Traveling Thursday: Going to Hana Maui

We're heading outer island today...

Remember my friend I wrote about last week, the cool friend who can sing and dance...

Well, she lives in Hana Maui and I asked her to share the wonderful place that she is lucky enough to call home. She says it would take two or three posts, so she will be back for another Traveling Thursday sometime soon.


The captions under the photos are my friend's...

Shore break at Hamoa beach with my son and his cousin.

Historic first Hokule'a canoe arriving in Hana Bay to honor the passing of Samuel Kalalau, one of it's original members from the 70's.

Sunrise through the vog from my lanai.

Alau Island from the Loko (fish pond) of Hane'o'o. The largest in Maui. Fish ponds like these were used throughout the islands to trap, raise, and harvest fish for the village.

Tsunami of 1946 generated from the Aleutian Island earthquake wiped out my husband grandmother's home, taking the lives of Tutu (great grandmother), 3 siblings of my mother in-law, and an uncle. Seven other lives were lost in Hana and scores more on the Island of Hawai'i from this devasting tidal wave.

It's back to me, Pseudo here. I have to chime in and say that this last photo is the location of my friend's wedding. I was a bridesmaid and it was one of the most beautiful weddings ever.

If you go to Maui, not only should you experience the Hana Highway and Hana town; my tip is to stay up there for a few days. Rent a house or stay at the Hana Hotel. It is the most beautiful place in the islands, if you ask me.

Leaving you with a video of an aerial view of Hamoa Beach.

Link up your post to take us virtual traveling this Thursday, just use Mr. Linky.

Travel Tip Thursday: Take time for Your (Girl) Friends

My girlfriends and I have a tradition that started on Labor Day Weekend 2006. We rent a beach house on the North Shore and spend the whole weekend together. We call it Laborless Labor day weekend.

To explain how it got started, I’m borrowing an excerpt from a keynote talk I gave for a cancer event called “Courage Night.”

On Labor Day weekend (2006) I was about halfway through my radiation treatments when my friends planned a ladies only weekend retreat at a beach house on the North Shore. “D” told me we had been talking about doing this for too many years and my bout with breast cancer was a wake-up call that we needed to start doing those things that we talk about doing but don’t get around to. Our husbands and kids would just have to get by without us for three days. Those three days of hanging out on the lanai, relaxing and yakking, of swimming in the ocean, long walks on the beach collecting shells, and yes, especially the evening when “J” put on the pump it up playlist on her I-pod and all the women danced their hearts out in the living room, those three days were amazing. And if I helped inspire through my illness a spark amongst my friends to live life this fully, than I am grateful and fortunate and can see the silver lining.

Due to unbloggable events, I did not make it up to the North Shore this year. But I do look forward to next year.

And for those of you thinking about starting a three day weekend vacation/getaway with your friends, I highly recommend it.

Come along for a glimpse of Laborless Labor Day 2008...

Announcement: The Roy's Cookbook from this travel post was randomly drawn by none other than Darsden! Congrats Dar!

Add a link to your own travel or just plain good living at home post.... join the fun of Thrusday virtual travels...