Got up and went to Stella Blues for breakfast. http://www.stellablues.com/  When we came back I went down for a swim to the pool.  Came up and packed the bags. 
Had a wee read of the paper.

We headed down to Perouse Bay to have a look around before we went  to the airport.


















Then back along the road for the last time on this trip. We got the $3.75c a gallon gas on the way before we returned the car. This is the most I have ever paid in America for gas. I paid $3.60 in California a few years ago and now it's topped. I am not complaining at all. When in Ireland a couple of weeks ago we were paying double. Returned the car. Checked in and had lunch. We got on the Hawaiian Air 30 direct to home. 
The five plus hours went by fast and we landed in SeaTac. Got our car at the parking and fecked off home.
A great trip under the belt and plan to head back the same dates next year.

Watched "Looking for Kitty" in the wee hours.

It was not good.
Got up Tea and down to the pool for a couple of hours. Over to Maui Taco for lunch. Went into the village market in Kihei.



 Down to little beach for a swim, body surfing, and snorkeling.
11:30pm
Back to the suite to relax a bit more.


 Then drove up to "Mama's Fish House" http://www.mamasfishhouse.com/
in Paia for dinner. It is a great setting. The people there are great too. Had a terrific meal and a great chat with friends. Then back home on the dark road to the hotel and got back just before midnight.

Today's paper.


Tomorrows weather,

</a></a>catgoyle

Happy Birthday</a></b></a>irishking !!! Sorry I missed the one yesterday. I tried to remember both but yesterday was little off for me. Love you much and have a fabulous day in your Hawaiian paradise.</font>

Got a Birthday wish from the beautiful Raven. 

Got a birthday cell message from my sister Mary in Tulla and Nurse Biddy in Seattle.

11:26am
Spent the last two hours swimming in the ocean and finished up in the pool. Now it's time to find lunch.


10:55pm
Ok I headed over to Maui Taco for lunch.


Grabbed some dessert in Hawaiian Moons and back on the road. I went on a property search looking at different properties to buy. After a bit of house hunting it was time to head back to the Kea Lani.


After a bit we headed back down to Little Beach. Off we go on the road taking a right down and parking at Big Beach.
We walk down towards  Big Beach


Then along the beach towards the cliff at the end.


Wait a second until the waves go out so we can make it around the turn in the cliff.




Then up the little climb in between.


and a bit more.


A quick look back down the thirty foot walk.


Over the top and down the hill towards "Little Beach"


down some more


We arrive on the best beach on Maui in my books. Due to the lack of clothing I will end the photographs here.

Swim and body surf the often giant waves for a couple of hours. I talk to a great couple there. Danny and Courtney. They are fun. He moved here back in 1970. Lay in the sun for a bit and then off back to the hotel.
Showered and headed out for dinner to Joe's down at the tennis club for dinner. A great atmosphere and nice food. Came back and hung out down stairs until now. I swam and ate all day. I am an Orca.

Got another text from Sean le and one from Donegal John for my birthday. Oh and the good Lena emailed me fot the two days too.

Newspaper of today

Today we left the suite and headed over to Paia again.



This time we are here to ride the bicycles 27 miles down from Haleakala. We get to Maui Sunriders http://www.mauibikeride.com/  early. We talk with Shane a great fellow. He is from Maui here. He will be heading over to Spain soon to teach English as a second language. I pop into Mana Foods for a ginger cookie. We get geared up, hop in the van and get driven up to the staging point. We did a similar trip last year for my birthday but this year we are doing it un-guided. We hop on and feck off down the volcano at an alarming speed. My breaks weren't the best but they would eventually slow me down enough to take the switch back turns at a safe speed. We come through the clouds on our decent. There is a fine mist covering us going through here but the weather is warm so we dry fast as we get down the mountain lower. 





We make it into Makawoa and stop here for lunch. On the ole bikes again and make it back down to the shop in Paia again before anyone else. We chat to the owner there for a bit. He moved here from Italy thirty five years ago. Into Mana Foods again for a wee bit of ice cream and back to the Kea Lani to get our swim stuff. 
We then head down to Little Beach for our swim and a wee bit of the sun bathing. I snorkel around for a bit. Then hop on the big waves and body surf up onto the beach. Great fun. After a good while we head back to the Kea Lani suite 450. Bruce called and left me a message for my birthday. Sean Le sent me a text too. Lazed around the resort for a bit. Then we head over to Spago's at the Four Seasons for dinner.  http://www.fourseasons.com/maui/dining/spago.html I eat a delightful meal and after a couple of hours we walk back along the path in the dark home. So on this the first day of my birthday and coming down the volcano on a bicycle as last year all I can say is it's all downhill from here.

Another birthday wish came in on my email from my friends Kris, Emily, Caitlyn and the dogs.

 

Last night we went up to to Mike's place for dinner. http://www.mulligansontheblue.com/ We always go up here for a visit when we come. Mike wasn't there last night. We had a great snack as usual. Had a good chat with Tom, Christine, Nellie and Robert.

Anyway onto today. In the wee early hours of the morning I snuk out the door of the suite, 5:30 am to be exact. I didn't want to wake Tasha. I drove up to Lahaina and parked the car. I went to Maui Sunrise for a cup of tea and a scone.
I then boarded the "Maui Princess"


We took off on the 27 mile crossing to the Island of Molokai. It was a bumpy windy crossing. Water coming up and over the boat. It was great. We eat breakfast on board. After around 100 minutes of this we landed in Kaunakakai Wharf. Off we get and into a bus driven by a fellow by the name of "Van" He is a jolly old soul narrating every inch of the way up to the Kaluapapa Lookout. Here we get off and walk down to the lookout. Back in the 1850s the worst cases of people with Leprosy were sent here to this isolated area to die. In 1873 a good fellow named Father Damien arrived and helped these once poor souls. He was priest and doctor to the people here. He died in 1889 from the disease. In 1995 Pope John Paul II proclaimed Damien as "Blessed Damien of Molokai" He will be Saint Damien of Molokai some day.
 He was 49 when he died.









Next I mosey on up to see Phallic Rock.






Located 200 yards from the Kalaupapa Lookout, at the base of Nananhoa Hill, is the six-foot high Phallic Rock. Every island has such a site, but this is probably the best sample. According to legend, the male fertility god, Nanahoa, lived nearby. His wife, Kawahuna, caught him admiring a young girl who was staring at her reflection in a pool. The wife attached the young girl, yanking her hair. Nanahoa was outraged and struck his wife who rolled down the cliff and turned into stone. Nanahoa himself then turned into stone in the form of .... what else?! Throughout the ages, barren women would bring offerings and spend the night at this site in hopes of conceiving a child. Women still come here with their offerings and pray for fertility. Other stones in the area are carved to represent female genitalia. These rocks were then taken home to make the land fertile. Phallic petroglyphs can also be seen on some rocks to the north of the Phallic stone. A beautiful ironwood forest surrounds this area, coating the ground with its long needles and creating a mood of peace and spirtuality. 

We board the bus and disembark at "Tuddie Purdy's" Macadamia Nut Farm. http://molokai-aloha.com/macnuts/
Van tells us before we go in Tuddie is in fact "Nuts"
We meet Tuddie inside. He gives us a tour of his family run farm. 











We eat macadamia nuts to our hearts content. Raw and roasted down they go. He has us try Macadamia honey and mustard by dipping sliced pieces of coconut into them. He wants us to eat everything in front of us. Piles of food. Then we go in and buy some more to take with us. He is totally organic here no pesticides or preservitaves. This is why we can walk in under the trees of nuts. He doesn't use any oil when roasting them so they are cholesterol free and half the calories of the nuts you buy at the store.

Full up we leave and head over to the Coffees of Hawaii farm. http://www.coffeesofhawaii.com/plantations/molokai Here we have a lunch waiting for us. The woman who planted the first plants here gave us a tour of the coffee process. We were entertained to three Hula dances to music by her daughter and gran daughter. 
After all this I went in to have one of the "Mocha Mama" iced coffee drink. There goes my chance of been vegan this week. Delightful. I get a right ole buzz from the expresso in it. Feck I am wired.


We head over to only church in the State of Hawaii built by Father Damien still in its original condition. 










From here we head up to Kumimi or locally known as Maurice Point.




From here we head back to the town of Kaunakakai and stroll around here for a bit. Then Vand drops us back to the Princess for our ride home. Van was a comedian a historian and a folklorist today. He has the gift of the gab for sure. I thought he was great. 
We leave Molokai behind for now.




We get out into the channel and the trade winds are blowing like mad. Going back is way more choppier. Waves splash in and over the boat. We make it back to Lahaina in one piece.





I find my car remove my name tag and head back to Suite 450.


It takes 45 minutes to drive back. Thirteen hours after i left I am finally back home. I shower and head out with the good woman for a snack to Maui Taco in Kiehi. I have the Dig me burrito.


Now I sit here at 11:36pm and ready for bed.

Last night watched "The Virgin of Juarez" 

It was interesting because it was based on truth.


Up, tea and a bite. Went up to Kahului. 
Bought gas for the car.

Messed around here for a bit. Went back to the hotel and room 450. Now I have been corrected its not a room it is in fact a suite. There are no rooms at this resort. Jesus's mother and father were told the same thing over two thousand years ago.
Later we went up to the nude beach named "Little Beach" Parked the car walked through Big Beach over the thirty foot lava flow and down to the beach. Undressed and lay on the towels for a bit. Then I headed down the sand and in for a good swim. Snorkeled around there for a bit. I like this beach. Back to the towel for a rest. I continued this pattern a few more times. Then it was time to head out for lunch.
We went over to Kiehi and into "Pita Paradise"

I had the grilled veggie Pita. Shopped around here for a bit. Back to the 450 Suite.

Watched a couple of movies on the ole Dvd player last night, well the wee hours of this morning. Could'nt sleep. First off I watched "The Green Butchers"


Interesting. It was subtitled too. That will help me to get ready for "Pan's Labyrinth" soon.

Next up was "The Exonerated"


Not for me. It would be good if I was a law or acting student. Plenty of info there.

Had a cup of tea and a couple of crackers at the hotel here. Then headed out on the day at hand. We drove up and into the town of "Paia".  We stopped into Charley's for breakfast.


Then we head off on "The Road To Hana" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hana_Highway
We stop off along the way to look at the breath taking scenery. 








We make it into Hana.


Head through town and over to "The Seven Sacred Pools" We do this trip every time we come to Maui.
We go down and swim in the pools for about an hour. The water is cold but it is nice in the warm climate.




A quick walk out to the ocean


We load up and off we go. We always continue on around the island clockwise through beautiful windy scenic roads to the other side. This time we hear the road is closed up due to a rock slide from the earth quake a couple of months ago. We go on anyway to see for ourselves.

FECK





Back we have to go. We stop off to see the grave of the man that helped to make it possible for us to travel to Maui and indeed around the world.




Old Charley


Off again on the counter clockwise trip back. We never have driven this way before. It feels strange. I see a lot of new stuff I missed before. We head over to the town of "Haiku" for a late lunch. We finally find the town after taking a wide turn around it. We go into a place called "Veg Out" A vegetarian restaurant. http://www.veg-out.com/
Eat up and head back to the hotel. 
We go for a swim in the pools about eleven hours after we left in the morning. I headed down to the beach for a swim. Passed away some time here then up to 450 for a gwal of tea and some Banana bread we bought on the road today.




We have the macadamia nut one.

Up early packed for the trip. I talked with my sister in Ireland and my cousin Angela in London. Headed down to the airport and parked the car. In to check in. The woman said "How many bags are you checking in?" I showed her my little bag and said I would just carry it on. She said "You're going to Maui for a week and is that all you're bringing?"  "Yes" said I.  We breeze through security and into the gate area.
I have a wee cup of tea and a muffin. Then head out to the gate for our flight.
 I notice two young girls sitting on the floor playing portable Nintendos and two Starbucks cups beside them. It is a different world today than the world I grew up in. It's great. We board Hawaiian Airlines. We are on a Boeing 767. I always fly Boeing. Airbus will crash. Read, do crosswords and eat lunch for 5 hours and 36 minutes then we land in Kahului. Over to Avis and pick up the Chevy Impala. As I drive out onto the familiar roads I really feel like I am home. I frigging love this place.  Down to the town of Wailea and into the now familiar Fairmont Kea Lani. http://www.fairmont.com/KeaLani/ We stayed here last year. Got the ocean view room and unpacked.

After a bit head over to Safeway for some items. We eat lunch at Maui Taco. Go in to Linda at the Activity Warehouse and book two bikes to ride down the volcano. Back to the hotel and room 450. We go for a swim down at the pools for some time and then back to 450 for the night.