The Effortless Beauty of Maui

Our third and final island on the trip was Maui. Though the island had little to offer in terms of sights, I felt a trip to Hawaii would be incomplete without a visit there. Luckily it was our last leg as everyone was exhausted and indifferent to another beach. In fact we barely step foot onto a beach. Instead we went whale watching the first day followed by a luau dinner at the old Lahaina Luau.  The weather was beautiful and the water shined like a sea of sapphire the day we were there. It was about as perfect of an experience as you can get and not only did we see them but we also saw a full breach, three times in fact. It appears we stumbled upon a mating challenge. The excitement of seeing them jump up out of the water when you least expected it is probably half the fun.

At the luau we were greeted with lays and Mai Tai as we toured the area before the dinner and show. Once inside you felt like you were transported back in time. All the waiters were shirtless, wearing only a sarong while the hula dancers were in all sorts of grass skirts and head dresses. Having never really studied the history of the Polynesian Islands, I didn't really analyze the authenticity of it and just sat back and enjoyed it all. 

The island often claim that it's true highlight is sunrise on Haleakala. At 10,000 ft one can watch sunrise above a sea of clouds. We decided it was worth a look despite having to get up at 2am for the drive. The actual ride up was a lot better than expected. Though the road was windy most of it had railings and it was pitch dark that you couldn't see the free fall even if you wanted to. The actual sunrise itself was slightly disappointing. Since it wasn't at the horizon, once the sun popped out above the clouds it was too bright to photo anything. It definitely wasn't the best sunrise I've seen. The last day and a half was the first time on the trip I was able to relax by the pool with a cocktail. Though it didn't provide any further experiences of the island it was much needed and perhaps the best way to end a very full and memorable trip.

Atmosphere: Out of the three islands Maui was exactly what I had imagine Hawaii to be. The whole island felt very much in sync as every where you looked it was developed yet not overly so. What I love the most about this whole state is that all the beaches are public, hence you can just pull off to the side of the road and be on a beach.

Beauty: It's hard to say which was the most beautiful island as each felt so different. Where Maui felt like a true tropical island all throughout, the other two depended on where you were. However after seeing water this blue and clear and sand finer than powder it's hard to imagine going to another beach anywhere else.

Cleanliness: The whole state is spotless. In fact I don't believe there were even much graffiti around. It was one of the best kept places I've visited.

Food: Though I had a few dishes that were good, nothing was mind-blowing. My favorite dishes was the fish taco from Ono taco truck and the Spicy Ahi taco from Eskimo Candy. Aside from that, the shaved ice from Ululani's was truly a treat. It resembled water ice but with much better flavors.

People: The people were really nice. Sometimes I question whether it's sincere or just for business.

Last comment: I never thought I would enjoy an island vacation as much as I have. It had a perfect balance of sights and attraction to beaches. One thing is for sure, at every corner and angle is another amazing sight you wish you can capture, though pictures will never do it justice.

Scale 1-10: 9

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The Dynamic Landscape of the Big Island

The difference in the Big Island from Oahu is night and day. The drive from the airport showed nothing but black boulders and dry grassy shrubs on either side. Cars were far and few as I drove down the one lane road towards the hotel in Kona. The first stop on the island was Kealakekua Bay,  where Capital Cook set foot leading to the first extensive contact between Hawaiians and Westerners. The area best know for snorkeling, was beautiful even on land with its rocky coastlines and palm trees dotting the sides.

We woke up the next day to perfect sunny weather as we leisurely drove through the southern coast bringing us to the famous Punalu'u Bakery. The mouthwatering aroma of freshly baked pastries greeted us as soon as we entered the parking lot and the taro malasadas was one of the best things I've ever eaten. 

A short drive down the road was Punalu'us' black sand beach, which was formed from lava flowing into the ocean and cooling. The jet black sand was an unique sight, one I've only seen once before in Iceland. The main attraction of the day was Volcanoe National Park where we spent the next few hours taking the drive down Crater of Rim. The obvious highlight was the volcanic fumes emitting from Kilauea volcano, which at night glowed with an reddish hue.

If you were lucky you were able to catch glimpse of lava spitting from within. Having never seen an active volcano it was quite intriguing. My other favorite part of the park was Devastation trail, where the one mile hike round trip highlighted the extent of damage caused by an eruption. The barren looking trail resembled more of an desert than rain forest. 

Day 3 on the island was dedicated to the north end. We started the day with a quick stop at Tex Drive In on our way to Akaka Falls. Their malasada which they claim to be the best in the world reminded me more of donuts than the prior ones, with a slightly better dough. Overall I didn't find it impressive. The walk through Akaka falls afterwards was the perfect way to burn it off.  The fall itself was underwhelming while the surrounding rain forest covered in bamboo and exotic flowers was the real highlight. Our next stop was Waipeo lookout, one of the most beautiful place I've seen.  The warm afternoon sun lit up the sacred valley below while the beach and mountains off to the side further intensified the dramatic effect. We finished the day with a view of the sunset at the beach. Hapuna beach was the perfect location for just that with its powdery white sand and translucent aqua waters. The sunset couldn't have been any more perfect as the blazing sun peacefully dropped beneath the horizon.

We took it relatively easy the next day with a quick stop at Greenwell Farm for their tour of Kona coffee. Though I'm far from a connoisseur, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed their coffee, even drinking it black. The tour though brief was very educational. Our last stop on the island was Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National  Park, a place of refuge back in the days for those fleeing from certain death or war. The many wood carved statues there were a good glimpse into Hawaiian history and a great way to wrap up the Big Island. 

Atmosphere: The Big Island is extremely unique, given its sheer size. On the Kona side which we stayed at it was dry and sunny the whole time. However just a slight ascend into the mountains and the Hilo side could show an entirely different story.

Beauty: What I found the most memorable on the island was by far Waipio Lookout and sunset on Hapuna Beach. Despite the island being the most famous for its volcano I wasn't as impressed, especially since there wasn't any active lava flowing.

Cleanliness: Everything about the island was very clean. The beaches were maintained very well despite being public beaches.  The roads were in great shape which definitely made the long drive around the island more enjoyable.

Food: My favorite food on the island came from Umekes hands down. In fact it was so good I ate there for lunch and dinner.

Not only was the staff friendly but the prices were also reasonable, unlike Da Poke Shake which I'm sure ripped me off. Their Kauai Shrimp bowl with Aioli Garlic sauce an seaweed salad was outstanding while all their ahi poke was super fresh.

In terms of malasadas, I think my vote goes to Punalu'u Bakery and in particular the taro ones. I practically ate my in 3 bite. Lastly I was a little surprised at the quality of Thai food here. Both places I went to were better than any in Philly.

People: The people here are so nice. They always greet you with a smile and finish with mahalo. I still don't believe I heard honking once.

Last comment: Though its impossible to see everything on this island I think I saw enough that I would be content if I never make it back. Perhaps that is the sad part about this trip, the fact that no matter how beautiful I probably won't be back as there is just too much to see in the world.

Scale 1-10: 9.5

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My First Taste of Hawaii... Oahu

After a long 11hr flight I finally landed in Oahu. This tiny island which house the state's capital Honolulu is home to a little more than 377,000 inhabitants. Expecting to see pristine white sand and crystal blue water as soon as I arrived, I was a little disappointing with the reality that greeted me as I drove to Waikiki from the airport. Aside from a large Asian population, this city was no different than Florida. In fact the outskirts of the famous Waikiki was pretty run down and left an unimpressive start to this much fantasized destination.
The next day started before day break as my photo tour zipped us towards the south side of the island to Sandy beach. It was there that we were greeted by a blank canvas on the sand as waves broke and spilled over upon the rocks. Drowning in the continuous sounds of camera shutters all around, I tried my best to capture the beauty before me. 
Before we knew it the sun jump effortlessly above the horizon rewarding us with a spectacular new set of photo opportunities. The next few stops took us to Waimanalo Beach and Paili Lookout both of which showed the more peaceful side of the island. The day was concluded with a tour of Pearl Harbor and Iolani Palace. Pearl Harbor was as expected, educational but casted a gloomy shadow on the rest of the day. Seeing the oil patches on the water still surrounding the USS Arizona was a true reminder of what remains underneath.
It's wasn't until the 3rd day that I managed to finally sit on the beach. At Lanikai I watch the clouds roll over the islands ahead. Even the lack of sun barely took away from its beauty. The stark contrast to Waikiki is noticed in an instant as towering hotels and resorts are replaced by cozy beach front houses that presents a peaceful air.  With a total of a dozen people around, it was easy to imagine this as my private beach. To conclude the first leg of the trip the final day on the island was spent first at North Shore, where we stared upon never ending waves relentlessly smashing agains the rocks. As I sunbathe at Waimea Bay watching surfers and parasailers, I couldn't imagine a better way to wrap up Oahu.

In the afternoon I took a quick hike up Diamond Head Trail. The hour trip lead me up a steep staircase which eventually provided an eagle's eye view of all Waikiki beach. I'm at awe at the beauty of Hawaii, never have I seen so many shades of green and blue making up one body of water.

Atmosphere: The area of Waikiki is obviously tailored towards tourists. With high end stores and teeky lights on every block one could easily think it was too commercialized. However taking a stroll along the strip with the beach on one side provided a great contrast of transquilty and liveliness.

Beauty: It would be hard to categorize anything relating to Hawaii as anything short of breathtaking. However being the city that Honolulu is, it does suffer slightly from the residential neighborhoods on the outskirts. Yet the beaches were some of the most amazing I've yet to see.

Cleaniness: I'm starting to realize just how dirty my city really is. Ever time I set foot in another city I seem to be reminded of that. The whole island was kept surprisingly well kept even some of the more off the beat paths and beaches.

Food: This has been the most inconsistent of all the categories. The best poke I had was by far from Ahi Assassin, which had a perfect combination of texture and flavor.
Some of the other local favorites like Loco Moco and Musubi was less impressive, making me ponder how it can be a favorite at all.

People: Everyone is really friendly, even the cops which says a lot. In fact patience is a must here especially on the road as everyone is really chilled and no one honks!

Comment: This had been a great start to Hawaii. With the exception of a few restaurants that didn't pan out everything else was spot on. The island offered a great blend of activities for everyone from beach bums to historic buffs to shopaholic.

Scale 1-10: 9

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