It’s funny on how you can read a guidebook, talk to others and still not really know whether an attraction is going to turn out well. That’s how I felt when we (me, the kids and the Gs) hopped in the car to go to Maui Plantation. I can totally see how it is not for everyone. Our visit was helped along by 2 things: an open air market (flea market) that is on the grounds Sunday and Monday and the fact that we like botanical stuff. Best that Mike didn’t go 🙂

So after breakfast at the Gazebo (this time we got there at 7 a.m. and were in the first seating – out the door by 8 a.m.), we headed off to the other side of the island (toward the airport). The first stop was the Plantation and walking through the flea market. The kids found out their Hawaiian names: Max = Mea Nui (the greatest) and Mara = Hokui Ke Kai (star of the sea) and Max and I got necklaces. We then boarded a tram for a quick ride around the grounds seeing the tree that gives us the flavoring for Juicy fruit gum along the way.

We also saw an outline of the hills we were getting ready to visit. If you look closely, you will see King Kamehameha laying down in his final resting place (start at the left – move to the middle hill which is his forehead down through his chin with the far right hill being his chest and stomach).

After that, we were off to the ‘Iao Valley. It is gorgeous and is definitely be on our list for a longer hike with Mike. It is still amazing to us how much the scenery can change so quickly from looking at the seaside to these lush mountains and streams. You’d think I’d be used to it by now…

Aloha!
Jennifer