Aloha from Maui!!

9 days in Maui joining Eric and his family was a welcome break from the NW winter!

The snorkeling was quite good, including a few sea turtles, but I don't have any pictures unfortunately. I do have some pics of what I now consider my favorite Hawaiian pastime, boogie boarding!

13 years later, DT Flemming Beach park on the NW corner of Maui still provides the best waves in my opinion. I could spend hours there!

And occasionally some that were a little big. This is the "uh-oh, too far away to dive through it, too close to avoid it" shot, we affectionately referred the aftermath of this as getting "maytagged". As in....washing machine.
Eric's sister Karen also outfitted us with some sweet Hawaiian shirts, and along with my $20 ABC store Ukulele I almost felt I could fit in. The look was topped off with real handmade lei's by Eric's niece and nephew.
Local's Henry and Shermane were so hospitable....not only to us but to so many US and Canadian visitors. I'd love to have more time with them. Here was dinner and then a valley hike below.

Waihe'e Valley Hike (Good recommendation Jill...I just mentioned it to Henry and next thing I knew the guided trip was on!)

The shot that confirms I'm not local, but that I do know how to use sunblock!

Papaya (I think)

Alaskans Aaron and Travis invited us on an excursion up 10,000 feet and into the Haleakala crater. I imagine Mars might look a little like this, without the cool silversword plants.

A look down inside a cinder cone

It was pretty fun to have our vacation time coincide with Henry and his families! Got to enjoy a couple great meals with them and some snorkeling and boogie boarding!

Our fine dining fare at Mama's Fish House.

Much thanks to the Forner family for inviting me along. I highly recommend a Hawaiian trip someday if you can do it. And if you need a travel along babysitter, pet walker, shoe cleaner, or even poor tour guide. I'd love to send you my brief and somewhat falsified resume!

The end. Back to the rain :)