Maui

With the sunrise in our back and with a clear view up to Mauna Kea in the back we left Big Island Hawaii at 6.30am this morning heading to Maui. The morning was so clear that we already saw Maui's 10.000ft volcano Haleakala when we left, guiding us the way through the windy passage. And yes, the wind did funnel between the islands. Maximum was about 37knots. So problem since we were sailing downwind.

It's been 7 years since I spent 2 awesome weeks vacation here touring the island and it is a total different approach arriving in a sailboat. From the water perspective it's just another beautiful island, but with two high volcano mountains and, like all Hawaiian islands, is not cruiser friendly. There is hardly a place to anchor or go in a little harbour. The harbours with their few spaces are full, the managers and harbours don't answer the phone. We got a mooring just off of Lahaina which belongs to Lahaina Yacht Club but it's unbearably rolly. So if that does not change until tomorrow we're off again right away, without ever seeing anything here other than the Yacht Club to pay for our night at the mooring. But where to go to? Lana'i has the same situation and Molokai has two unprotected bays and one little harbour but you can't get anywhere because there is hardly anyone living there. By mid January we want to be in Honolulu to make sure we find a place for Alita before I leave. It's not easy. No one takes reservations, you just have to show up and pray.
Ah, yes, and if you want a rental car you need to go to the airport- which takes 1,5hrs by bus. Also we're missing protecting reefs and good snorkel places at anchorage. But, you can find some places out there. However according to our information it's nothing like what we've seen in the South Pacific. And it's expensive here. But we knew all that before, you just don't want to believe it.
So, that's Hawaii from a cruiser's perspective. All of this is limiting the island experience but it does not take away the beauty of nature of these islands. It's already beautiful to just see it from the water, like the amazing sunset today. And hey, I've seen everything on Maui already :-)


What I love is that some sealife is here. My friends. In Hawaii we saw spinner dolphins perform a couple of times and here in Maui there are a bunch of humpback whales playing and splashing. Yes, it's whale season. Again. I just love these guys. And after all it was here, in Maui, it was the first time ever that I saw a whale breach (jump) and actually took a picture of it. 7 years ago.

Ok, here are: sunrise this morning with Mauna Kea in the center background

One of the bigger waves today who wanted to see what's inside the cockpit

My little monkey friend that my Stepmom gave me 7 yrs ago as a travel companion to Maui- so now he has trevelled with me for 7 years and actually came back here today. His battery is still working, so he still makes his monkey noise...

Haleakala

Molokini (left) and the second part of Maui (don't know the name, but in that mountain there is a beautiful green valley - see next picture)

Sunset over Lana'i from out mooring position