Sunday, May 12, 2024

May 11th - Travel Home Day

 Not much to say other than a 5:00 a.m. wake up, finish packing, shower, head out the door by 5:30 to get gas and then drop the Turo; ride to the airport and the usual check in for 5 hour flight (tailwinds) to Vegas, quick layover and terminal walk and 2 plus hours back to KC.

Logan was good to watch Breck after picking him up in the morning before the Kennel closed.  Breck got an hour long hike and a half mile run before Logan headed to Mercy Stadium for the Sporting game.  We picked him up at 11:00 p.m. and were back home, unpacked and relaxed by 1:30 in the morning.

May 10th - Last Day - Maui

 Friday - out last day in Maui started with another sunrise turning into clouds and a rain storm.  As the day went the rain storms started showing up all over the island and Janie's phone kept giving us flood warning notices.

Later in the morning we did make it down to the pool for cloud covered sun and some last pool time.  Afterwards we cleaned up and started the 30 minute drive north past the airport to Momma's Fish House a famous restaurant that Drake and Sarah ate at their last visit and so many friends that have been to Maui recommended.

Mamma's Fish House has been around since the 70's and is located in a little cove with its own beach and cottages for rent.  Open air restaurant setting with a significant staff that provided a wonderful experience.  The food was just awesome and our views hard to beat.  A great late lunch dining experience that we recommend as well.  Best food of the trip and we hope to come back for a night time meal to experience the evening view and Tiki Torches.















After lunch we drove the coast west to Lahaina and then to Ka'anapali to see the resorts and such.  The Lahaina area was pretty much blocked off completely, so hard to see all the fire damage, but for sure what did burn down was complete.

Memorial along the road - many signs around the entire island as memorials or keep your chin up with "Lahaina Strong" graffiti and signs.

Then back to the room and heavy rain where we spent the evening packing and relaxing.









May 9th - Maui - Wedding Day

Another morning watching the sun come up and hanging out, then a pool visit by the beach and lunch at the Beach Front Restaurant.








Back to the room for wedding cleanup and about a 1/2 hour drive up the west side of the island towards Lahaina to the Olowalu Plantation the wedding venue.  What a beautiful place to get married, which we confirmed is where Patrick Mahomes married Brittany.  A wonderful outdoor dinner followed by DJ music and reception.

Jeff Parks - Groom and his dad Tom

Cambria - Bride had cufflinks with a picture of his mom made for Jeff to wear.  He also had a picture of his mom who passed recently inside his jacket that got everyone emotional who knows the family.



Sunset picture time

Another selfie for the books

All our plate settings had our names





Bride and Groom had a high chair for their 1 year old daughter Madison



Janie had DD duty and made the night time trek along the windy coast road to the room.  A late night for us on this trip getting back after 11:00 p.m.

Friday, May 10, 2024

May 8th - Maui

Today started with mostly blue skies and time on the balcony to watch the sunrise.  Walked the resort to find where things were located.  Across the road is a third pool and restaurant with the beach access.

Beach area - tide out you can walk the beach, in just this area

View from 3rd pool


The day moved slowly with a late lunch, wandering some shops, driving to some condos friends of Janie owns and a stop at Safeway for room supplies.  We ate at ..... very close to dinner location last night and shared seafood pasta bowl.  It was really good and filling.  Like many beaches a lot of shops to wander around.

When we got back we headed to the pool with drinks and snack.  There are couches with pillows and TVs along one pool, so we hung out to watch the sunset.  Pretty laid back kind of day.

Jeff's Phone Pic

Janie's Phone Pic





Wednesday, May 8, 2024

May 7th - last day in Kauai - Next up Maui

Being the last day in Kauai, we were able to get a noon check out and spent the a.m. packing, breakfast run for donut and hanging out by the pool before our last few hours on the island.

Then we headed north a bit to the Coconut Mall to walk some stores.  Janie bought a pinky peal ring for herself and then we headed to find a food truck.  We knew some were at the same beach mall where we picked up our car, so headed there.




After a lunch of Kalua Pork w/ cabbage and Hawaiian BBQ we crossed Lihue to get gas and back tot he lot.  We dropped the Turo and grabbed an Uber to the airport for an on time SWA departure to Maui.

After getting luggage we reversed the process with an Uber ride to the Turo lot and grabbed our car.  Turo is now more organized with groups that consolidate close to the airport a lot of cars with an attendant or drop box.  Just cut out all the overhead and the cars are more used so to speak.  So far so good on all our Turo rentals that past several trips.

We met with Janie's customers from OR who are attending the wedding for dinner at the Ohana Seafood Bar and Grill.  Right across from the beach with live music.  Food was good and Janie enjoyed catching p with customer friends.


After dinner a short drive up the coast to the Hilton Grand Vacations hotel to check in and get settled.  A much newer and nicer room overall than Kauai Hilton Garden which was lets say more rustic.




Tuesday, May 7, 2024

May 6th - Kayak and Hiking Adventure

Its a Monday morning bright and early for a 6:45 a.m. departure to our Kayak and Hiking adventure.  Fortunately for us the drive to the meeting point was only 5 minutes total.  We met our guide Helm who was a barefooted ball of energy.  We drove just a half mile to the Marina and loaded up our dry sack and kayak to start the adventure.  No photos on the way to the falls as the phones were in the dry sack.  A 2 mile kayak ride with some stops to regroup along the way.  Then we beached the kayaks and started the hike, which soon had a river crossing, still a bit swollen from the May 12th flood.  The entire area we hiked saw the river rise 12 ft and throughout the hike you could tell with fallen trees and matted grasses.

After the river crossing we trekked along the river pathway both muddy, rocky, and with walking planks a good share of the way.  Then an uphill climb to the falls.  There we dropped our dry sack and headed into the water for pictures.  Yes, we walked / swam to the water fall and were able to stand underneath.  Not really much room to stand fully behind, so a beating we took.



Yes, we walked across to the falls and climbed in behind.

Back to the rocky shore for our lunch and picture time before heading back to the Kayaks.  The first river crossing we took deeper slow moving water, this time we walked waist deep fast moving water.  Back to the kayaks to start the down river into a head wind paddle.  This part was actually harder to paddle as the winds on the island are no joke.

Impressed by the walkway being on steel supports and wide enough to be very stable.

Wet Kane shoes the entire walk with a lot of water crossings.

Debris all along the river banks

First man made water fall from the days of the locals using the area as a fertility camp

Hiking up was easier than getting down from the falls

We met a couple from FL about our age and helped with picture taking and hiking

Another group crossing where we will
The group heading into the flow

We made it across relatively easily

Second half of of first crossing was chest deep behind those rocks.

Vines with pretty flowers all over the place

After we got back to the room we relaxed a bit and headed to the beach.  It was getting more cloudy and after about an hour the rain came.  Jeff took a stroll and got pictures of all the debris that washed down the river into the ocean and then back on the shore.  The primarily wood pieces and logs were as far as you could see in either direction.  Some were massive trees.

They created a swimming area with lava rocks, that the waves crashed over, but lots of wood chucks everywhere.

The entire beach covered





In the distance the bridge over the river outlet into the ocean where all the debris washed down and we kayaked up to the falls


Like always everyday it rains.  You quickly learn to just enjoy the little bit of dampness, but the winds can make it very chilly.  We walked up to the Tiki Bar for a couple hours of drinks, phone searches of Maui activities and ended up splitting another hamburger and fries.  The pineapple jam on the cheese burgers with bacon just yummy.  The fries were hot and awesome once again.

Back to the room, where to Jeff's surprise at 4:30 p.m. his nap turned into a full on sleep until 9:30 p.m.  Since writing the blog soon after waking, the going to sleep and rise and shine part of the story will be interesting tomorrow.



May 11th - Travel Home Day

 Not much to say other than a 5:00 a.m. wake up, finish packing, shower, head out the door by 5:30 to get gas and then drop the Turo; ride t...