An exciting week in Maui with colleagues from around the globe. One day I went to Lahaina to see the largest banyan tree and pay homage to Mic Fleetwood. Spent some time relaxing by the pool.
All in all, Maui is pretty but from the east coast I’d rather travel to Europe. Only saw two people in the ocean the entire week: An abundance of coral and the steep drop from the beach to the ocean makes for unpleasant entry. Waves were very rough due to a hurricane in the distance and an earthquake in Japan.
The locals were friendly but many seemed anxious to get off the island. One graduated USC and hated that she had to return to Hawaii to attend a graduation. Another had a lifelong dream of visiting Maine. (Yes Maine.) But on the contrary, one guy working the information booth in Lahaina was from Saugus – he’s been living in Maui for 24 years since he couldn’t take Boston winters any longer.
Perception is not reality.
I expected things to be expensive and the coffee to be really good. I was right about the expensive part, but every cup of coffee tasted weak. A small cup of coffee at the hotel cost $6.25. I didn’t bother to check out the latte prices at the Marriott Starbucks a short walk away.
Being a tropical island, I also expected to have some really good fruit, or at least good pineapple. Again it was disappointing. I had fresh pineapple at the Ritz, the Hyatt and a restaurant at a golf course in the southern part of the island, and I can get better pineapple from the Whole Foods in Cambridge.
Saw hula dancers perform, buff guys blowing conch shells, beautiful sunsets, palm trees swaying in the breeze and received two fresh leis with beautiful orchids — all of your typical tourist perks. But all in all, Maui is not a place that I am dying to return to. Even with the 60 degree weather back home.
Here’s some pics from the latest adventure. Until next time, mahalo.