Maui - Our Second Port Day

We arrived Kahului, Maui at 8:00 a.m. for a stay of about 12 hours, Everyone always loves Maui but most people think of Lahaina, the main port and capital city. It was, of course, you may remember, devastated in the wildfires beginning August 8, 2023. These fires destroyed 2,200 buildings and caused damage in excess of $5.5 billion dollars. Yes, that is US dollars because Hawaii is our 50th state.

 

On our included tour we drove through Lahaina on the return from our tour and could see cleared land, the beginnings of new housing which may be way larger than those that were destroyed. Offices and shops downtown are in temporary buildings as is most housing. Temporary shelters are in Church parking lots and on lawns. Vast seaside lands are only staked out as lots and the land itself is being rebuilt. 

A fact that is most interesting to me is that the 'hand of God' reached down and played His cards in those days. None of the many churches, temples, synagogues or buildings of any faith were destroyed in the Maui fire! They did, indeed, become places of physical and spiritual refuge as well.

Again we enjoyed our included tour. First we went over the newly built road to bypass the city looking down on the devastation. We arrived at the Kaanapali Resort. Here were all high end hotels, a fancy shopping center and the Whaling Village and Museum. Most people shopped or checked out hotel lobbies of the Shereton or Westin and others. Some went up to the third floor whaling displays of jawbones and boats. Carol and I walked through the shopping area to the beach and walked along to the end to the strip.

 

We cut through the Sheraton lounge and gorgeous pool area. If I were staying there I might never even want to go down to the beach at all!

 Part of the pleasure of included tours is that we are not out of pocket for our excursion. Our first stop was at the Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary. The mosaic shows the sanctuary boundaries, which encompasses 582,570 square miles of Pacific Ocean waters in Hawai’i.

Mosaic of the map below.
 

Image: NOAA

We went on through the countryside above Lahaina and though a small, I mean tiny old town,looking very 1950ish. We turned off the main road and drove up and up and deeper into the lush green mountains...then down a narrow, winding road past tiny, almost ramshackle houses that we were told cost a minimum of a very cool million dollars each!

We were in the Io Valley. The Io Valley is important in Hawaiian, therefore U S history. A bitter battle was fought here. Kamehameha lost the battle and after three days returned to Hawaii and had to wait until after the death of Kahekili II to finally unite Maui with the Big island and become King of a united Hawaii.

Here are some views of the Io Valley. You can see how difficult a battle here must have been. Lots of high spots from which to attack but lots of crevices and hiding places as well. The beautiful stream is from natural rainwater runoff. There are no springs and, of course, no melting snow.

The famous Io Needle and abundant flowing stream.

 

 

After we left the Io Valley we drove back to the ship through the little town on the sea and did drive through Lahaina which was as I described it in the beginning because I knew that is what would have been of interest to you.

Back on board I had time to both use the bike in the gym and to swim for a while before I enjoyed Afternoon Tea. Viking does a wonderful tea service every afternoon with warm scones, ship made Devon Cream and ship made jam. A classic triple tray with two plates of petite sandwiches and a plate of wonderful cookies and cakes. I always love Macarons and anything with cream!

After dinner our entertainment for the evening in the Star Theater was the wonderful, classic, and very appropriate 1958 movie starring Mitzi Gaynor and Rossano Brazzi - South Pacific! Perfect ending to a great day!