Jules Travels

            I've been to Hawaii before, 18 years earlier with my dad's side of the family back in 2007. We stayed in Waikiki, Oahu for one week but my aunt got sick, and the family didn't want to leave her. We stayed at the hotel and surrounding areas until the very last day when my dad finally agreed to venture out.  We went to this beautiful, picturesque beach on the northwest side of the island and had an amazing time body surfing and laying out on the beach. It was the highlight of the trip besides the luau that was fun too. This trip with my wife Tania was nothing like that. It was GO, GO, GO, sightseeing until we drop. 

             My mom works for a branch of FEMA called SBA (Small Business Administration) working on loans for those who are affected by a natural disaster. She was staying at the Sheraton in Lahaina, Maui because of the fires that devastated the area August 8th. My mom, (Gloria) has been wanting to visit my family for a long time now but hardly has the chance to because she's always off on assignment in another state. She offered to pay for the majority of the expense if we came out there to visit and we didn't have to think about it at all. Tania and I jumped at the opportunity.

              We immediately began making arrangements. We have a 20-month-old baby girl named Mia Luna who we had to think about. We have a routine set in place for our baby girl that we don't like to stray from, and we don't like entrusting her to others if we don't have to, so we were determined to bring her along. Tania's aunt Nery insisted that we leave Mia Luna with her so that we could enjoy a nice romantic time getaway not having to worry about tending to the baby all the time. We never had a chance to go on our honeymoon either because we got married in the thick of COVID19 and couldn't travel so with all things considered we decided at the last minute, the day before, to leave her in Nery's capable hands. 

               

 

 

 

 

 

           

 

 

 

Tania didn't have a chance to finish packing her bags, so we were up until 12am working on that like some last-minute Joe's and only got 3 hours of sleep. We wanted to arrive 2 hours early, so we had ample time to check in because our flight was at 7:30am so we woke up at 3am got ready and were out the door by 4 and arrived at Park SFO to leave our car. We had a little mix up and parked at SFO parking which was different then Park SFO who I had arranged to leave my car at, and we didn't know. Good thing we had time to spare. We didn't have any more trouble and went through checking in our bags and through security smoothly. We boarded Hawaiian Airlines for the 5-hour flight to Maui's Kahului Airport and arrived at 9:30am. We picked up our Jeep Wrangler with Enterprise and drove to the Sheraton in Lahaina. We were feeling kind of whupt from the long flight and little sleep but we tough'd it out and carried on.

                 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We met with my mom, and she welcomed us with a Kukui nut lei. We spoke briefly and she promised to take us out for dinner first thing after she got off work. After unloading our bags at the hotel and taking in the breathtaking view from the balcony we hightailed it out of there and onto Bamboo Forest a place that my brother Gabe had recommended that we had to see. We made our way there, the drive was about an hour,  we parked and hiked up the rest of the way. We saw an ocean of Bamboo beneath us as we walked up. We were unsure about the entrance so I asked a couple who were there chillaxing on their truck bed if we were at the right place, and they assured us that we were and that we wouldn't be disappointed. We made our way through the lush greenery of tall bamboo so thick that it blocked out the light. Finally, we made it to the opening and to the first waterfall. 

                 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We ventured up passed that first waterfall and discovered another beautiful waterfall this one bigger than the last and after closely inspecting the drop I decided I had to cliff jump this one. I mustered up the courage and finally jumped after debating whether it was really worth it. My wife Tania was right there watching so I couldn't show her I was afraid, so I jumped. It was a thrill unlike no other, so I tried it again before making our way to the next waterfall. The trail up the next waterfall wasn't safe at all. We had to climb a rickety old ladder that wasn't very stable and then at the top we had to grab onto a rope and repel up the jagged rocks to the top. Tania left me behind in her dust and never looked back or thought to help me and I struggled on the very top dangling trying to find footing screaming out her name for her to come help but she was long gone so I somehow managed to get up there by sheer will but not without a scraped and bruised shin that I wasn't happy about.

               

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

             It was then that I realized that I was navigating these treacherous rocks with none other than Lara Croft Tomb Raider herself. She was like a she goat on those rocks, I was really impressed with Tania. But atlas she had met her match on our way to the next waterfall because she would now have to swim across deep water and make her way up a rock that had crawfish on them waiting to creep and crawl on her. She made it but there was another pool of deep water that she didn't want to pass, and she mentioned that it was getting late, so she was safe by the bell on that one and we began to head back to the car and return to the hotel to get ready for dinner. We never got to see the last most epic of waterfalls called the three bears at the end of bamboo forest, but we will next time. That's a promise.  

                 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Sheraton hotel was very accommodating they provided room service every day without having to ask them and the body wash there was great. My mom picked us up and we went to the Ritz Carlton Kapalua to have dinner at the Alaloa Lounge. We sat enjoying the live music and ordered a thing of Korean Glazed Chicken Wings that were spectacular and a thing of Salt & Vinegar Crispy Calamari that was equally as good. Then I continued to indulge myself with a Smash Wagyu Burger with American Cheese and Caramelized Onion and Dijonnaise on a Brioche Bun with Fries. I was happy as a clam and thoroughly satisfied. It was nice hearing from my mom too she always has so many things to tell me and stories for days. After a terribly exhausting day Tania and I were about ready to collapse back at the room, but my mom took us around the Sheraton showing us the gym and the beach and the premises. When I got back to the room, I went through mom's Maui guidebook that she had seeing if there was anything noteworthy that would make the cut of things that we had to see before having to leave.

               

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next day we woke with the sunrise and basked in the beautiful breath-taking view. My mom didn't have to work until 1pm that day so she wanted to take us to check things out in town. We drove over to get some coffee then went to the ABC store and grabbed some sandals. Tania picked out a nice flower dress for the luau. I also picked up a Spam Musubi with eggs and sausage breakfast that was really delicious. My mom wanted to show us another gem at the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua in the Honokahua Preservation Site and the Labyrinth at Dragon's Teeth. We waited for the perfect wave to spend spray flying everywhere for a great picture at Dragon's Teeth.

               

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My mom wanted to take us snorkeling, so we went to D.T. Fleming Beach Park and checked out the souvenir shop and found a few things to bring home to family. We then made our way down to the beach and I attempted to snorkel, but the waves were too strong there so instead I body surfed. I called out to Tania to come join me but she got scared of the force and height of the waves and so she stayed at shore and took pics and videos of me. From there we headed over to the hotel where her friend Suzy was staying at called the Kaanapali Beach Club at the Hilton. We relaxed there for a bit taking in the epic scenery of the great expanse of ocean. Then we went snorkeling at the beach and saw some incredible marine life. My mom had to get going so she dropped us off at the hotel and we got ready to head on out to see Iao Valley State Monument in Wailuku.

               

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was mandatory that we make a reservation if we wanted to see Iao Valley State Monument, but the process was really simple, and I was able to make it right before leaving 45 mins in advance. When we pulled up in the Jeep it started to rain, and we didn't have an umbrella, but we didn't mind the rain. Coming here was definitely a highlight of the trip because there was a sort of energy about this place that was tangible and staring out into these massive landscapes was almost transcending as if this was truly a place of the Gods. We meandered up the steps and then through the trail to the river and the waterholes and we couldn't help ourselves we stripped down and jumped in. The water was amazing it was so refreshing I really wish we had had more time to enjoy it but we were on a time crunch because we had to get over to the luau in Kihei. We stopped to take photos with the petroglyph called Rainbow Man that was etched into the rock adding to the magic of the place. 

                 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

             We didn't want to be late to the luau, so we hopped back into the Jeep and took off south through the heart of the island into Kihei. We got there too early and were told to come back in an hour, so we walked along Kenolio Beach holding hands whispering sweet nothings into each other's ear, Tania looked absolutely stunning in her flower dress and flower in her hair. We had VIP passes so we got to go in first and were greeted and welcomed with a Kukui Nut Lei and serve ourselves grub, we were starving. We had the best seat in the house right up front. The food at the Luau was exquisite, we had Mahi Mahi and Kalua pig with Haupia. I was eating good. The dancers were amazing. Each performance better than the last and when it was time for volunteers Tania got up there and learned how to shake it like a hula dancer. Lastly the fire dancer wowed us with his fearless pyrotechnics and all you could hear were the crowds "oohs and ahhs" as he performed impossible feats. 

               

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We got home and told mom all about Iao Valley State Park and the luau and then crashed hard we were exhausted from the exertion of a fun filled day. The next day we woke up and went for a nice long walk along the beach. My mom didn't have to work this day, so she was going to be blessing us with her presence. It was looking like it was going to be another gorgeous day. We got home and changed into our nicest clothes because we were going to be attending church service at the Kingdom Hall for Jehovah's Witnesses. That particular day they were holding a special talk given by the Branch Committee to address the victims of the Lahaina fire and the community affected by it and give hope and confidence back into the attendees and I was so glad I got to hear that because it was encouraging.

               

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From there we drove out to Paia and walked around town checking out the hobby shops, art galleries and souvenir shops. I got myself some beaded bracelets and a shirt. Tania found something to give to her aunty Nery for helping with the baby. We then made our way to Twin Falls down Hana Hwy in Hamakualoa - Honopou. We got there paid for parking and hiked up to the first waterfall where there was a bit too many people for me to stay and linger so we continued up the hill passed the other waterfall until we got to the most epic waterfalls I've even seen. We dived in and swam over to where the water was falling and felt the pressure on top our heads, it was like a dream. I kissed Tania sweetly under the waterfall. My mom had been telling me about this other waterfall she stumbled upon while driving Hana Hwy a few weeks before and that we had to go and check it out before it got any later in the day and that there was a rope swing which got my attention and so we didn't want to leave but curiosity got the better of us. 

                 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We drove and drove down Hana Hwy and my mom stopped a few times thinking she had the correct location but after taking a look realized it wasn't the same spot so we drove some more. I was seriously beginning to think she had dreamed the place or something because she didn't seem to remember where it was very well, but we kept driving further and finally sure enough there it was. It was the perfect secret spot located in Haiku - East Makaiwa. I really wish we could have stayed at this waterfall/waterhole longer because it was really something incredible, a hidden gem. I made my way to the rope swing and swung myself off the cliffs edge and got some serious speed that propelled me high up in the air and I came crashing down falling on my back but I was alright. I went to the top and tried out the other swing. It was definitely scary and I had to give myself a little pep talk to step up and attempt this. The rope at the top of the waterfall was short and so I wasn't absolutely sure I could get enough swing to launch myself out passed the rocks but there was no time for trepidation, I had to be decisive and get it done so I stepped back a few paces, as far back as the rope would allow holding it firmly in my left hand and then ran and jumped up and swung myself as far out as I could go and let go as soon as I was at the pinnacle. I had a great time and I would have liked to do it again but we already had to go if we wanted to have dinner and see the sea turtles before it got too dark. 

               

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On our way back up Hana Hwy we stopped at a nice wood fired oven pizza joint called The Magic Oven Hawaii and Jaws Country Store. We ordered the Hawaiian pizza and a pepperoni and sausage pizza too. We also got an empanada that was really delicious. The restaurant owners We went back up Hana Hwy to Ho'okipa Beach Park where there were about 30 or so sea turtles on the beach and many more were making their way from the water to the sand. The sun was setting, and Tania and I shared a moment together watching the sun set amongst giant sea turtles and my mom. We went back to the hotel and packed our things because the next morning we would have to return the Jeep and catch our flight. Our trip was so fast and furious. We jammed packed so many things in that short amount of time that we didn't really get a chance to relax. We wanted to see everything Maui had to offer but for that we would need months. We really took in the Aloha spirit and listened to the local 93.1 radio station HI 93 that broadcasts Hawaiian and Reggae music. Our theme song for our trip was "Every Night Every Morning" by Maoli.

               That chronicles our Maui trip. We want to try and go out there every year because it's absolutely beautiful. Thanks for reading. Please feel free to leave a comment below about any questions you have about my trip or what your thoughts are about it. Thank you.

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