We thoroughly enjoyed a combined families dinner at the Outlaws (Daughter-in-laws folks) last night at the 4,000ft level up Mt Haleakala. It was definitely chilly when we left for home at 8.30pm.
Our host arrives home tomorrow, and we leave Maui on Wednesday night for the mainland. We are ready to go 'home' to the boat, and get on with our daily lives.
We have done so little in the past two weeks and it has been VERY good for us.
A few of the highlights: Spending time with the 'kids' and 'kidlets' and observing our 13/14 month old Grandson as he explores his world. He is a very thoughtful and easy going little boy, always trying something new with whatever he has at hand. He is a pleasure to be around, and his verbal skills are amazing...he talks non-stop!
Serendipitous meetings with people from my past life, here on Maui, between 1985 and 2005, and some wonderful memories of those same people, and sharing time with them. We have all aged, of course, but it doesn't matter! We are still alive!
We have enormously enjoyed the garden of our host. Though the garden is filled with many 'static' plants, they are softened by the giant Australian Tree ferns, and the Towering, purple flower bearing Jacarandas, among others. I'm going to share some photos with you.
The first ones are from our trip up Mt Haleakala (House of the Sun).
The Nene (nay nay) goose is a native Hawaiian goose, which is now endangered. People still feed them which is naughty, as they need to learn to forage for themselves and not eat people food, such as bread and cookies!
The lovely Mamane (ma marn aye) which is a first cousin to the Kowhai (Ko fye) in New Zealand.
The Native Hawaiian Sandlewood. It was so good to see so many of them.
Our hosts garden is delightful, and filled with all kinds of different Orchids, Bromeliads, Tilandsias (same family) and any number of other hardy plants.
Lady slipper orchids with the morning sun behind them.
The seeds of the Cycad, one of the most ancient of palms, are gorgeous!
The new fronds of the Australian Tree Fern, ready to hatch in their own little nest.
Bromeliad flowers are stunning in their variety. This one in particular!
I love the contrast of these silver Tilandsias against the black of the volcanic cinders they are planted in l
More Bromeliad flowers with seeds
And the whole garden smells like Lemon blossoms, right now.
We made a trip to Bill and Sally Worcester's Glass workshop in Kula, Maui, to see their latest stunning glass creations.
The glass on these orbs are sand blasted to give the glass a transparency, so the pale blue areas that you see here, are now see-through. Put a light inside, and they are stunning!
See what I mean about the light inside?
Of course their son Michael grew up with glass in his veins, and this vase below is one of his creations.
After taking a good amount of time out to view these, and have a chat with Bill, who loves to visit NZ, we took off for Makawao to visit the store they originally started, and then sold to two of their protégé.
We went on to the kids after all that gadding about and spent a couple of hours at their place. I played with the youngster, and his sister was doing her homework...or supposed to be!
Our lovely Granddaughter...soon to be 10. She is a Taurean the same as me:)
Our still blue-eyed grandson with the ball that he loves to play with. His ball handling skills, at 14 months, are amazing...and I'm not just saying that. He can throw AND receive!
My son has always been a gun nut, so it wasn't surprising to find that the kitty is called....wait for it...
Baretta! Aieee!!!...but she is a cute kitty and very loving. She and boy have lots of fun.
Waz has a definite way with both kids and animals....he is best buddy of both, here:)
On the previous Sunday, we all met at Thompson Road, for a walk/run/ride. Was didn't feel very well at all, on the return journey, and we left to come home for him to have a sleep. it is a three mile round trip, which we have done a few times this visit. It is cooler than down country and the scenery is stunning on a clear day.
Sometimes you just cant win...and this Jackson's Chameleon didn't make it across the road. I remember this being a common sight, when I lived here. They are rather gorgeous creatures!
These plants are weeds, but they are pretty weeds.
Another 'weed' is the Australian Wattle....it is everywhere, and I remember clearing a whole field full of it when I was developing my Kula property, way back when.
The south shore view of Maui, from Thompson Road. Pasture on the down side and above the road as well. It is rather shocking to find that many of the pastures are covered in a nasty vine, which tells me that they aren't grazing cattle there any more. Sad!
Loquat blossoms. I used to have a large Loquat tree in my yard, at the 3,500ft elevation. It was often a dessert for the family....they were so sweet, and the juice would dribble down our chins...delightful memories!
Wild yellow Passionfruit, which is something of a pest now. the flowers are still lovely, but I wish there weren't so many of them!
Thompson Road, with its Hawaiian lava rock walls to contain the stock.
Another morning we took ourselves down to Kihei and Wailea. We bought a sushi lunch from Foodland in Kihei and made our way to one of my favorite beach parks, Kamaole 3. (karma oh lay). Was started on the sushi while I had to take a photo of it. It was a perfect day and the water was the most glorious color.
We always purchase paper towels and wipe/tissues, wherever we visit. They come in really handy everywhere.
I like alternative energy sources, but these really are a blot on the lovely West Maui Mountains.
Looking out into the wide Pacific Ocean from the beach park.
Another day we went on an ART trail, visiting all my favorite places.
This lovely bright hibiscus is called Hula Girl. It was a favorite of my late ex-Father in law's. It is a favorite of mine too! I love the clarity of the yellow with the red throat.
Hui No'eau quickly became my second home, when I first went to Maui to live. It is an Arts Center, and I took classes in Traditional Hawaiian Lauhala weaving with master Susan Kilmer, Water color classes with the celebrated Pamela Hayes, and Fine woodworking with Hawaiian lumber, with Craftsman-to-the-stars, Bill Robertson. I did the latter for two years. My youngest son learned Fine jewelry making there with J.B Rea. Over 20 years there, I was a board member and actively involved in all aspects of the full arts calendar, during that time. The architect was Charles William Dickey, celebrated throughout Hawaii. It was a former Baldwin home, before being bequeathed. http://huinoeau.com/about/who-we-are/
In the grounds there, are so many red Ti plants. Their berries are bright red to the blood red/green of the leaves
There is also a rock wall covered with this lovely Pot of Gold Vine. I have always loved these golden flowers with their maroon stripes. These are larger than two hands put together side by side.
Another day, when it was threatening to rain again, we took the road less travelled to Ulupalakua (oo loo parla koo ah), around the south side of the Mountain. In this photo you can see the last cinder cone at the bottom of the last lava flow, just over 200 years ago. Mt Haleakala is a DORMANT volcano! To the right is the sunken volcano of Molokini. Behind it is the large Island of Kahoolawe (car ho o lar vay) , on which there is no natural water source, and so, despite some attempts to use it for ranching et al, it remains one of the drier places on this earth.
We visited the Winery, but didn't take to the Pineapple wine at all.
Back home! it is raining!
Pardee Erdman, owner of the ranch and his other investors, have now started Maui Gold Pineapple company, to keep Maui supplied with the prickly fruits.
Though the Jade Vine is native to the Phillipines, it is well known in the Islands as a favorite Lei flower.
I will leave you here, and continue later tonight. Plenty more to go!
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