the clouds on the slopes of Haleakala crater, Ali’i Kula Lavender Farm boasts over 45 different varieties of lavender with majestic views of Central and West Maui coast and mountains.

Tranquil paths with statues and fountains lead through native Hawaiian gardens, citrus and apple orchards. Their lovely gift shop is filled with lavender-infused products many have never seen elsewhere. Lavender chocolates, teas, coffee, brownies, lotions, and more can be found here.

Tours of this amazing farm are available by reservation.

Also wine tasting:

Wine Taste in Paradise

We’d never tasted Pineapple wine before. Not until Maui that is.

MauiWine’s picturesque property is located on the Pi’ilani Highway in the southwest region. Specializing in decadent island-wines made with aloha, their pineapple collection is produced from 100-percent Maui-Gold pineapples. Fruit-forward and fun, these tasty and refreshing wines join the family of other estate-specialties like Rose, Syrah and Chenin-Viognier blends.

With its oasis of majestic ocean hideaways, lush green mountains and picturesque vistas it’s no wonder Maui’s consistently been rated one of the world’s most beautiful islands.

It’s impossible to do everything in a single visit, but somehow that’s ok with us. It means we get to come back and experience something completely different the next time around. Maui’s treasures are endless.

We were up here a few years ago.  It is an up and coming area.  I suggest you go before it changes, like the rest of Maui!!!