When  I tell people I have never been to  Hawaii, I’d always get really surprised responses like, “You’re kidding, you’ve been so many places.  I can’t believe you haven’t been there.”

Nope.  Hawaii hasn’t been a pin on the map of visited destinations until last May when some long time friends invited us to join them on Maui—their “go-to” spot for ultimate rest, relaxation, easy adventure and nothing but “wow” scenery.

It lived up to its reputation.  Gorgeous place.  Really gorgeous.

I was a bit surprised, however,  with the crowds.  When I did some pre travel reading, all the guide books talked about how undeveloped Maui is so I was taken back with the traffic back ups and large accumulations of massive hotels.  Makes me wonder what the other islands are like.

Snorkeling on Maui

The snorkeling was one of my favorite activities.  We stayed right near one of the best snorkeling beaches so no need to book a boat or make a big deal.  Just don the googles and flippers and paddle out for a look around.

Early in the week we visited the Aquatic Center and learned about the many kinds of  creatures typical of the area, making it really fun to see them swimming around us when we went snorkeling.

Here are some photos from the Aquatic Center.

Hawaiian Music and Hula Dancing

I also really enjoyed the music and hula dancing. The hula was originally a means of worship but later became a forum for story telling with chants and hand and body movement.

Going to a luau is a pretty touristy thing to do, but I wanted to see that hip swiveling story telling dance the islands are famous for.  It is fascinating and not so surprising that the missionaries who came to convert the heathens on the islands found it distasteful.

Fortunately the Hula survived their disapproval and became a proud part of the Hawaiian tradition.

Here are some images from the Luau we attended.  I loved seeing the staff  lining up for a pre-evening pep talk.  The young man teaching some children to do the Hula was especially captivating.

The Spirit of Maui is something I’ll remember.  Light hearted.  Laughing.  Fun.  I think this weather stone and the sign describing how it works best expresses the culture.

Have you been to Maui?  If so,  please add your favorite experiences in the comment section.  Thank you.