Just a Perfect Day on Maui

I love Hawaii. There's never a doubt about that, but today was a perfect day in Hawaii for me.

This morning I went on the Pineapple Gold Tour at Kapalua which was so informative and so much fun. We learned all about the history of pineapple here on Maui and how the Maui Pineapple Company has decided to consolidate their focus on growing just the Maui Gold Pineapple. We even got to pick our own perfect pineapple right from the field. It was great fun!

I then checked into the Napili Kai Beach Resort which is one of those few special places on Maui that has a very special sense of place. It is filled with the history and culture of Hawaii. Unlike many of the big resorts, it is so very personal from the moment you check in, to your dealings with the staff, to dinner at the wonderful Sea House Restaurant.

I was able to check in early and I decided to just spend the day at the resort relaxing. I took a nap for a couple of hours on my beachfront lanai and then walked just a few yards over to the Monday afternoon Putting Party at their 18 hole putting course.

Despite some tough competition, my partner, Gordon, a psycologist from Vancouver, and I scored a 3-over-par score to make it to a sudden death putt off for the grand prize. My partner didn't let me down as he sunk his shot for a hole-in-one on the toughest hole on the course! Our prize was two free drinks each at the bar at the Sea Horse Restaurant. I wasn't about to pass that up!

It was so neat to learn that Gordon's niece currently lives in Hawi on the Big Island and works at Dolphin Quest at the Hilton Waikoloa Resort. I kinda remember that she was our dolphin experience guide last September.

I soon headed over to the Sea House Restaurant and decided to have my dinner at the bar since I was just a party of one. I ordered the special prime rib dinner at just $24 - a real bargain.

Soon I was joined by a delightful couple from Zurich, Switzerland - Sara and Andy. We spent the next two hours in delightful conversation. My mother-in-law is from Zurich so we had something in common. We capped off the night with a toast with three B-52's (not sure what was in them, but they were great.)

Sara and Andy are on a six week vacation through the USA which has taken then from Philadelphia to Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, San Francisco and now here to Maui. In a few days they'll be headed to the Big Island before heading back home. Don't all of us from the mainland wish we had six weeks vacation!

By 9:30 p.m. I was back in my beach front hale and writing this brief blog entry. I could not have asked for a better day. For me, Hawaii is all about people. I met some great folks today at one of the really delightful and truly Hawaiian resorts on Maui, the Napili Kai Beach Resort.