Maui, Baby!

We've mentioned before that we prioritize travel over other big ticket expenses, and so about every other year we've managed to take the kids on a big trip (like Disneyworld and our RV trek around California).  This time, we saved up to fly to Maui, where we co-vacationed with our family from North Carolina - Brandon's brother Ryan and Ryan's wife Heather, and their two beautiful boys, Jack and Bradley.  It was wonderful to visit Maui, but even more so for us all to be together, and to see the five kids all playing with each other for the first time (though certainly not the last).

As for the vacation itself, we enjoyed seemingly every activity possible, from submarining to parasailing, horseback riding to ziplining, an outrageously cheesy luau (think bad Vegas lounge act with brief moments of excellent traditional Hawaiian culture) and of course, plenty of beach time.  We stayed in Kihei, a small town of resorts and condos that somehow still has a genuine community feeling to it (unlike the scorched earth mentality of Kaanapali).  The beach across the road from our resort was great for playing and snorkeling, but a short drive south took us to nearby Makena State Park, which was simply breathtaking.

We hiked through Iao Valley, watched bad kids' movies and ate fantastic ramen in Kahului, bought armloads of fresh fruit (papaya, dragon fruit, apple bananas and pineapples), visited the Maui Ocean Center, a mini golf park, even a goat farm and dairy.  Every once in a while one of the mango trees at the resort would also drop some delicious treats for us.  We spent time at not one, but two arcades, and Brandon can now say with pride that Malcolm has a healthy appreciation of old school video games.  We drove just about everywhere except to Hana and Haleakala; the upcountry towns of Makawao and Paia were especially cool.  In fact, there wasn't much we didn't do, except have a bad time.  It was two weeks of pure fun and relaxation, and as nice as it was to be back home, it wasn't easy leaving.

Now we get to start planning for 2015.  It'll be the kids' first international experience.  Airfare from Alaska is roughly the same to either Asia or Europe.  Let the daydreaming begin!

Oh, and with the insurance settlement from getting rear-ended, Brandon managed to find another car...

♥