HONEYMOON!

Sunrise at Haleakala

You can watch the sun rise at the peak of Haleakala Volcano in Maui. You have to leave the hotel by around 4am in order to catch it. Alarm set for 3:30am. We wake up. We waffle for 20 minutes. We finally get up at 3:50am, and leave by 4 just barely in time to catch the sunrise. No regrets - it was so nice!

Haleakala Crater at sunrise. Extremely cold, so I only took this one photo while waiting. Too busy shivering. Very windy!
Haleakala Crater at sunrise. Extremely cold, so I only took this one photo while waiting. Too busy shivering. Very windy!
The sun rising... so nice!
The sun rising... so nice!
Sun has risen. But we are still fre-e-e-ezing!
Sun has risen. But we are still fre-e-e-ezing!
After the sunrise, went to the little town of Pa'ia for breakfast, which is a little hippe town near the bottom of the volcano. A French resto called Cafe des Amis. Crepes!
After the sunrise, went to the little town of Pa'ia for breakfast, which is a little hippe town near the bottom of the volcano. A French resto called Cafe des Amis. Crepes!
At the top of the volcano, a parks worker gave a small talk about the volcano and lava flow on the island. He mentioned the youngest lava flow was on the East part of the island. Went to see this, and hang out for the afternoon at Peruse Bay.
At the top of the volcano, a parks worker gave a small talk about the volcano and lava flow on the island. He mentioned the youngest lava flow was on the East part of the island. Went to see this, and hang out for the afternoon at Peruse Bay.
Fortunately, the front desk of our hotel gave us this umbrella to use at the beach at no charge. Unfortunately, it was broken. hahahaha.
Fortunately, the front desk of our hotel gave us this umbrella to use at the beach at no charge. Unfortunately, it was broken. hahahaha.

Old Lahaina Luau

Going to a luau seems to be one of those quintessential things to do in Hawaii. The Old Lahaina Luau is reputed to be the best one on the island. So we called for reservations. They said they were full up until after we were gone, but we could go on a waiting list. So wait list we did. They called back the next day to say they had room for any day of the week. Weird. Anyway, the Luau was good. They are famous for their banana bread, which was amaaaazing! Thanks Linda and Paul! (who purchased this for us on the Honeymoon Registry)

A pic with the Old Lahaina Luau sign. Tourist classic!
A pic with the Old Lahaina Luau sign. Tourist classic!
Attempting a self-pic at the table where we were seated (tables of 8).
Attempting a self-pic at the table where we were seated (tables of 8).
The rest of our table was a family from Texas who had come up for a wedding. They offered to take a pic for us, after seeing our struggles. Much better.
The rest of our table was a family from Texas who had come up for a wedding. They offered to take a pic for us, after seeing our struggles. Much better.
The roasted pig is prepared in the ground. It is extracted just prior to the buffet opening.
The roasted pig is prepared in the ground. It is extracted just prior to the buffet opening.
Love these plates with the leaf pic on them. Feels like I'm actually eating from a leaf. So primal!
Love these plates with the leaf pic on them. Feels like I'm actually eating from a leaf. So primal!
Hm, you can't see it very well, but this was the dancing and chanting entertainment portion of the evening.
Hm, you can't see it very well, but this was the dancing and chanting entertainment portion of the evening.
As the night progressed, warm drinks were served. I ordered a hot chocolate, and received some hot water and this packet! COOOOL!
As the night progressed, warm drinks were served. I ordered a hot chocolate, and received some hot water and this packet! COOOOL!
After the luau ended, we went to the only bookstore on the island, (save one Christian bookstore in Kihei), a small Barnes and Noble. Andy insisted on continuing to wear his lei, for the duration of the night.
After the luau ended, we went to the only bookstore on the island, (save one Christian bookstore in Kihei), a small Barnes and Noble. Andy insisted on continuing to wear his lei, for the duration of the night.
I wanted to get this doodle book to draw pictures at the beach, but instead, settled on a Rachel Ray magazine.
I wanted to get this doodle book to draw pictures at the beach, but instead, settled on a Rachel Ray magazine.

Malasadas

Malasadas are portuguese donuts. They can readily be found in Hawaii, but not so much in Vancouver. Malasadas were first introduced to me by my cousin Janey, who recommended Leonard’s bakery on Oahu. Since we were in Hawaii, I had to get another fix. They are yummy!

Malasadas at Home Maid Cafe
Malasadas at Home Maid Cafe
Here are the malasadas, fresh and warm.
Here are the malasadas, fresh and warm.
Here are the malasadas, fresh and warm.
Here are the malasadas, fresh and warm.

Kahului Bay

I spent a lot of time on Yelp this trip, studying up on the tastiest restaurants on Maui. Baguette Bistro was Andy’s find, a French bistro which ironically has two locations - Burnaby (on Hastings Street) and Maui. They are known for their French Toast. It was so-o-o good! Now, we have to visit the on in Burnaby. After breakfast, off to yet another beach near the centre of the island, Kahului Bay.

Malasadas at Home Maid Cafe
Malasadas at Home Maid Cafe
Self-pic.
Self-pic.
Our little patch of beach. We ditched the broken umbrella and sat in the shade.
Our little patch of beach. We ditched the broken umbrella and sat in the shade.
Ahhh... uncluttered.
Ahhh... uncluttered.
Check out our Mazda 2. It was like driving an old man. Wheezing and sputtering and making inappropriate jokes. It had no power at all. But great on gas! Thanks for the pimpin' ride, Evan and Melisa! :D
Check out our Mazda 2. It was like driving an old man. Wheezing and sputtering and making inappropriate jokes. It had no power at all. But great on gas! Thanks for the pimpin' ride, Evan and Melisa! :D
Dinner at Sansei Japanese restaurant, on Denise D'angelo's recommendation. It was real tasty, but that same meal in Vancouver would have been literally 1/4 the price, One thing I love about Van: cheap sushi!
Dinner at Sansei Japanese restaurant, on Denise D'angelo's recommendation. It was real tasty, but that same meal in Vancouver would have been literally 1/4 the price, One thing I love about Van: cheap sushi!

Kihei Beach

Our average day in Maui involved waking up real late, eating lunch (like I said, realll late) and then heading to the beach. On day one, before we fell into our lazy-bum schedule, we actually managed to make it out for breakfast.

I can't even remember the name of this place. Its cinnamon buns had good yelp reviews, but they were medium-gross.
I can't even remember the name of this place. Its cinnamon buns had good yelp reviews, but they were medium-gross.
The beaches are a lot less crowded in Maui than in Oahu.
The beaches are a lot less crowded in Maui than in Oahu.
Jennifer's 'last fling' was to buy a [price redacted] Marc Jacobs bag. She felt compelled to bring it everywhere, but made sure to use protection.
Jennifer's 'last fling' was to buy a [price redacted] Marc Jacobs bag. She felt compelled to bring it everywhere, but made sure to use protection.
We both read a lot this trip. Jennifer managed to read all of Scott Pilgrim and I read most of Gene Wolfe's 'The Book of the New Sun'. If we can recommend only one of these, go with Scott Pilgrim; it has pictures!
We both read a lot this trip. Jennifer managed to read all of Scott Pilgrim and I read most of Gene Wolfe's 'The Book of the New Sun'. If we can recommend only one of these, go with Scott Pilgrim; it has pictures!
We'd occasionally fetch food-truck food to bring back to the beach. In this case: Delicious coconut shrimp Hawaiian plate lunch style (ie: with two scoops of white rice and one scoop of macaroni salad) from the Kinaole Grill Food Truck.
We'd occasionally fetch food-truck food to bring back to the beach. In this case: Delicious coconut shrimp Hawaiian plate lunch style (ie: with two scoops of white rice and one scoop of macaroni salad) from the Kinaole Grill Food Truck.
Eventually all of our reading and eating would cause the sun to go down.
Eventually all of our reading and eating would cause the sun to go down.
Ooooh that sweet Hawaiian sunset. Maybe this is just a normal sunset. We don't get to see them that often at home because, you know, jobs.
Ooooh that sweet Hawaiian sunset. Maybe this is just a normal sunset. We don't get to see them that often at home because, you know, jobs.
One night after sunset we went for dinner at 'Eskimo Candy Seafood Market'. The food was pretty good, but I'm pretty sure their name is racist.
One night after sunset we went for dinner at 'Eskimo Candy Seafood Market'. The food was pretty good, but I'm pretty sure their name is racist.
We only had Gelato after dinner once. That is because there is a reason you go for Shave Ice in Hawaii, not gelato. (That reason is the gelato is not very good!)
We only had Gelato after dinner once. That is because there is a reason you go for Shave Ice in Hawaii, not gelato. (That reason is the gelato is not very good!)

Last Day

We went to visit the main town of Lahaina on our last day. Had one last hawaiian meal, and then off to catch our flight. BYE!

The aforementioned shaved ice. Best on the island is Ululani's Shaved Ice.
The aforementioned shaved ice. Best on the island is Ululani's Shaved Ice.
The classic dish 'Aloha Mixed Plate' at the restaurant 'Aloha Mixed Plate.' 2 Chicken, beef, fish, 2 scoops of white rice, 1 scoop of 'tater salad.
The classic dish 'Aloha Mixed Plate' at the restaurant 'Aloha Mixed Plate.' 2 Chicken, beef, fish, 2 scoops of white rice, 1 scoop of 'tater salad.
The Lava Flow drink is a Hawaiian drink, including strawberries, bananas, pineapple, and coconut cream
The Lava Flow drink is a Hawaiian drink, including strawberries, bananas, pineapple, and coconut cream
Fish sanny with salad. Trying to be healthy here, guys.
Fish sanny with salad. Trying to be healthy here, guys.
Andy's favourite plane seats are in the Exit Row for the extra leg room. I always think it may accidentally open during the flight. It didn't. This time
Andy's favourite plane seats are in the Exit Row for the extra leg room. I always think it may accidentally open during the flight. It didn't. This time
We could see this decaying wharf from our seats at Aloha Mixed Plate. So, after lunch, we went to investigate.
We could see this decaying wharf from our seats at Aloha Mixed Plate. So, after lunch, we went to investigate.