Last Day...Drive to the South End and then Homeward Bound

So....the choice was to check our luggage, keeping out pool and travel clothes and spend the last day at the pool (check out was 10 AM and our flight in the late evening) or check our luggage and drive to the Kihei/Wailalea area to have lunch at the new Marriott hotel and explore the other end of the island.  Since we had done so little sight-seeing on this trip, the drive won out.  The Bellmen at the Westin are among the best we have ever seen....they happily accommodated us, asked when we would return so that the luggage would be readily available and sent us on our way.

Surf was up today and our drive was a winding, hilly drive along the coast after we passed Lahaina (just 4 miles south of our hotel).  We enjoyed passing the beaches where the locals hang out - cars parked along long stretches of this main road and off road, lots of families picnicking on this lovely Sunday, surfers, paddle boarders, kids in the water.  Our GPS made us miss our OnStar at home...'She' apparently doesn't like Hawaii :)  But we found our way to the Marriott located in the upscale Wailalea area.  Very unassuming and cold looking lobby area but magnificent views from the pool grill where we had lunch.  The pools are on two levels with lovely vistas beyond including what we assume was the backside of Haleakala.

Marriott Upper Pool

View from terrace

Luxurious landscaping

Hotel entrance

Lunch was good and we had leftovers which we ate on the terrace of the Westin when we returned

We retrieved our luggage, said our good byes and off we went to Costco to fill up the tank at 30 cents less a gallon than at 

the local gas stations.  

Since we had plenty of time to spare, we parked in front of the Marriott Courtyard where we had stayed on our first 2 nights.  The desk clerk remembered us and said that OF COURSE we could hang out in the lobby (with TV and Starbucks available and plugs to charge our phones and iPad) until time to go to the airport.  Since it was a quiet Sunday afternoon, we essentially had a large private lounge to ourselves.  So much better than an open air airport with lots of people.  

Art enjoying the Marriott Courtyard lounge prior to boarding

We said good-bye to the hotel staff and thanked them for their hospitality, then off we went to check in for our flights home

Saturday, May 18th, Lazy Day

Wow, have we become lazy on this trip.  Almost sorry that we rented a car since we haven't used it much due to the wonderful free Starwood shuttle.  Marriott might be in trouble if we become Starwood fans!  We had leftover  Starbucks coffee cake for breakfast - getting to be a habit. Then we dropped our towels, drinks and books off by the pool (a habit that we frown on, but the only way to get a spot in the shade on our return). then walked north past Duke's

to see what developments are like in that direction. We saw gorgeous high priced condos with full wall accordion-type glass balcony doors and large balconies, lots of room between resorts, and a beginning of expansion of Starwood properties ( it is on hold since economy tanked and staff didn't know when building might resume).  The new Starwood property is in a beautiful, quiet location and will certainly be on the shuttle run to the busier restaurant/shopping area of Whaler's Village and to Lahaina.


More pool time, reading and conversation...a definite pattern to this trip which has provided a very strong sense of relaxation.  The picked up lunch at the onsite market and at the pool. When the weather station predicted clouds gathered we moved to the pool closest to our room and soon after the rain began.

Pool at north tower Westin Ocean Resort Villas

View to the ocean as the clouds begin to roll in

We found a place under an umbrella and chatted with a couple from Murrell's Inlet, SC for awhile.  They were heading to Kauai after this week so we filled them in on the changes we saw when we were there a few years ago.








 Despite our attempt to ignore the time, we realized that the time  had come to start packing to go home.  But, first, we stopped at the Concierge desk to make dinner reservations at the Tropica restaurant at the Westin Hotel.  Unfortunately, when we got to our room, we realized that Art's phone had decided that it didn't want to leave so stayed behind at the pool or ???  He went looking for it and while he was gone security called to say that it had been turned in, whew!  They asked for additional i.d. info and delivered it to the room in short order.

The rest of the afternoon consisted of organizing stuff, laundry - oh how I love taking home clean clothes and unpacking directly into drawers and losers rather than the washer!  Off to an early dinner with an ocean front view.

Waterfall off of the lobby

Flamingos in pond off of the Westin lobby

We enjoyed the beautiful lobby as we walked through to get to the beachside restaurant.  We were given our choice of tables since we were so early and except for a brief light shower, it was another beautiful sunset evening.  We ordered from their 3 course special dinner and, although the food was beautifully presented, neither of us thought the food was good.  Our shrimp, mushroom and pasta dish was very average and dessert (white chocolate bread pudding with ice cream) did not even warrant a picture.  Bummer for our last night.  We'll just have to dream of memories of our wonderful Anniversary dinner at Mama's Fish House :)

Beet and Goat Cheese/Macadamia nut salad

We walked back to the shuttle stop for the last time and returned to our room.

Then the saga began.... I went to the computer in the lobby to print our boarding passes and found that they had booked us appropriately on the flight from Maui to LAX, but.....  Art was flying home through Detroit and I was flying home through Minneapolis!  So began a series of conversations with Delta Airlines.  After several hours of phone calls and waiting to see if they would accommodate our request to fly together, a wonderful Delta Agent was able to accomplish the task and we were both going to MPLS as orginally planned.  And so to bed.

Friday, May 17, 2013

Got up early to a beautiful day, clear Carolina blue sky, and light breeze.  The perfect morning for a long walk to Starbucks to use our $20 credit from our Marriott visit the other day.  Of we went to the Beach Walk via several resorts, along the golf course and down to Whaler's Village, then along the beach to Starbucks.  Surf is up today and lots of surfers in the water.

We got our iced coffee which was welcome after a long, warm walk, some lemon and chocolate cinnamon pound cake and found a table outside in the shade.  The birds were begging at all the tables.  I had the last bite of my favorite lemon pound cake in my hand, about to eat it when a sparrow grabbed it right our of my hand.  Lots of reaction from the folks sitting near us :)

English sparrows considered pests in Hawaii AND they are

Hawaiian Red-Crested Cardinal

The parasails were out well above the speedboats pulling them.  Just a delightful morning to be out and about.

After breakfast we headed back to Whalers for more window shopping, got the next shuttle and headed back for some pool time.  Lovely afternoon with sandwiches ( made by my personal chef) at the pool, smoothies, and conversations with the very nice people vacationing here.  Really enjoyed watching the scuba instructor teaching young children how to snuba in the pool (with 10 foot tubing attached to a tank).  Wish we could be here when he takes them and their Dad out off of the beach next week. 

Back to the room to change for dinner...walked along the beach in the opposite direction tonight to Duke's Beach House restaurant.  No...it is not named after that dark blue university...but rather for Duke Kahanamoku, the  famous Hawaiian surfer!  We ate outdoors at the bar sharing picture taking with a family from San Francisco on their first trip to Maui.  They plan to do Atlanta, Savannah, and Charleston next year, so we, once again, shared contact info so we can offer suggestions for their trip. One of the best things about travel is the new friends that we make!

We had a light supper and then shared Hula Pie for dessert!

Of course, no day can end without a beautiful sunset.  This on from in front of Duke's

Thursday, May 16 - snorkeling/ pool day

Coming down to the last few days so we are getting lazier and just wanting to soak up the sun, snorkel and relax.  Plans were to go to Lanai today but awoke to high surf and wind warnings and strong currents --- not a good forecast for someone my age with bad knees or for a ferry ride of 45 minutes.  So we will hope that it will be better tomorrow. Darn...will have to enjoy pool time and try to finish the disturbing book that I am reading.

Looked out our window to check on the weather ( in my nightgown) to discover a man high in the tree in front of the window cutting branches off of the tree.  Hope he got his thrill for the day :)  - not likely!

Once again we met a delightful couple ( she is a nurse in a supervisory position in home health and he is a retired dentist).  We really enjoyed our time with them, exchanged contact info, and left when the rain chased us away.  We had lunch in our room, relaxed, read (working hard every day) and then decided to go to Longboard's at the Marriott for dinner.  Took the shuttle to the Westin hotel...another beautiful property, enjoyed the magnificent lobby, waterfall, birds, tropical fish tank and then walked to the Marriott about 5 minutes away.  Beautiful location overlooking the beach, good entertainment, excellent service and very good food. Art had the Seafood over Angel hair pasta medley and I had Pineapple Macademia nut Chicken.  Thought we'd stop at Starbuck's for dessert but it was pouring down rain and Starbuck's was closed :( we had brought our rain jackets with us, fortunately, so, reasonably dry, we headed for the shuttle stop and returned to our home base.  Hard to believe that we are almost at the end of our Hawaiian vacation. 

Wednesday, Lahaina

Lazy morning, then off to Lahaina via shuttle for sight-seeing, shopping and lunch.  Forty minutes ( but only 4 1/2 miles from the Villas to Lahaina with 3 stops along the way.  We walked along Front street which, as you might imagine, runs parallel to the ocean and is lined with shops and restaurants but with several beautiful area along the water ( photo ops and trade wind breezes on a sunny day).  Celebrity's  Infinity was anchored in the harbor on its repositioning cruise from Australia to Vancouver, so we stopped to chat with fellow cruise fans along the way.

                                     Infinity

    The brick foundation of Kamehameha I 's house

     Lahaina's famous Banyan tree

After spending $$$ at Honolulu Cookie Company for gifts to take home ( highly recommended by our friends, Carole and Don) and after a confirming taste test, we headed for lunch at Kimo's.

          

  Ocean view from lunch table

           

                Sign on door as we left :)

No picture...but we did stop for dessert at Lappert's on the way to the shuttle....a main stay when in Hawaii!  It was great to get into the air conditioned shuttle for the ride home and Nap time! 

Then to the pool at the North Tower where there is an adult pool.  Chatted with a couple from LA who are here with family and friends celebrating their son's 40th birthday and discovered that they like cruising and have been on the cruise that we are doing this summer.  Good info re: ports from them and exchanged contact info.  Then we were off for dinner and a relaxing evening with sunset views from our room.

Tuesday, May 14, 2013. Snorkel Day!

Beautiful day from morning til night!

We spent the morning snorkeling and relaxing near the pool.  So far we have met 3 couples from Charlotte!  Beginning to feel like a convention!

Snorkeling was good right in front of the pool area...lots of rocks and shells in the water and hard to find a smooth path in due to the wave action....but we did it.  It was easier getting in than getting out for someone with bad knees.  So nice to have a clear day today that made for good visibility.  The fish were accommodating and swam right into view so no need to battle the waves.  Did not see any turtles although lots of folks did.  Maybe tomorrow.  Had lunch in our room and caught up  on my pictures and blog.

One of the best things about staying at the Westin Ocean Villas is the free shuttle that runs from 10 in the AM until late evening about every 20 minutes and stops at all of the Westin/Sheraton facilities as well as a few other places.  There are several routes - one goes to Lahaina (about 45 minutes away) where there are lots of shops, restaurants, some quaint old buildings and lots of excursion boats.  Later in the week, we hope to take the ferry to Lanai (one of the islands that we have yet to visit).  Tomorrow we may take the Lahaina shuttle into town since parking is expensive and difficult to find.  We'll check on the ferry schedule and, hopefully, it will coordinate well with the shuttle schedule so that we can plan a day for later in the week.

Tonight was a casual dinner at the Dive Bar at the Sheraton after watching the Torch lighting ceremony ending in the Torch lighter's dive off of Black Rock.

N

A really nice way to end the day!

Monday - Explore the Westin, Hope for sun and pool

Awoke to another cloudy, drizzly day with hopes of clearing later in the day. Got a call from the marketing manager about yesterday's problems. She was very contrite and helpful AND posted a $50 credit to our account.  Chalk up one for the Westin.

After breakfast we decided to go to the adult pool on the north section of the resort for some relaxation without screaming kids.  Our pool towel cards were only good for one thin beach towel per card (had 2 nice ones at the Marriott).  The north section which is newer is really much nicer than the south.  Gorgeous landscaping, fewer people, and quiet.  But...the cloud persisted and the drizzle was not conducive to enhancing our tans.  Plan #2 - get back into our walking routine and walk down to Whaler's Village and then to the new Marriott timeshare (it was a hotel when we last visited 15 years ago).  There is a Beach Walk path (supposedly along the beach).  However, it was only along the beach for a short way then around several resorts to the Sheraton and on to Whaler's.  Actually fun to see the other properties and the weather cleared when we got to the village.  Since it was getting warm, we had to stop for Hagen Daz ice cream.  Then chatted with the guy at the Marriott timeshare kiosk who arranged for us to see one of the new villas AND a $20 Starbucks gift card.  No sales pitch!!  So on we went to the preview center just a few more minutes walk.  What fun...lovely new villas and the salesman who toured us, coincidentally, is the son of the man who runs the new kennel (Pet Paradise) at the Charlotte airport.  He offered us a comped week for Missy if we want to try the kennel.  At this point, we were hot and tired and looked forward to the free shuttle back to our resort (wonderful amenity by the Westin).  We wandered through a group of tents selling 'stuff' set up along the Beach Walk - didn't buy anything :)  to the shuttle stop and back home in a few minutes.

We decided to use our $50 credit as a down payment towards dinner at the elegant Italian restaurant and made reservations when we got back to our room.  It was a good decision.  The setting was sublime, food excellent, service so-so.  Our 3 course meals were the perfect end to a nice day.  We walked back to our building along the beach and decided that we'd wait to see the weather before planning for tomorrow.