Soothing sights and smells await you in Upcountry Maui

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As you drive up the Kula Highway (37) into Maui’s Upcountry area, many serene surprises await you from the rural lifestyle to the sweeping views of the coastline to the quiet that you just can’t get closer to the coast. What you’d also get is a tucked away little secret oasis that many people pass without even knowing it. This little piece of eden is called Ali’i Kula Lavender and if you turn left onto 377 from 37 and turn right onto Waipoli Rd, you too can experience this amazing “scentual” spot! One of the last things you expect to smell in Hawaii is lavender. As you’re driving Waipoli Road the scent of the lavender mixes with the scent of the wood in the area making an intoxicating smell that you are tempted to pull off the side of the road and breathe in. As you pull into the gardens, you see that it is the most relaxing place you can find. Perched on the lower portion of what becomes Haleakala, it overlooks all of central Maui and the West Maui Mountains.

A small store with a cheery staff awaits you as you meander in. You soon realize you could easily go broke with all of the wonderful products that are in Ali’i Kula Lavender. The one product I can’t live without is the Lavender Organic Body Butter Creme. It is absolutely luxurious and a little goes a long way so the $17 price tag is worth it. I also have the shampoo and conditioner and the bath salts. The shampoo washes clean and makes your hair squeaky. The condition is a little too heavy for all of my hair so I use it on the ends to keep them healthy. The bath salts are great for getting rid of that dead skin on your legs, feet and elbows. They can get gummy if you leave them by or in the shower so I would suggest storing them in your vanity until you need them. I am anxious to try a lot more of their products too. They even have culinary items for the adventurous!

Not only are the products a source of relaxation as you browse and take in the smells but the surrounding gardens are a sight to see as well. From tightly closed proteas to hydrangeas to wildflowers and of course lavender, there’s a feast for the eyes. Its quite possibly one of the nicest surprises we’ve stumbled upon in our multi-island treks over the past 12 years. There are afternoon teas, tours, workshops and people are even married there if you’re looking for unique, structured experiences. Can’t get to Maui anytime soon? You can shop online and get these great smelling goodies delivered right to your door! We hope you make this beautiful botanical delight a part of your trip to Maui! You’ll be glad you did!

Ali’i Kula Lavender
1100 Waipoli Road
Kula, Maui Hawai’i 96790
phone 808-878-3004
Website: http://www.aliikulalavender.com/default.aspx

Kudos and frustration

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The Kalalau Trail is an 11 mile trail that traverses the north shore of Kauai. Many day hikers will hike in the first four miles to Hanakapi’ai Valley waterfall as this is as far as you can go without a permit. Over the years, the trail has gone into serious disrepair including spots where it was virtually impassable. I was pleased to see this article in The Garden Island newspaper about how local Bill Summers was affected by a family hiking on the trail ahead of him that literally had to collect themselves after getting across a tight section of the trail. Summers, tired of waiting for the DLNR to do anything about it began hiking out to the trail with minimal tools and buckets and began widening/defining the trail on his own to make it safer for hikers. The more he hiked, the more he saw other areas in disrepair.

Here’s where the frustration comes in…IF the DLNR catches anyone making improvements on the trail, they will be cited!! Yeah. Well I know that the goverment is riddled with red tape and the money to complete the first two miles is being released in the beginning of next year but its pretty sad when you have people wanting to improve this natural wonder and your idea is to cite them for doing so! Now they did say they want to work with him because of the job he’s doing and I’m assuming they’re not making trolling the trail a top priority but the thought of citing people is ludacris.

With tourism being a main source of revenue for the islands, you would think that places like the Kalalau Trail and the Pu’u O Kila lookout at the Kalalau Valley, both of which are heavily advertised to potential visitors would be a main priority for funding. Yet both are in major states of disrepair. What is wrong with this picture??

So to the Bill Summers’ out there, the people who don’t wait for someone else to do it… a big mahalo to you. Let’s hope your acts of aloha make the government take notice in a GOOD way and restore the access to these natural places of beauty for all to enjoy for years to come! (Pictures below courtesy of Kalalautrail.com)

Halloween Chills, Thrills and Gills at Maui Ocean Center

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If you’re going to be on Maui from the 24th to the 31st then you want to check out the Maui Ocean Center! Keiki oriented activities including exhibits and even a sleepover! Make this Halloween a special one for the whole family!

For more information on all of the activities offered, click here.

Monk Seal Watch and Training

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October 11 and 20

Are you interested in supporting monk seal conservation? If so, join NOAA and the Division of Aquatic Resources for the 2nd Semi-Annual Hawaiian Monk Seal Count. Training for the count will be held at Maui Ocean Center on October 11 and the count will be held statewide on Saturday, October 20! On April 28, an astonishing 41 seals were counted statewide!

Monk Seal Watch Training:
Date: Thursday, October 11
Time: 6:00-7:00pm
Admission: Free
Contact: (808) 292-2372 or mauimonksealwatch@yahoo.com

Haleakala Bike tours suspended indefinitely!

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If your upcoming trip to Maui included a 38 mile bike ride from the summit of Haleakala, you may want to call your tour company if your reservation is from October 10 and on. After the 3rd death in a 12 month period last week where an Ohio woman crossed the yellow line and died when she collided with a van, the National Park Service decided to suspend all tours. They are evaluating whether or not it is safe to ever have them operate again. Tour operators are of course not happy and hoping this will be temporary as many would go out of business since its their main or only source of revenue. My father in law did the Maui Downhill when they went to Maui and he LOVED it. Even up until a few days before he passed from multiple myeloma, he talked about how much he loved that bike ride. I also worked with a person whose aunt died in the late 90’s on that downhill trek. You can hear the best of the best and worst of the worst when it comes to activities you’re thinking of doing on your vacation. Remember that when you are booking activities where a waiver may be required saying no legal action may be taken if you are hurt or die that they’re there for a reason. Make sure you’re willing to face the potential consequences for the thrill no matter what the statistics show.

Stay tuned on this situation and our condolences go out to the family of the Ohio woman.

Maui County Fair starts today!

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If you live on or are visiting Maui this weekend, make sure you stop by the Maui County Fair in Wailuku which starts today. There are rides, arts and crafts, tons of ono food and lots of great entertainment! If you stop by tonight you can see Da Braddahs, Willie K and Augie T. Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for keiki 5-11. Children 4 and under are free!

For more information on where to park, the entertainment schedule for the whole weekend, etc. then go to the Maui County Fair website.

What could be better than fair food in paradise?

Plan a trip for Halloween in Paradise

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Not a fan of the chilly fall nights and looking for a tropical getaway? Whether you’re on a neighbor island, mainland or anywhere in the world you can turn Halloween into an excuse to get away to Lahaina, Maui for their Halloween on Front St. event. This *may* be your last year to take advantage of this event as there has been controversy surrounding the party atmosphere this party is known for. The following description is courtesy of VisitLahaina.com:

Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Halloween in Lahaina
The Legend of Halloween, celebrated since 1990, is more than just a night on the town in costume! Over 20,000 revelers come to Front Street on Halloween night, which is closed to vehicle traffic from 3:30 to 11:30pm. Annual children’s costume parade down Front Street at 4:30 kicks-off the evening. Other features include Halloween-themed crafts and activities, and food & beverage booths under the Banyan Tree which raise funds for nonprofits. Live music is performed on two stages while revelers dance in the street. LahainaTown presents the Maui Tacos Halloween Costume Contest in Banyan Tree Park, beginning at 7pm. Restaurants and shopping centers offer costume contests throughout the evening. Free admission.

If you want to take a quick gander at the flights/prices available, you can search below.

Travelocity’s Low Fare Alert searches thousands of flights for fares that can save you 20%* or more on your trip.

Kepaniwai Park’s Heritage Gardens

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Everyone is always in such a hurry to get to the ‘Iao Valley Park that they usually miss a hidden treasure on the way. Kepaniwai Park’s Heritage Gardens is located in the greenery laden ’Iao Valley on Maui. Established in 1952, Kepaniwai Park’s Heritage Gardens was built as a way to showcase Maui’s diverse cultural heritage with various props such as native gardens and structures representing the Hawaiian, Korean, Portuguese, Japanese, Filipino and Caucasian cultures.

In 1994 a group of volunteers restored the gardens to its original beauty and it is still maintained to this day. There was a lot of damage to the structures that needed to be fixed and a ton of overgrowth but the community pulled together and made a real difference for this park. The business donations and value of donated labor for the project was estimated to be about $600,000. President Clinton even awarded the group with a certificate for people working together. To get a true idea of the restoration that took place from then to now, go to this website.

Whether you’re looking for a spot to get out and stretch your legs, picnic in a peaceful spot or learn a little about the cultures that make up Hawaii’s diverse background, then this is the spot on Maui to do it. The ‘Iao Stream runs beside the park and is the water source for the constructed waterfalls in the park. It makes for a soothing background when you’re BBQing or walking the grounds. Need more incentive? It’s free! How many things are free these days?

Located just before the end of the road on the left on Iao Valley Road (Highway 32)

Open your heart to Hawaii’s homeless animals

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When my husband and I went on our honeymoon in 1996, one of the stops we made on Kauai was to the Kauai Humane Society. It was in an old rickety building by Salt Pond Park but it had character and sadly was full of sweet furry faces. We have a dog, Aisha, that we were missing terribly and needed our “fur fix” while we were away from her. We took pictures of many of the dogs in there from excited adult dogs to pooped sleeping pups and they’re some of the best memories from our honeymoon. Of course we always remember the reluctant ones. The ones who were obviously abused and afraid of people…afraid to trust. We made a modest contribution of $25 on our way out since we couldn’t afford much being newlyweds but for our donation we got a keychain and magnet…both of which are in use to this day. We decided then that we would always visit a humane society no matter what island we ended up on.

Since then, we have visited every humane society on every island and have taken pictures and video of a lot of animals. People sometimes ask me why I take pictures of the animals in there because some look so sad and it seems depressing. For me, it’s a way to remember them and remember the hope I had for all of them as I walked from cage to cage. Each dog had a reaction whether it was an excited wag of the tail and feverishly licking your fingers to cowering in the corner and not sure if they wanted to approach you or not. Many would look at the picture of this sweetie and think of how sad she looks. I remember it was right after I said “whose a good girl? Are you a good baby?” and she thumped her tail on the ground and put her ears back for me to scratch behind them as if saying “yes lady…I AM a good girl…and I just want a home.” It breaks my heart because I can’t scoop them all up in my arms and take them to some big farm where they can all run free without the threat of their time running out. A place where they know they are loved even if they don’t have all of the attention. I’d give anything to be able to do that.

There are a lot of Pit bulls, Rotties and oddly enough Airedales in the islands. What always cracks me up is how you’ll get a little dog in and they’ll guess and say it’s a “chihuahua mix.” Many of these dogs look NOTHING like chihuahuas no matter how cross bred they were! *laughing* Hawaii’s pit bulls have some of the most aloha spirit of any dogs I’ve seen there. Take for instance this sweetie, her name is Darlin’. Darlin’ wanted nothing more than attention, to give kisses and scratches behind the ear. Any time I’d try to walk away she’d howl in protest until I came back to give her the love she so desperately wanted. I’d like to think Darlin’ is now getting regular belly rubs and smooches from the owner smart enough to adopt this bundle of fur. We now set aside a few hundred dollars specifically to donate to the humane societies each year to give back for all of the joy their temporary residents have given us over the years.

If you think you need to live in Hawaii to adopt one of these beautiful babies, you don’t. All you need is a love for animals, an adoption fee and a carrier to get them home in and you’ve got the perfect Hawaii souvenir that keeps giving aloha everyday. People do it all the time. Even celebs such as Mike Myers and Lisa Marie Presley have adopted animals from the Humane Societies on vacation. (Lisa Marie actually has Myspace pages for her 2 cats, Splotch and Finious!)

If you’d like to check out the local humane societies, see the links below:

Maui Humane Society

Hawaii Island Humane Society

Kauai Humane Society

Oahu Humane Society

Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden

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I plan people’s Hawaii itineraries for a living and it amazes me how many people do not want to go to a botanical garden. I’m sure there are people who live there who haven’t been to one either. Most people think going to a botanical garden is boring or has the stigma of being “snooty.” Of the 7 million visitors that go to the islands every year, very few have ever step foot in a formal garden setting. People who visit come from very different climates and should be willing to be exposed to the beautiful and unique flora of Hawaii and it certainly has a lot to offer!

I admit, when my old boss told me I had to go to the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden while on the Big Island, I smiled politely and thought “I’m not going there.” But as we were heading into Hilo from Akaka Falls, we decided to go for it and am I glad we did! Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden (HTBG) is tucked away on what the guidebooks call the “four mile scenic drive” or old Mamalahoa Highway 8 1/2 miles north of Hilo on Onomea Bay. This garden really is unique and beautiful because it was hand cleared and built with love. Dan J. Lutkenhouse and his wife Pauline discovered the 17 acre patch of land in 1977 while on vacation. They bought it, sold their business in San Francisco and moved to the Big Island to hand cultivate and clear this beautiful site, established it as a non-profit so that the land would never be developed. He hand picked the sites for all of the beautiful flowers, fruit trees and stumbled upon the amazing waterfall pictured above.

They do tell you in the beginning that the very steep ramp that goes down into the valley to the trails may not be for everyone depending on their physical fitness. That being said, the hubby and I aren’t of the supermodel physique and made it down and more importantly back up just fine. They have little benches along the way so you can rest if you’d like and honestly the benches are in relaxing little nooks that invite you to sit and just take it all in. But for us, the treasures inside were worth the trip up and down the 500 foot or so ramp. If you think you may need golf cart assistance up and down the ramp, you can pay $5. The photo ops there are so bountiful you could get a new, beautiful view from every step. From things like fruit trees with monstrous hanging jackfruit that look like spiked beehives to these tiny little dwarf pineapples, you realize just how much the islands offer for food. If you’re from the mainland, you’ll see fruits you definitely won’t see in your “big box” grocery stores. You can seek out Asian markets and you may be able to come across some fruits like rambutans, durian, jackfruit and more.

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