Another Day in Paradise: And Then What Happened?

Sorry to leave you hanging for the past two weeks.

Two days after I wrote that last post I pulled a muscle doing a maneuver called the "breach and roll" to get in and out of an ocean kayak. It's used when you anchor out in the water instead of landing at a beach. You slip off the side of your kayak (easy), go snorkeling (fun) and, to get back into the kayak, you launch yourself up and over the vessel, pulling yourself onto the boat on your stomach and then rolling over so your rump lands in the seat. Yes, I can hear you laughing right now!

Well, I managed to get back into the boat but pulled a muscle in my side doing it. There was a second snorkel stop but I decided there was no way I was doing another breach and roll and said I'd just stay put in the boat and look for whales. Don't you know that Ben capsized the boat when he slipped out of it! And there I was again having to do that tricky maneuver, though this time I called the tour guide to come over and help us. This photo taken by the guide just before the end of the tour when we were going to land on the beach; that's why I'm smiling! Gotta love a good old beach landing.

Anyway, the muscle pull did put a bit of a damper on the next few days of our vacation. A whale watch raft trip we had signed up for was cancelled due to boat problems, which was an excellent turn of events as it meant I could sit on the lanai and watch for whales instead of being bumped up and down on the raft. Usually that's fun, but not with a pulled muscle. It was very relaxing in Wailea and we enjoyed two wonderful dinners before we left the land of resorts and golf courses.

At The Four Seasons in Wailea

At Ferramo's, The Four Seasons, Wailea

Then it was on to our last stop of this trip, the historic town of Lahaina. This was our third time in Lahaina and I liked it just as much as the first two visits. In the early 1800s it was the capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom, the base of whaling operations in the area, and the home of the early missionaries. An historical trail has been established to show the remaining historical sites and to teach visitors about all the interesting things that happened in Lahaina. I always enjoy walking this trail and just exploring.

We stayed in the beautiful Plantation Inn and spent a fair amount of time on R&R.

One day we made the fifteen minute drive up the coast to Ka'anapali, a beautiful stretch of ocean front resorts and condos. We walked the shore path there, checking out all the lodging possibilities, watching the snorkeling at Black Rock in front of the Sheraton property, having lunch by the water, and shopping at Whaler's Village.

Sheraton grounds

Snorkeling at Black Rock

Along the shore path we found this unusual sight; an abandoned sailboat sitting forlornly in the sand. Ben got a kick out of it and quipped, "Dad, I had a bit of trouble with the boat!"

I got a kick out of this funny sign in the restaurant bathroom. As you probably know, Hawaii is very concerned about the coronavirus, even to the point of prohibiting tourists from visiting for many months. Many restrictions are now lifted but masks are required in all indoor spaces and visitors must be vaccinated; if not, they must quarantine upon arrival in the islands.

Near the end of our trip we went on a five hour snorkel and whale watch cruise aboard the $3.2 million dollar catamaran, the Hula Girl. Talk about how the other half lives! That was a fantastic experience, complete with abundant cushions, gourmet food, an attentive crew, beautiful scenery and good snorkeling. Here's a few photos to give you an idea of the luxury this boat offered. (All but the last photo were taken from the Hula Girl web site.)