TWO WEEKS

ALOHA! It is only two short weeks until we leave for Maui!

Currently we are scheduled for a Whale Watch tour through the Pacific Whale Foundation. Pacific Whale Foundation offers the most thrilling way to view Hawaii's humpback whales. The ecotours are based on 28 years of whale research in the Pacific. We will travel on high-tech catamarans, with expert marine naturalists. We will also get to listen to whale songs on hydrophones. Whale sightings are guaranteed or you go again FREE! The whales enjoy the warm water between the islands of Lanai, Molokai and Mau. February is supposed to be the month where the most whales are spotted. http://www.pacificwhale.org/

After the whale watch tour, we will drive to the Maui Ocean Center. Throughout the marine park, interactive displays, outdoor touch pools and unique exhibits such as the acrylic tunnel through a 750,000-gallon, Open Ocean Exhibit teeming with over 2,000 fishes; encourage visitors to experience Hawai‘i’s marine life up-close. These personal encounters with nature are designed to help visitors develop an understanding and appreciation of the unique nature of Hawai‘i’s marine environment in an enjoyable and safe setting.

Saturday, Feb 9th is the annual Run for the Whales and coincides with the Chinese New Year. The city where we are staying, Lahaina will welcome the lunar New Year. This city has a large celebraion and the street near our hotel will be closed to vehicle traffic for a street festival that begins with a Chinese martial arts demonstration, followed by lion performances with traditional drums, gongs and cymbals, and firecrackers. The festival with have ethnic foods, a tea house, children's arts & crafts, Japanese calligraphy drawing, and more. Free admission Friday and Saturday.

Friday nights are also Lahaina's "Art Night". Fridays many of the 40 or so art galleries open their doors and invite visitors to come in and watch demonstrations, talk to local artists, nibble snacks and enjoy free entertainment. Marine art is a big business in Maui, where whales and dolphins rule the canvas. Maui is also home to Wyland, an artist whose massive marine murals can be found on the outside of buildings in many large cities.

Friday Evening, we will also attend the Lahaina Old Luau. This luau has the reputation for providing one of the islands' most authentic Hawaiin feasts. The site is located on the beach front. Seating is limited, first come, first served. We scheduled out luau back in June so hope to have great seats. This date has been sold out for several months now.

Sunday we will take the Temptation Tours: Road to Hana and Sky Trek Tour. This is an air/land combo tour. We will leave the heliport and view the dramatic waterfalls, pristine rainforest, inspiring cliffs and then soar above the Mt Haleakala crater. We will then enjoy a picnic lunch of Tamari and Ginger Chicken and Baked Mahi Mahi lunch, elegantly served at one of Hana’s black sand beaches. After a lunch we will explore the twisting road to Hana aboard a 6 passenger luxury van. This road is something of an endurance test (54 miles, 600+ curves and 54 small bridges) to negotiate. During the chauffered ride, we will see a quaint Hawaiian Village at Keanae peninsula, and watch ocean waves crash against JAGGED LAVA ROCKS, take a splash in the ocean at a black sand beach, or a dip in a freshwater pool at a cascading waterfall, and stroll through enchanting Kakala Gardens and enjoy the aromatic tropical flowers. At the end of the trip we will receive a FREE Hana & Beyond land-tour video....that way you all can experience the same trip.

I got a new camera for Christmas and I can't wait to use it to capture all the awe-inspiring sites we will see.

Aloha!